Hotel group in talks with Paradise developers
THE Millennium & Copthorne Hotels group is continuing to hold talks with the developers of Birmingham’s new Paradise redevelopment over the fate of its Copthorne Hotel.
The massive redevelopment is nearing its first anniversary but while the former Central Library and Paradise Forum have been cleared the fate of the hotel remains unclear.
Nothing is scheduled to happen to the facility in the first phase of the redevelopment but from 2018 onwards then a decision will have to be made on what will happen to the building.
One option could see the hotel group exercise its right to acquire an alternative site within the new development.
In its Q3 trading update, Millennium & Copthorne said it remained in talks with the Paradise developer, Paradise Circus Limited Partnership (PCLP), a private-public joint venture with Birmingham City Council.
It said: “The group has in place a number of contractual arrangements with the developer of Birmingham’s Paradise Circus redevelopment scheme pursuant to which the developer has a right to acquire the existing site of the Copthorne Hotel Birmingham in accordance with an agreed process.
“The group has an option to sell the existing site to the developer and, as applicable, an option to acquire an alternative site in the redevelopment area for the construction of a new hotel.
“The group continues to review its options and discussions with the developer are on-going.”
With the clearance of the old Central Library and Paradise Forum buildings, work has begun on the foundations of One and Two Chamberlain Square, the first new buildings on the site.
One Chamberlain Square is expected to be completed in autumn 2018 with PwC moving in in January 2019.
The public realm enhancements to Chamberlain Square will also be implemented in the next phase of work, together with the second speculative office building, Two Chamberlain Square, which has been designed by Birmingham’s Glenn Howells Architects. This is due for completion in early 2019.
The extent of the work was captured by an aerial drone in a flyover of the site last month.
