Grand Hotel plans green-lighted

AMBITIOUS plans to restore Birmingham’s Grand Hotel to its former glory have been give the go ahead by Birmingham City Council.

Owner Hortons’ Estate’s £30m scheme will transform the current building in Colmore Row – which has stood empty for decades, partly because of restrictions on its development imposed by its listed status – into a 152 room luxury hotel with eight new suites and a new entrance in Church Street.

Plans drawn up by architect Berman Guedes Stretton also include restoring its listed facade and renovating its famous Grosvenor Suite.

Hamish McMichael, project director, said: “Hortons’ Estate’s planned restoration and refurbishment of the hotel will be rescuing a building of grace and character that is an important landmark for Birmingham.

“The project will transform the building into a first class hotel and business destination for the city.”

The redevelopment plans were first mooted back in January.

Reports have suggested that a well-known international hotel operator is showing interest in the project.

It is understood the shops which form part of the hotel on Colmore Row will also be refurbished.

Tony Green, Hortons’ Estate’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted with the outcome of the planning committee meeting which is an important milestone for the scheme. We are very grateful to Birmingham City Council, English Heritage, The Victorian Society and to all those who have given us their support and encouragement during the planning process to date.

“The process of delivering the scheme will be both complex and challenging and both we, and our professional team, are under no illusions as to the hard work that lies ahead. However, we remain confident of a successful outcome and are continuing to target a reopening date of Spring 2014.”