The UFO-look of a roof extension to Aegon Asset Management’s and Abstract Land’s 55 Colmore Row has set the Birmingham project back.
The developers’ £30m plans for the office block have been put on hold by Birmingham council’s planning committee for mocking other buildings in the Colmore Row Conservation area.
Aegon’s and Abstract’s plans include extending the rooftop to include a new 20,000 sq ft floor of offices, adding in ground floor shops and a basement restaurant.
Councillor Barry Henley said: “Development should preserve and enhance a conservation area, and this fails that test. This modern glass lump destroys the elegance of the facade and mocks other buildings in the conservation area. It looks like a UFO has landed on the roof. Agreeing to this would be a travesty.”
Architect Aedas, with planning consultancy GW Planning, have designed the scheme. Once redeveloped, the 128,500 sq ft building will comprise 153,000 sq ft of grade-A, BREEAM excellent space, with reconfigured floors and new entrance foyer.
The application has been deferred for further consultation between the architects and the council’s planning department.
Knight Frank and Colliers International are joint agents on the building.
lisa.pilkington@estatesgazette.com
