Birmingham towers set for approval

10/5/23

Associated Architects is poised to get the green light for a twin-tower scheme on the north-east fringe of Birmingham city centre.

The city-based practice's proposals for Woodbourne Group would deliver a 53-storey tower and a 41-storey sister block at Dartmouth Circus, along with two other buildings – of nine and 14 storeys.

The Curzon Wharf scheme would replace a low-rise industrial estate with up to 620 new homes, 732 student units, 12,000 sq m of office or research-and-development space, and retail and leisure space.

The project site is around 500m from the heart of Aston University's main campus, and slightly further from the location of HS2's Curzon Street terminus. Birmingham University's Advanced Transport & Infrastructure National College is also nearby.

Associated Architects' hybrid application, which is up for approval at Thursday's meeting of Birmingham City Council's Planning Committee, is seeking outline consent for the new-build elements of the scheme and detailed approval for works to a nearby grade II-listed canal wall. The 1.14ha site is immediately north of Aston Junction, where the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal connects with the Digbeth Branch Canal.

Recommending the application for approval, planning officers said the site was suitable for a tall development because of its location at a key northern junction on the road network. However they noted that the nearby elevated sections of ring road created "difficulties".

Officers also noted that the proposals had been assessed as causing "less than substantial harm" to the significance of several designated heritage assets – including the Jewellery Quarter Conservation Area, St Chad's Cathedral and the Bartons Arms pub. Both buildings are grade II*-listed.

Others working on the scheme include QS Core 5, planning consultant CBRE and Cundall which is structural and building services engineer as well as fire consultant.

Source: Building.co.uk