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Birmingham City Council Planners have approved the planning application for 267 studio apartments in Selly Oak.

Plans for a block of 267 student apartments were met with opposition from both residents and the University of Birmingham, who claimed developer Aston Spring is cramming too many flats onto the site.

The site at 495-505 Bristol Road is currently the home of Ritch Bitch Studios, and thousands of aspiring Brummie bands and musicians as well as hosting international greats including Earth, Wind and Fire, Ruby Turner and US rockers Skid Row.

This was a scaled-down design from one of 347 apartments which was branded too large by the planning committee earlier this year.

There is already widespread opposition to the expansion of student halls in the area with residents claiming it is swamped, while saying family homes are being converted into student homes at an alarming rate.

Dr Andrew Schofield, of the Selly Oak Community Partnership, said: “Selly Oak should not be expected to accommodate every student in this city.”

He said that fitting the 267 studio apartments onto the site was going to be a struggle - creating rooms too tiny for study and living.

“This is not going to be a hall of residence,” he said, “it’s more a grain silo for students.”