£500m Birmingham city centre development set to begin

£500m Birmingham city centre development set to begin



Birmingham City Council has confirmed that the much anticipated £500 million development scheme to transform the city centre will begin next week .


Birmingham City Council has confirmed that the much anticipated £500 million development scheme to transform the city centre will begin next week.

The scheme to transform 17 acres of Paradise Circus has been brought forward through a joint venture company known as Paradise Circus Limited Partnership (PCLP). This is represented as a partnership between Birmingham City Council and BT Pension Scheme with Hermes Real Estate managing and Argent as development manager.

The transformation of the site will start with a programme of enabling and infrastructural works funded by the investment of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP).

Chairman of the GBSLEP, Andy Street, says this long awaited project has been made possible by a £61 million investment from the Enterprise Zone.

“This is an excellent example of how the GBSLEP and its partners have worked together, using innovative financial mechanisms, to help unlock a major development within the city,” said Mr Street.

“Paradise will revitalise this part of Birmingham; creating a substantial number of jobs and helping to attract significant commercial investment.”

The first phase of development will include major demolition, significant infrastructure changes and enhancements to the public realm, including improvements to Chamberlain Square.

The first two office buildings overlooking Chamberlain Square will also be developed bringing over 300,000 sq ft of office space to the market to help create more Grade A offices. Planning permission for this will be submitted in early 2015.

Leader of Birmingham City Council, Sir Albert Bore, sees the redevelopment as a vital part of the city’s development especially for the business world.

“Paradise is, perhaps, the most strategically important of these,” said Sir Albert.  

“Not only will it attract new businesses and jobs, it will draw new visitors, open up the city and give our historic buildings the high quality setting they deserve – and Birmingham City Council is proud to be an integral part of it.”

Glenn Howells Architects and Eric Parry Architects have been appointed to design the first two office buildings which will be delivered for 2018.

Grant Associates is the landscape architect responsible for creating a world class public realm to complement the listed historical and contemporary new buildings at Paradise.



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