Plans approved for expansion of Birmingham hotel

Plans for the expansion of a Birmingham hotel in order to bring it back into full commercial use have been approved by councillors.

The Paragon Hotel, in Alcester Street, was being used to house asylum seekers but the new owners of the Grade II listed building wanted to increase capacity at the facility with another 115 bedrooms in order to maximise its commercial viability.

The hotel, which dates back to 1903, has 250 guest rooms and there are 56 car parking spaces located on the adjacent site on Moseley Street.

The proposals, approved at yesterday’s (Thursday) city planning committee, include the erection of four storey extensions to the north and south facing internal courtyard elevations – which would create an additional 99 bedrooms – the creation of a secondary entrance and the conversion of conference rooms, a bar and cloakroom to create 16 additional bedrooms.

The extensions would be located on the north and south facing internal courtyard elevations from the first to fourth floors. The proposal will result in an additional 24 rooms on the first floor and 25 on each floor from the second to the fourth floors – 99 in total.

The 16 additional guest rooms proposed to the ground floor, replace the existing conference, office and storage rooms on the south side of the building.

Listed building consent for the work was also granted by the committee.