Big Projects Approved During Covid-19

The world is pretty much running in slow motion at the moment but this isn't stopping the applications.

A number of monumental developments have been approved recently, including the mammoth Curzon Street Station HS2, and the 51-storey ONE Eastside development, and that's not all.

Updated: May 2nd: BIG Birmingham developments that have been formally approved in the last month during Covid-19.  

The applications were formally rubber-stamped by Birmingham City Council's Planning Committee on April 23rd 2020. We were the first to break the news, as seen here.

Curzon Street HS2 will now connect up with London Euston via Birmingham Interchange and Old Oak Common (West London).

The station will soon become the first intercity terminus built in Britain since the 19th century; it will also become the ’most environmentally friendly railway station in the world’.

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The new station will provide a world-class gateway into the ever-evolving Birmingham City Centre. 

The station has been designed to provide fluid access across the site, with a new landscaped public realm space; a Midland Metro Tram stop; ample cycling provision; office space; lifts; and taxi pick up/drop off points all within the site.

The new station itself will deliver 7 new platforms; a western & eastern concourse; a plethora of retail provision; and a beautifully designed signature roof that harks back to traditional train station architecture.

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Station Square and Paternoster Place will become a generous public space that will be used as a destination and a meeting space; offering public transport, pedestrian routes and cycling links into the heart of Digbeth and beyond.

The new square will also feature the new 'Station Clock' sculpture from Turner Prize-winning Susan Philipsz - as seen here.

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Lets not forget the old Curzon Street building either! It'll be at the forefront of the new development, with enhanced connectively linking it from the new eastern concourse at New Canal Street. The old station will soon become a cafe and office space.

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dndimg alt="" dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/CurzonSt6.png" />Artists Impressions from Grimshaw Architects

WHAT NEXT?

We're not expecting station construction to commence in Birmingham until 2021 at the very earliest, but we are expecting HS2 Ltd to appoint contractors for both Curzon Street & Interchange HS2 Stations later in the year.

Approved: 10-1 on April 23rd 2020. Update: S106 Agreement Signed on 30th April.

Approved on the 5th of December 2019, it went back to Committee on April 23rd as Historic England's comments were belatedly received. Although they never formally objected to the principle of development, they did raise concerns about the way in which the impact on heritage assets was assessed.

So, back to committee it went. Their comments were officially noted and Committee went with their previous resolution for the application: 10-1 in favour of approval.

The site will now see two residential builds of 51 (155.1m) and 15 storeys (51m) comprising of 667 one and two bedroom apartments alongside a host of residential amenity spaces, including: 24/7 pavilion gym, cafe, residents lounge, cinema, games rooms, rooftop bar, sky lounge & terraces.

The scheme will provide 357 one bed (54%) and 310 two bed (46%) apartments, of which 527 are to be accommodated in Tower A (51fl) and 140 in Tower B (15fl).

A 2-3 storey pavilion will be situated in the western corner of the site facing James Watt Queensway and will provide a gateway entrance & a community gym facility for residents - all available to use 24/7. 132 covered cycle spaces for bikes will be available.

Here's to seeing One Eastside get underway before 2020 is up.

Bruntwood owns the largest portfolio of science and technology assets in the UK, including Innovation Birmingham campus. Its joint venture with L&G, has set itself the target of adding 5m sq ft of science and technology space in UK cities in the next 10 years.

The site will see the expansion of Innovation Birmingham Campus, with a new build 11-storey, 120,000 sq ft office development.

The building will provide ten commercial floors of circa 12,000 sq ft, each divisible into four that would be ideal to accommodate larger companies. The primary target customers for the building are digital technology companies in the technology/ media/ telecom sector.

Ground floor will accommodate arrival & reception space, with back office, business lounges and shower/ changing facilities. Vehicular access will be provided for 195 to the rear of iCentrum, which will also provide access to five disabled spaces and a cycle store for 60 bikes. 

Picton won planning consent this month for the conversion and extension of the Gas Street Basin elevation of Regency Wharf. The build will see a change of use from restaurant/cafe use to 1864 sqm of open-plan office space. 

With the casual dining market seeing a great deal of change, even before Covid-19, Picton have addressed this impact by proposing a scheme that they believe will help see the area making a positive contribution again.

Work will now see internal and external refurbishment works and the construction of a two-storey extension, including the creation of a new double height glazed entrance; a timber deck open-air terrace; raised floors; LED lighting; air conditioning; showers; new 24-hour access; multiple private roof terraces; and a central courtyard for events.

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This site was under construction before ESRG Developments fell into administration. St. Modwen picked up the pieces and immediately set about improving the scheme.

Firstly, they amended the colour palette from a blue brick to a traditional red, and plonked on an additional 24 apartments, which included the omission of a commercial unit, but adding a new dimension to the project: A new rooftop extension with Juliet balconies.

The site will now deliver 194 apartments in a mix of ranges and sizes that will comprise 14 studios; 129 one;, 50 two; and 1 three bedroom apartment.

Two gym areas will be openly available for residents, with ground floor courtyard for some units, and private communal amenities in the form of roof terraces available for those on the upper floors. 36 car parking spaces are provided (inc 2 disabled). Two secure cycle stores are incorporated, providing one space per unit, totalling 194 spaces (100% provision).

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This is BSAC's UK HQ (British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy). The three-storey, Grade II listed HQ office has recently been given the go-ahead to undergo internal and external refurbishment works.

Works will see the demolition of partitions, with new wheelchair access, raised ground floor area, new furniture, electrical fittings and new black framed partitions.

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Break out spaces will be provided, with communal tables, kitchen with bar, library, and an outdoor amenity area. New meeting and waiting rooms, quiet rooms, built-in screens, storage lockers, reception desk, toilets, a moss wall and a washroom will all be facilitated into newly upgraded surroundings.

Externally, the building will undergo window repairs and will also see the installation of a new ventilation system.

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The application has been amended since originally submitted to exclude a larger part of the courtyard space and site frontage to Camden Street where 12 town houses and an apartment were proposed. These are now subject to further pre application discussions. We'll share the information once we have it.

This recently approved application, however, will see the retention and refurbishment of three existing Victorian buildings, demolition of a one-storey garage block, with the construction of a replacement three-storey office block, as seen above.

The three builds set for refurbishment are vacant late Victorian two-storey structures which were used as offices and storage. These are of traditional brick build with pitched roofs and still have their original features.

All modern alterations are to be removed. Brilliant news!

The development will see 29 new residential units formed by the conversion of two existing buildings; Block 1 and Block 2: Branston Court. 15 car parking spaces and 30 cycle parking spaces will be provided.

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Interchange Place received planning consent for the remodelling of the buildings entrance.

Recladding works to the lower level of the building facade to Edmund and part of Livery Street will soon get underway.

The current entrance to the existing office will be re-clad and the pass door relocated. The brick slip cladding located on either side of the existing entrance will be removed and replaced with glazing.

A new entrance will be created at the Livery Street elevation with new internally illuminated spandrel panels above the entrance. The facade will be enhanced with new PPC metal work elements and new glazing.

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