Work starts on next phase of Arena Central development

DEMOLITION work to pave the way for a new hotel is under way on the site of Birmingham’s planned Arena Central scheme.

The demolition of a redundant multi-storey car park at the corner of Holliday Street and Bridge Street in the city centre is the first step towards the construction of the planned 210-bedroom Holiday Inn Express.

The 14-storey hotel will include an atrium link to the adjacent Crowne Plaza Hotel. Once completed, the Holiday Inn Express will back onto Arena Square, forming a key part of the planned office-led mixed use scheme.

The demolition work is being undertaken by specialist contractor DSM, based in Birmingham.

The 9.2 acre Arena Central scheme is a joint venture between Miller Developments and Bridgehouse Capital.

Jonathan Wallis, development director at Miller Developments, said: “Arena Central forms an integral part of Birmingham City Council’s Big City Plan as well as having a prime position within the city centre Enterprise Zone and I am exceptionally pleased that we have been able to appoint a local company to undertake these works.

“Alongside the development of the hotel, we are working closely with Birmingham City Council to deliver the site’s next commercial building of around 110,000 sq ft, which is planned to sit in a prominent position fronting Broad Street.

“This site is one of the most strategically important locations in the city and our proximity to the Library of Birmingham, the established city core, Brindleyplace and The Mailbox will undoubtedly help to create a fully connected, 21st Century location.”

Outline planning consent for Arena Central is already in place for up to 2.3m sq ft of mixed-use development, including 800,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation, hotels, residential units and 1.2m sq ft of retail/leisure units.

Construction on the new hotel is expected to start in the second quarter of 2014 and be completed in early 2015.