Westside BID has welcomed the latest addition to the “wave of towers” which is helping to transform the Broad Street skyline for the benefit of the city’s economy.
A planning application has been submitted to build a new 35-storey development in the heart of the city centre comprising a 230-bed hotel and 440 build to rent (BTR) apartments.
Plans for the scheme, to be called The Square, have been unveiled by 2020 Living, part of Taylor Grange Developments, which is currently working on five other BTR projects in the city totaling more than £500m in development value.
Other major planned developments recently announced include a 42-storey skyscraper, which would become Birmingham’s tallest residential tower, due for completion in 2022.
Mike Olley, Westside BID’s general manager, said: “We fully support the roll out of these proposals. Broad Street is attracting a wave of towers which we readily embrace.
“The boost to our vibrant economy is welcomed and this is yet another act of confidence in Westside backed up with solid investment.”
Samuel Ginda, director of 2020 Living, said: “We’re delighted to be unveiling these plans after fantastic collaboration yet again with Birmingham City Council and working very successfully with our team to develop our vision for this well positioned brownfield site in the heart of the city centre.
“The scheme illustrates the exceptional spaces ethos that Taylor Grange are delivering in the city to live, work and play. The Square redevelopment will be a vibrant, highly managed, amenity rich BTR product with a big focus on inclusive communities, health and wellbeing being the core focus.
“We’re really looking forward to delivering this exciting new project alongside all of our other schemes in the city as this not only provides jobs to the region but our commitment to the regeneration of brownfield sites aiding in the Birmingham and West Midlands housing needs.”
The Square is being designed by Corstorphine & Wright Architects, whose spokesman Tony Mead said: “The Square has been a really exciting project to work on, with a huge focus to provide a unrivalled amount of shared facilities.
“This would support residents to achieve high levels of physical and mental wellbeing, with exercise, work and social spaces supported by a large courtyard with multi activity sports pitch and running track.
“We wanted The Square to provide a new level of sustainable city centre dwelling, together with forming a new landmark building that contributes to the emerging and developing Birmingham skyline.”
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, added: “In order to meet our housing demand by 2031 and protect our precious greenbelt, we need to not only build homes on a brownfield-first policy, but also look to build upwards – not outwards – in town and city centres.
“These plans for Broad Street encapsulate that approach, and I am pleased to see developers rising to the challenge and keeping confidence in the West Midlands market despite the difficult economic times brought on by the Coronavirus crisis.”
By Tony Collins.
