Planning approval sought for 13-storey office development
The first planning application for phase two of the Paradise development in Birmingham city centre has been submitted, just a week after the topping out of the £700m scheme’s first building.
A 13-storey, 280,000 sq ft office building is planned for One Centenary Way, where it will overlook the redesigned Centenary Square.
Demolition of the former Birmingham Conservatoire and Fletcher’s Walk is now underway to allow for phase two of the scheme to progress.
Chris Taylor, head of private markets at Hermes Investment Management, which is backing the development, said: “With progress forging ahead on the first two buildings in the ongoing transformation of this part of the city, we are now looking ahead to Paradise’s future phases.”
Last week One Chamberlain Square, which will be the new home of PwC, held its topping out ceremony, marking a key milestone in the site’s progress. Work is also well underway on neighbouring building Two Chamberlain Square.
Paradise will have 1.8m sq ft of office, retail and leisure space once it is completed. The plans are for 10 buildings across the 17-acre site.
Phase two will bring forward One Centenary Way, another office building at Three Chamberlain Square, and a 250-bedroom, 4-star hotel.
“The design responds to the complexities of the Paradise site, creating an innovative, structural led solution forming a landmark entrance to the scheme,” said Rob Groves, regional director at Argent, which is the development manager for Paradise.
“One Centenary Way presents an individual, modern design that will complement the visible transformation of Centenary Square and Broad Street which are already underway and deliver another prominent building for the city’s evolving skyline.”
Subject to planning permission, construction of the building is expected to start in 2019.
The building has been designed by Glenn Howells Architects, who are also masterplanners for the Paradise development, and the planning consultants for the scheme are Turley.
