A joint venture between Sterling Property Ventures and Rockspring has submitted plans to build Birmingham’s tallest tower at 103 Colmore Row.
The JV is seeking consent to demolish the empty and outdated NatWest Tower office block and to build a £60m, 26-storey skyscraper in its place at the junction of Colmore Row and Newhall Street.
If approved, the 200,000 sq ft development will be the tallest new office building outside London at 346ft high, with the apex 246m above sea level.
Once completed, the scheme will house 2,000 workers.
The formal planning application follows a four-month public consultation period. An external design review was also undertaken with design council CABE.
Feedback from the consultation has informed the final design by Doone Silver Architects.
The proposed development will comprise grade-A offices over 19 floors, with floorplates of up to 12,250 sq ft, a 12,300 sq ft rooftop restaurant with panoramic views across the city, plus 16,000 sq ft of ground floor leisure comprising new public open space housing a winter garden and a café fronting Colmore Row, plus retail on Newhall Street.
Sterling and Rockspring have simultaneously applied for permission to demolish the NatWest Tower to make way for the new development. A decision on this was deferred in March, pending the submission of the development partners’ plans for the site.
James Howarth, managing director of Sterling Property Ventures, said: “Since acquiring the building late last year we have worked energetically to produce plans for a distinctive new landmark building for Birmingham.
“But 103 will not just be another elitist commercial building: we are keen that it becomes a destination for the people of Birmingham. The winter garden and skyline restaurant means it will be accessible to all.”
Work will start on site as soon as consent has been granted with completion due in early 2018.
