Hampton Trust and Carlton Communications are negotiating with Birmingham City Council for consent to redevelop the former Central Television site in the city centre as a £200m mixed-use scheme.
Plans have been drawn up by Hampton Trust to develop up to 111,000 sq m (1.2m sq ft) of offices. Some 41,805 sq m (450,000 sq ft) of those offices would form a tower block. The scheme’s retail element would be centred around a major leisure facility.
The future of the 2.4ha (6 acre) site, which lies between the city centre and Argent’s Brindleyplace off Broad Street, has been the subject of speculation ever since Central Television decided to move to purpose-built offices on Gas Street. Central TV is due to vacate its offices in March.
Hampton has been reportedly looking to redevelop the site since then but progress has been delayed until all the parties involved had agreed on an approach.
Hampton Trust owns the 97 year headlease of the Alpha Tower and most of the site on Broad Street and Queensway. Carlton Communications’ subsidiary Central Broadcasting owns part of the freehold and has a 97 year sub-tenancy of the Central Broadcasting Studios and the Birmingham Exhibition Hall. Birmingham council owns the remainder of the freehold interests in these properties.
Holiday Inn, which operates the four star Crown Plaza hotel on the site, is being relocated as part of the redevelopment.
Richard Ellis is advising Hampton Trust and Carlton Communications.
EGi News 28/02/97
