Council bosses approve £21m hotel plans for city centre building which survived WWII bombings

Plans to convert a vacant listed Birmingham city centre building, which survived bombings in the Second World War and later by the IRA, into a £20.6m four -star hotel have been given the green light.

The proposals for Louisa Ryland House at Newhall Street include 182 bedrooms with associated facilities including reception, restaurant, lounge bar, café, gym, co-work space and a multi-faith prayer room.

The existing roof would be removed and a new double storey mansard roof added, for which Historic England raised concerns.

However, the planning document stated: “It (the hotel) would be a sustainable development and make a positive contribution to the vitality and viability of the city centre. Moreover, the public benefits of the proposals, including securing its optimum viable use, offset the less than substantial harm resulting from the roof top addition.”

The main entrance would be relocated to Newhall Street, the key frontage of the building.

It is thought the hotel will create 132 full-time jobs and, according to the council report,would contribute £13.2m to the West Midlands economy.

Louisa Ryland House was originally a group of three buildings which were significantly damaged during WW II, causing the loss of the clock tower and cupola.

The Newhall Street buildings also suffered further damage during an IRA attack in 1974 and were subject to further decline during the late 1970’s.

Subsequently the premises were amalgamated into one building during the early 1980’s and underwent extensive alterations.

The buildings have been unoccupied since they were vacated by the City Council in 2012.