Four-star hotel plans for formerVictorian offices New plans to revive grade II-listed building in business district
AHISTORIC office block in the heart of Birmingham’s business quarter could get a new lease of life as a four-star hotel.
Louisa Ryland House, a cluster of three Victorian buildings in Newhall Street, has been empty since it was sold for development by the council in 2014.
Now operator Native, which already has hotels in Manchester and London, has announced it is to convert the grade II-listed building into a 173 “aparthotel”, where rooms have kitchen facilities.
Owner Euro Property Investments won planning permission in 2016 to revamp the building as offices with restaurant and cafes on the ground floor, but it is now preparing an application for the hotel.
There will still be a mix of uses on the ground floor including a restaurant, coffee shop, gym and drop-in office facilities.
A striking glass-roofed conservatory will expand from the reception through to an open-air courtyard area.
Native founder and chief executive Guy Nixon said: “We are delighted to be breathing new life into one of Birmingham’s most historic and beautiful buildings. Whilst respecting the rich heritage of the site, we will be instilling the quality and service that you would expect from a boutique four-star aparthotel from Native.
“Increasing numbers of business and leisure travellers are buying into the aparthotel concept, which provides the independence of apartment living with the service and flexibility of a hotel.
“We are pleased to be helping to meet this requirement in Birmingham, as one of the UK’s most vibrant and economically important cities.”
A proposed two-storey roof-top extension in the original plans was opposed by the city’s Victorian Society but ultimately backed by the planning committee in 2016.
According to a report to the city’s Conservation and Heritage Panel, the extension would remain as part of the hotel complex.
The report states: “The proposed development will include conversion of the building to a hotel with ancillary uses on and basement.
“The conversion will also include various minor external and internal changes to the approved scheme to reflect the requirements of the hotel operator. It is intended to implement the roof extension as approved.” the ground floor
Louisa Ryland House was named after the Victorian heiress and benefactor who left large areas of land to the city, including the sites which became Cannon Hill Park and Small Heath Park.
Built from 1879 onwards it was originally three separate buildings – the Medical Institute, School Offices and Offices.
All three buildings were damaged and a clocktower destroyed as a result of German bombs in the war.
According to the report the Newhall Street buildings were also damaged during a 1974 IRA attack.
There were significant internal remodelling works during the 1980s under which the three buildings were merged and only the Victorian facade was left intact.
The city council moved out in 2012 as part of its cull of offices under its business transformation programme and sold the buildings for £7 milllion two years later.
A report to the panel stated: “The overall block makes an important contribution to the character and appearance of the Colmore Row Environs Conservation Area.”
Having already approved the rooftop extension, it would be difficult for city planners to reject this time round. the the Board Parish