Birmingham council has decided to go ahead with the sale of its offices at Baskerville House on Broad Street in the city centre and move to Hampton Trust’s landmark Alpha Tower scheme, as reported by EGi last week.
Councillors have approved the sale of Baskerville House for redevelopment as a four star Radisson Edwardian hotel by Norwich-based developer Targetfollow Group. Subject to planning permission and licensing, the 7,803 sq m (84,000 sq ft) office block, which fronts Centenary Square, will be converted into 180 hotel rooms with restaurants, conference, leisure and car parking facilities.
At the same time, a council spokesman confirmed that it was about to conclude negotiations to lease some (50,000 sq ft) over seven floors of Alpha Tower, which forms part of Hampton Trust’s proposed £300m Arena Central mixed-use scheme.
He said: “All parties are keen to enable the redevelopment to take place as quickly as possible. This (the deal on Alpha Tower) will enable the relocation of staff as soon as mid 1999. The hotel could then be opened by Radisson before the end of the year 2000.”
Baskerville House was built in 1939 as Birmingham’s civic centre and currently accommodates 800 city council staff in the Economic Development, Planning, Leisure & Community Services departments.
Councillor Gerard Coyne, chair of the City Council’s Economic Development Committee, said: “We are very pleased that this fine landmark building will now have a new role to play at the heart of the City’s leisure and conference quarter. The hotel will be a key component in the further investment and job creation activities we are encouraging in the Broad Street, Brindleyplace and Arena Central Developments in this part of the city centre.”
Jones Lang Wootton Hotels Real Estate Services and Birmingham Property Services (part of BCC) advised the council on Baskerville House. King Sturge & Co is advising Targetfollow Group. Richard Ellis advises Hampton Trust on Alpha Tower.
EGi News 12/08/98
