37-storey skyscraper planned for Birmingham

A £145m residential scheme in Birmingham city centre has been proposed, replacing one of the major schemes that fell victim to the recession.

Broad Street Tower, a 134-metre skyscraper that was to contain a 150-room hotel and have 350 apartments, was planned for the site of the former Tramps nightclub on Broad Street. Despite being approved, the development was never built.

Developer Moda Living, which is part of Yorkshire property group Caddick Group,
bought the site from Bloomcrest, a joint venture between Richardson Capital LLP and Cordwell Property Group. It now plans to build a 37-storey tower with 450 apartments.

The development, designed by Glenn Howells Architects, will have 35,000 sq ft of additional retail, office and leisure space and 30,000 sq ft of communal amenity space.

It is being funded by private real estate investors Apache Capital Partners as part of a joint venture which has already secured planning permission for a similar development in Manchester called Angel Gardens.

Lee Savage, development director of Moda Living, said: “This site fits in perfectly with our strategy of targeting central locations in major urban areas, where we can deliver high quality rental housing at scale to professionals let down by the buy-to-let market while also supporting on-going regeneration efforts.”

Moda Living and Apache Capital will retain ownership of the property and operate it themselves, aiming to create a long-term community and investment platform.

Waheed Nazir, strategic director at Birmingham City Council, added: “New inward investment is hugely important to this growth agenda. Confidence in the City is high and the delivery of homes, quality of life and employment opportunities will continue to see Birmingham as an attractive place to invest.”

The development is directly opposite the Left Bank scheme, which is on site now and will result in 189 apartments in a 22-storey building.