Paradise Circus scheme set for green light from planners

A £450m scheme to redevelop Birmingham’s Paradise Circus – including the demolition of the city’s central library – is set to go before planners today.

Councillors are expected to give their backing to the proposals submitted by developer Argent.

The scheme concentrates on 17 acres of land between Centenary Square and Chamberlain Square. It comprises a mixed-use development including offices, shops, leisure, cultural and civic facilities along with a 250-bedroom four-star hotel to replace the existing Copthorne Hotel.

Under the plans, the Birmingham Conservatoire would be relocated a short distance away to Louisa Ryland House on Edmund Street, with a 450-seat concert hall set to replace the existing Adrian Boult Hall.

The 1.8 million sq ft scheme is one of the largest of its kind to be submitted this year.

Councillors are believed to favour the scheme because of the regeneration opportunities it presents to an important part of the city centre and one that is included in the collection of sites comprising the city centre’s Enterprise Zone sites in the city centre.

The proposals have received a boost with permission being granted for the £16m conversion of the Beneficial Building in Paradise Street.

Developer Anthony McCourt plans a new 137-bedroom hotel, 53 serviced apartments and a new café or restaurant.