A building likened to the headquarters of Soviet intelligence organisation the KGB has been finally rejected by council planners.
The grey featureless block was put forward as a replacement for a traditional Victorian shopping parade at the north end of Erdington High Street.
But members of Birmingham’s planning committee were almost unanimous in their condemnation of the design and called for something more in keeping with the oldest part of Erdington.
Made Architecture, of Hampton-in-Arden, wants to demolish the parade and builders' merchants behind and build 26 flats along with some replacement shops. The firm says the existing buildings have deteriorated beyond viable repair, will continue to do so and need to be torn down.
It was the third time the application had been presented to the committee this year but, despite modifications to the design, it has remained unimpressed throughout.
Coun Keith Linnecor (Lab Oscott) said: “It looks like something from pre-Berlin Wall Eastern Europe, it doesn’t blend in at all. I can’t see any reason to support this.”
“It looks like the KGB Headquarters,” added Coun Steve Booton (Lab Weoley).
“I bet we would not see many buildings like this in Hampton-in-Arden, where the architects are from.”
He was referring to the general brutalist style of architecture promoted in the old Soviet Union.
Meanwhile, council officers were praised by Coun Gareth Moore (Con Erdington) for putting together a comprehensive case against the development.
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The proposed building was refused because the design did not respect the history and character of the area.
The row of five Victorian shops is near to Erdington Abbey and the historic centre of the district as well as the site of the new Sainsbury's shopping centre development.
Made Architecture will now need to consider whether to lodge an appeal or return with a new design.
