Bold plans submitted for 2,000-bed student towers

Plans have been submitted for a transformative development at Lancaster Circus, promising to reshape Birmingham’s skyline and create a key northern gateway to the city centre. 

Sama Investments has lodged proposals to demolish 1 Lancaster Circus and develop a flagship student accommodation scheme in its place. ‘Perryian Works’ will comprise two towers standing 41 and 48 storeys tall, with a total of 1,968 studio bedrooms.

Shariah-compliant property developer Sama bought 1 Lancaster Circus from Birmingham City Council at the end of 2022, after the building was deemed as surplus to required office space.

1 Lancaster Circus

Located at the junction of the Aston Expressway and Lancaster Circus, Sama is now seeking approval to demolish the building, which was once home to the famous, but now defunct, Perry & Co, where pens, chains and bicycles were all produced and sold worldwide.

The factory was demolished in 1958 to make way for a new depot and headquarters for Halfords and later converted into office space in 1974, serving the West Midlands County Council until its dissolution in 1986 and Birmingham City Council until 2021. 

Perryian Works will offer lounges and study spaces, alongside a gym, pool, sauna and steam room within more than 56,000 sq ft of amenity space. A 1,100 sq ft cafe is proposed for the ground floor of the 48-storey building. 

The scheme is set to be car-free and have enough storage for 200 bicycles.