City to review policy over tall buildings to attract more towers

RESTRICTIONS on building skyscrapers in the centre of Birmingham could be relaxed in a bid to attract more development.

Council planners have launched a review of their Tall Building Policy document, issued in 2003, after it emerged that a new 26-storey tower next to New Street Station would not have been allowed until a change of heart by councillors.

Luckily for the developer of the proposed 270ft Bloc Hotel tower on Hill Steet, members of the council’s planning committee overruled their own policy to unanimously approve the sleek black skyscraper – compared to the famous monolith in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

And they are keen to see more tall buildings put up in the overlooked area to the south of Grand Central and the revamped rail station.

Under the 2003 policy, skyscrapers should only be built along the city centre ridge – the line of high ground which follows Colmore Row and Broad Street.

Committee member Councillor Barry Henley (Lab, Brandwood) said of the Bloc hotel: “It’s an elegant and beautifully designed building, but it does not comply with our policy.”

There was also support from former city development chief Councillor Tahir Ali (Lab, Nechells) who said: “This area is crying out for development. Grand Central and New Street Station should be the catalyst for this and we should be looking for big buildings here.”

Planning officer David Wells told them that the Tall Buildings Policy “is being reviewed and will be updated in future”.

There was only one note of caution from Councillor Fiona Williams (Lab, Hodge Hill), who wondered if the building design, not its height, would be a problem.

“It’s like the obelisk 2001: A Space Odyssey.

“I’m not sure whether something as black and monolithic as this one suits Birmingham’s skyline,” she said.

The Bloc hotel group now has permission to demolish the 1960s-built Gallan House office and build the slender tower designed by Birmingham firm Glenn Howells Architect.

It will be called Bloc Grand Central and offer 238 rooms.

A café will be included in the double-height ground floor lobby area and 40 full-time jobs will be created.

The Post reported in August how plans were being drawn up to replace the 1960s Smallbrook Queensway offices nearby with a 26-storey tower, despite calls for the protection of the current Brutalist building.

City architect and Post columnist Joe Holyoak criticised the council for allowing consideration of towers which flew in the face of planning policy. from