Major plans for two new towers overlooking a historic area of Birmingham city centre have been submitted. Developers have lodged proposals for two residential buildings – one of 30 storeys and another of 17 storeys – on a site within the wider Arena Central masterplan, a mixed-use regeneration area in the heart of the city.
This means the towers will be close to Centenary Square and its iconic sights, such as the Library of Birmingham, as well as Gas Street Basin, described as the heart of Birmingham’s canal network. The picturesque basin is one of Birmingham’s most iconic areas and recently featured in Peaky Blinders film The Immortal Man.
Proposals for 526 Apartments and Retail Space
Those behind the project have said the towers, if approved, would provide 526 apartments as well as possibly “retail and commercial use at the ground floor”. There are also proposals for landscaped areas surrounding the buildings, which would provide new pedestrian routes through and alongside the site.
One planning document said the landscape strategy creates a “connected and attractive sequence of public spaces that integrate seamlessly with the wider pedestrian network.” “The proposals deliver a well considered, high quality residential development that responds positively to its prominent city centre location,” it also said.
Design Inspired by Industrial Heritage
“The scheme has been shaped through extensive design development and engagement with Birmingham City Council. [This has resulted] in a pair of buildings whose massing, architectural language and public realm integration contribute meaningfully to the townscape. The façades [draw] inspiration from the industrial heritage of Gas Street Basin and the materiality of the wider Arena Central context,” the document stated.
The document went on to say: “Communal terraces on the top floors benefit from exceptional views, for the benefit of all of the residents. Shared internal and external amenity spaces – located at ground floor, first floor and the uppermost levels – deliver an amenity ratio of around 1.7 sqm per home, significantly enriching the resident experience.”
It concluded that the towers would make a “significant positive contribution to Birmingham’s skyline, public realm and housing offer”. The plans will be considered by Birmingham City Council at a later date.
