Richardson Barberry has cleared the final planning hurdle in its bid to speculatively develop 17,650 sq m (190,000 sq ft) of offices in central Birmingham.
The city council’s planning committee voted in favour of a revised 10-storey scheme at 1 Colmore Square.
Don Richardson, joint managing director of Richardson Developments, said that work would begin once the necessary road closures had been cleared.
As part of the new conditions imposed, Richardson Barberry will make £4m worth of improvements and alterations to the road infrastructure around Colmore Square and the development of a ‘green’ square.
The 10-storey scheme is the second phase of JV’s redevelopment of the former Lewis’s department store. Phase one comprised the Temple Court office complex.
Richardson added: “There is genuine demand by relocating companies for major, high-quality, new-build space in the city centre. Currently there is a scarcity of such accommodation – we will now be able to fulfil that demand. We’ve already had serious discussions with a number of prospective occupiers.”
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