The day they broke the bank at 103 Colmore Row

Former bank vaults, once some of the most secure in Birmingham, have been smashed open as part of an ongoing redevelopment project.

The vaults lay in the depths of the former NatWest Tower’s banking hall on the corner of Colmore Row and Newhall Street.

They have been exposed following the dismantling of the tower and the demolition of the banking hall.

The vaults were constructed from half a metre-thick reinforced steel concrete walls, with doors made from 25cm-thick steel, each weighing more than a tonne.

Work to demolish the former bank building, which is being carried out by H Smith Engineering, started in 2015 and is due to be completed April.

Peter Graham, construction director at Sterling Property Ventures, said: “We’re reaching the final stages of the demolition programme. The removal of the bank vaults is one of the last significant milestones before we start to turn our attention to the next phase of the project, the construction of the new building, which we’re extremely excited about.”

The NatWest Tower will be replaced by a new £60m, 26-storey landmark office building, dubbed 103 Colmore Row. The scheme is backed by Rockspring Property Investment Managers and Sterling Property Ventures.

When finished, 103 Colmore Row will comprise 224,000 sq ft of Grade A office space over 19 floors, plus 8,270 sq ft of leisure space – including a rooftop restaurant.

Eric Linden, European director at Rockspring, said: “It’s great to finally see the end in sight for the demolition phase of the project and we will soon start to see the new building rising from the ground.

“103 Colmore Row will be an exemplar building, combining the very highest standards of office accommodation, complete with stunning views of the city, retail and leisure facilities, with the icing on the cake being the top floor restaurant, which promises to be spectacular and unlike anything else in Birmingham.”