240,000 sq ft Lumina office tower in for planning

THE developer behind proposed central Birmingham office tower Lumina has put in a planning application for the scheme.

Sterling Property Ventures, alongside backer M&G Real Estate, is proposing to build a 15-storey building providing 240,000 sq ft of Grade A office space.

The development site is located on Snow Hill Queensway. Historically known as “The Strip”, the 0.4 acre site – opposite the One and Two Snowhill office towers –  is currently occupied by empty, derelict retail units and a small number of privately let car parking spaces.

The design proposals, by Birmingham-based architect Aedas, consists of typical floorplates of around 11,500 sq ft of column-free office accommodation wrapping around a central core.

James Howarth of Sterling PV, said: “We have carried out feasibility studies to determine the best architectural, planning and engineering options for this site resulting in our submission of a detailed application to Birmingham City Council’s planning committee.

“With little development and limited development options in the city, it is clear that there is appetite and demand for a well-timed office scheme with efficient deliverability.”

John Fyfield, director development at M&G, said: “These proposals see another jigsaw in the development of the Snow Hill area, providing high class office accommodation capable of delivery into a market which has seen little recent development activity.”

The design team is targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating for the scheme.

Should planning permission be granted, work on the scheme could start in the Spring .