Plans to transform Birmingham’s House of Fraser building lodged

A planning application for the transformation of the former Rackham’s buildings has been submitted to Birmingham City Council.

The buildings – the original Rackhams store and 43 Temple Row – located between Temple Row and Corporation Street in Birmingham city centre, have been under the ownership of Legal & General since 2014 and 2018 respectively.

Legal & General had previously been in discussions about a reformatted store before House of Fraser entered into a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) in the summer of 2018. An agreement was subsequently reached with Sports Direct to allow the business to continue operating from the premises on a short term basis.

The refurbishment proposals have been designed by tp bennett, the architect behind the original Rackhams store.

Plans include space for a range of shops, stylish bars, restaurants and coffee houses on the ground and lower ground floors. The nine floors above will be converted to contemporary office space and a new hotel on the corner of Cherry Street and Temple Row. Crowning the building will be the city’s largest rooftop terrace and a restaurant offering views over St. Philip’s Square.

Simon Wilkes of LGIM Real Assets said: “As one of the best situated buildings in Birmingham, a reimagined Rackham’s will help meet the growing demand for office space and create a new cluster of attractive food, drink, retail and leisure facilities right in the city’s core.

“We have spoken to a wide range of stakeholders and received a very encouraging response to our proposals.”

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