Arena Central through the years

Sat on the site of the old ATV Studios, Arena Central represents 1.2 million square foot of mixed-use development and forms an integral part of Birmingham City Council's Big City Plan, as well as having a prime position within the city centre enterprise zone.

The area is flourishing at long last, but this wasn't always the case.

The site has seen two major projects over the last 15 years, all of which have been cancelled, thanks mainly to a combination of planning wrangles and the economic downturn. 

'YOU CAN'T BEAT A BIT OF BULLY'

Before the ‘Arena Central’ name was coined though, the site was the place where "You can’t beat a bit of Bully” and 'Let's have a look at what you could have won.' – where the prizes of these TV game shows invariably involved a speedboat. Not very practical if you lived in Chelmsley Wood, say.

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Image credit Bullseye, Andrew J. Wood Enterprises

Birmingham’s ATV studios were famous for the production of a plethora of well-known shows, including, yes, that show Bullseye, but also Tiswas, The Golden Shot, New Faces, Spitting Image, Blockbusters, Crossroads, plus regional news programme ATV Today.

In the late 1960’s, encouraged by Birmingham City Council’s proactive approach to modern developments, ATV set up its' new studios in the city. Princess Alexandra opened the Centre in 1970 and it was billed as the most advanced television production facility in Europe, in readiness for the upcoming colour television revolution.

Fast forward twenty-seven years through the wonderment of ATV programming, it was decided that Central would close its doors in 1997 and move its operations to smaller studios on nearby Gas Street.

Plans for Arena Central were drawn up by Miller Developments and Hampton Trust.

FIRST PLANS

In 1998, HOK proposed the construction of a 187m, 50 storey landmark residential, hotel and office tower. The building incorporated a spire, which took the height of the building to 245m and would have made it the biggest building in the country and one of the tallest skyscrapers in Europe at the time.

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Artists impression by HOK Architects

Of course, this scheme never materialised, as it was beset with problems from the outset. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott wanted it to be scaled down. Amendments were duly made.

Then came the New York City terrorist attacks in 2001, when fears arose that the tower could be a target itself. Part owners of the project Hampton Trust - a small company in the grand scheme of things - pulled out and the Arena Central development went cold.

Arena Central Developments 

Soon enough, Miller Developments acquired the site, with Bridgehouse Capital becoming Joint Venture partners later on in 2004, and the Arena Central Developments LLP company was created.

“We felt there was a chance to create something special in terms of a mixed-use environment and forming something out of what was a bit of a concrete jungle.” - Andrew Sutherland, Miller Developments

New masterplan designs were drawn up, with help from Australian mega developer Multiplex and the plans were given a glitzy unveiling at the property show, MIPIM, in 2007.

New Design

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Artists impression by Dandara

This 50 storey tower from Dandara contained 706 apartments, three restauarants, a sky bar and a public viewing platform. It would have stood proud at 147m, with a facade overrun taking it to a more than a respectable 152m.

Although down in height from HOK’s amended design, it was reported this was because Crowne Plaza had refused to move out of its current building because of a desire to refurbish their own home instead.

A 'STUNNING' BUILD!

The tower was approved in just two minutes by the Planning Department who labelled it a “stunning”. Construction was to begin in early 2008, with a targeted completion for 2013.

Again, as luck would have it, any sort of progress was delayed again by the financial crisis of 2008.

ALL SYSTEMS GO!

In 2012, activities picked up. The developers dusted themselves down and went full steam ahead and started getting planning consents, namely for a 250-roomed Holiday Inn Express Hotel.

Demolition work commenced on all facets of the site and construction work on this 18 storey hotel began in earnest.

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Photo credit: John Egan

Planning consent was then granted for the first office building on site. At 140,804 sq ft, 1 Arena Central (now 5 Centenary Square) was the first speculative office development proposed since the financial crisis.

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Artists impression by Make Architects

With an elegant curved façade and a modern chequerboard motif, it will eventually provide eight floors of HQ office space, alongside retail units on the ground floor.

For the first time in the history of the scheme, it had momentum, and this was emphathised by the news that HSBC UK would move from London to the 'Second City' in a new 210,000 sq ft building called 1 Centenary Square on a 250 year lease to act as the head office of its new ring-fenced bank.

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Photo credit: Arena Central

The deal was the largest property deal in Birmingham since 2002 and of course, this was a catalyst for others to relocate. The offices in this area continue to flow. 

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Artists impression by Make Architects

The government selected Arena Central as its preferred location for Phase 1 of its Birmingham Hub (up to 1m sq.ft.) where HMRC will move into 3 Arena Central - a 13-storey, 240,000 sq ft office building currently under construction.

Such is the confidence in the city, the development became the largest pre-let in Birmingham for over a decade. The building will house some 3,600 civil servants from a number of departments and will act as the Midlands regional hub for the company, on a 25 year lease.

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Photo credit: ItsyourBuild

Birmingham City Council bought into Arena Central back in 2006 when it purchased the old Municipal Bank from Hampton Trust, giving them more of an influence on goings on.

The University of Birmingham acquired the building from them last year, thus adding an extra dimension to the Arena Central masterplan.

The building is currently undergoing works that will see it refurbished into a mixed-use scheme that will be adapted to accommodate a year-round public programme, with the old banking hall and vaults re-opened to the public with exhibitions, events, workshops, performances and the inclusion of a café.

There will be a new south elevation to integrate the building into the Arena site.

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Artists impressions by Make Architects

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Photo credit: Itsyourbuild

AND WHAT OF THE OLD 50 STOREY TOWER SITE?

No grandeur, no skyscraper, no spire, but two L-shaped connecting blocks, reaching up to 23 storeys. It is being developed by Dandara Living, has been designed by Hodder+Partners and will deliver 323 apartments, with a completion date set for May 2019.

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Photo credit: ItsyourBuild

The future of Arena Central

Development group Kier Property recently bought the rights from Miller Developments for a reported £30 million to build the remaining three phases and will also assume responsibility for the completion of 3 Arena Central.

Kier will now take on the baton to complete the sites remaining three plots which are likely to comprise further office buildings totalling 526,009 sq ft - known as 5 Centenary Square, 4 Arena Central and 5 Arena Central (Plots 3, 5 & 6 on the photo below)

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Image of development by Arena Central

These plots will be developed over the next seven years. 

The future look bright for Arena Central! The future looks bright for Birmingham!