NatWest Tower demolition has dramatic impact on cityscape
A FAMILIAR sight is fast-disappearing from the Birmingham city centre skyline.
Contractors demolishing the NatWest Tower have now reached the 15th floor of the former 22-storey banking headquarters.
The mothballed tower is being dismantled to make way for the new development at 103 Colmore Row.
The demolition work carried out has had the dramatic effect of radically changing the city’s skyline with the tower now no longer visible from Broad Street and Centenary Square, while views of the building from St Philip’s Square and Newhall Street have been considerably diminished.
Peter Graham, construction director at Sterling Property Ventures, development partner of Rockspring Property Investment Managers, said the demolition programme was on target for completion in October.
The building comprises 1,250 individual pre-cast concrete panels, each measuring 1.3m x 1m; 296 of these have been removed to date.
In addition, 201 trucks of debris have left the site, with 98% of the waste recycled.
Mr Graham said: “The building’s interior has been stripped, two ventilation towers have been dismantled and the former banking hall has been demolished. Seven floors have now been removed, shaving 30metres off the height of the building.”
The NatWest Tower, empty for more than a decade, will be replaced with a 26-storey glazed tower. The £60m 103 Colmore Row scheme will comprise 211,000 sq ft of Grade A office space over 19 floors. At street level, plans include a winter garden and a café facing Colmore Row. At the top of the building there is provision for an 8,600 sq ft restaurant with a 3,250 sq ft ‘lantern’ space offering 360-degree views of the city.
Eric Linden, European director at Rockspring, said: “Not only are we hitting some real milestones in the demolition programme, but the final specification of the building is nearing conclusion. We will be procuring contractors shortly, with a view to starting the new build programme later this year.”
