THE developer behind the Birmingham flats at the centre of complaints about noise from nearby music venues has collapsed into administration.

Concept Development Solutions, which built the Abacus Building, in Digbeth, has called in administrators BDO Stoy Hayward and its parent company Old House Holdings is in the hands of administrative receivers from the firm. A total of 31 staff have lost their jobs at Concept Development Solutions as well as 18 staff at Old House Holdings as a result of the collapse.

Concept has been the subject of controversy after Birmingham City Council did not require the firm to carry out a noise report when it applied for planning permission to build the Abacus Building.

The decision sparked anger from nearby venues which have subsequently been dealt noise abatement orders following complaints about music from their venues being audible in the flats – the most recent being The Rainbow pub.

Old House Holdings is the umbrella firm above a number of construction companies including Digbeth Coach Station developer Ashford Construction which was forced to cease trading last month amid crippling debts, halting progress on the £15 million project.

The collapse of Ashford Construction also stopped work on a £35 million Warwickshire College scheme in Rugby to train power workers.

Concept Development Solutions owns four brown-field sites and also has construction projects on four development sites around the West Midlands.