Work begins on new Edgbaston hotel
CONSTRUCTION has started on a four-star hotel close to the redeveloped Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham.
The DoubleTree by Hilton is being developed by Edgbaston Property Holdings Ltd and its operating company Zinnia Hotels. The hotel and leisure scheme is part of Calthorpe Estates’ Edgbaston Mill site.
Zinnia Hotels is an independent hotel group that currently own and operate four properties in England and Spain under Intercontinental Hotel Group’s (IGH) Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brand. The other hotels are based in Winchester, Manchester, Bilbao and Algeciras.
The new 200-bedroom 27,000sq ft hotel will feature three new restaurants, conference and banqueting suites, plus a café shop and leisure facilities with a spa, indoor swimming pool and gym.
Alastair Cattrell, managing director of Edgbaston Property Holdings, said: “We saw the potential to create a refined hotel and leisure destination within a few miles of the city centre. With world class sports and cultural events happening on the doorstep, visitors to the near-by universities, hospitals and the regions attractions, we are confident the venture will be a huge success.”
The hotel’s food offering will comprise three prominent restaurants including a main, fine dining and Indian cuisine.
Ralph Minott, development director at Calthorpe Estates, said the restaurant and leisure facilities would help cater to the local market as well as hotel visitors.
He said: “Edgbaston Mill has been a successful scheme from the initial development of the Hemisphere apartments, which are now all sold, and the successful opening of Aldi’s flagship store last year.
“With a landmark hotel and facilities, which can be enjoyed by people living and working around Edgbaston, Edgbaston Mill will be very much complete. The restaurants and café shop will be a huge attraction, and with plenty of car parking and extensive landscaping and a public square as big as Centenary Square in the city, it will be a great place to meet up and socialise.”
West Bromwich construction firm Anglo Holt has been appointed to build the hotel complex.
Tony Wehby, director of Anglo Holt said: “It is a superb project. There are some unique features that will make this building exceptional including the use of post-tensioned concrete for the main frame, offsite manufacturing for key elements of the facade, bathroom installation and M&E services.
“The materials have been chosen to complement the overall scheme. It is definitely a Midlands triumph with the construction team and key trade contractors employed from within the region. At our peak, there will be around 120 people working on site.”
The new hotel and leisure facilities are on schedule to open in November.
