Brum set to give go-ahead for Colmore Gate tower

Israeli investor Ashtrom Properties is set to get approval later today to refurbish and extend Colmore Gate in Birmingham. The investor is seeking to extend the 16-storey tower by a further nine storeys and the attached “shoulder” by two storeys to create a nine-storey block. As part of the plans the office space in the building will be refreshed and reconfigured with new retail space and co-working elements added to the ground floor. Plans to part-demolish and redesign the building will enable the owner to transform it into a grade-A office block, targeting net-zero carbon in both its operational performance and emissions. Plant on the roof of the current block will be moved to the basement, enabling PV panels to be installed. Roof gardens and green roofs will also be added through the new designs. The Buckley Gray Yeoman-designed proposals were first put to Birmingham planners before Christmas, but a decision was postponed following complaints from Historic England over the height and massing of the building. Advisers at BNP Paribas Real Estate hit back at Historic England, claiming that a reduction in the size of the redevelopment would make the project unviable. In a report to planners the agent said: “In the absence of the proposed scheme, significant economic, social and environmental benefits would be foregone, including £132.5m capital investment; over 1,200 direct/indirect construction jobs; £87.6m direct and indirect gross value added during the construction phase; 3,600 direct/indirect FTE jobs during the operational phase; and delivery of £209m GVA per annum during occupation. “In addition, construction of one of the first, next-generation net zero/low carbon commercial office buildings in the city will not take place, leaving a huge hole in the city centre’s future office pipeline during the next economic cycle and hence damaging significantly its economic growth potential.” Lichfields is advising on planning. Image © Buckley Gray Yeoman