Residential planning lined up for Paradise
A planning application is being prepared to bring a new residential building to Paradise, Birmingham’s largest city centre development project.
The new building would be located on the northern edge of the site, fronting on to Summer Row, and would introduce a residential element to Paradise for the first time.
Subject to planning consent, Paradise is proposing to build a landmark Build to Rent (BTR) residential building at the apex of the site, currently occupied by the 1980s 77 Paradise Circus Queensway office building. The new building would comprise of over 300 units and make best use of a highly prominent and sustainable location in the city.
If approved, it is estimated that the new building, which is being designed by Birmingham-based Glenn Howells Architects, could complete by 2023. Detailed planning proposals and a programme of public consultation is anticipated to come forward later this spring.
The introduction of residential use on the site is in response to market demand for high quality city centre living in Birmingham.
At present Paradise’s outline planning permission, approved in 2013, includes provision for up to ten commercial buildings totalling up to 2 million square ft of space to be built across the site. A new planning application will be submitted for the residential proposals.
Phase One of Paradise consists of improvements to the local road network, pedestrian routes and new public realm as well as the first two commercial buildings, One Chamberlain Square and Two Chamberlain Square – all currently in the final stages of construction.
Phase Two consists of three additional buildings including a 22 storey hotel and two office buildings – one of which, One Centenary Way, is already under construction.
Phase Three will take place on the northern part of the site and could include up to five new buildings in total as well as new public realm.
Rob Groves, Regional Director of Argent, Development Managers for Paradise, said: “This proposed change to the Paradise masterplan will enable the development to become truly mixed-use with commercial, retail, leisure and residential elements all working side by side across the site.
“The demand for very high quality residential buildings alongside places where people work and spend their leisure time is critical to the long-term success and sustainability of major cities like Birmingham. But this mix should always happen in the right places at the right time, which is precisely why we are bringing forward this proposed change now in this particular part of our overall site.”
Chris Taylor, Head of Private Markets at Federated Hermes, the £382 billion manager, said: “Paradise is about delivering long-term holistic returns by working in partnership with the public sector to deliver outstanding outcomes for Birmingham city centre. We must respond to market demands and this proposed building is a reflection of that fact.
“All along, our aim has been to bring the very best possible scheme to Birmingham to ensure that Paradise is genuinely mixed use and that it offers a high standard of commercial, residential and F&B.
“We want everyone in Birmingham to feel proud of Paradise, as well as share in its success through the creation of job and skills opportunities. This change of use will enable Paradise to more fully fulfil that promise and contribute to an ever growing yet sustainable and attractive city centre to the benefit of everyone who lives and works in the city.”
Paradise is offering offices, shops, bars, cafés, restaurants and a four star hotel in the heart of the city. The Paradise redevelopment is being brought forward through Paradise Circus Limited Partnership (PCLP), a private-public joint venture with Birmingham City Council. The private sector funding is being managed by Federated Hermes Investment Management, which has partnered with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) on the first phase of the development. Argent is the development manager.
Paradise sits in the country’s largest city centre Enterprise Zone and has already benefited from investment by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) in enabling and infrastructure works.