Plan rejected for 42-storey tower above historic building

Councillors in Birmingham have unanimously rejected plans to build a 42-storey skyscraper on top of a Grade-II listed former hospital.

The proposal for the city centre site involved building 300 flats directly above the Grade II-listed former Royal Orthopaedic Hospital building in 80 Broad Street.

At a planning committee meeting yesterday Conservative councillor Gareth Moore branded the scheme as ludicrous.

He said: "This is utterly bonkers. The idea you can stick a 42-storey tower block over a Georgian mansion is ridiculous."

Planning consultancy Marrons, acting on behalf of HJB Investments, submitted the plan which it said amounted to a "distinctive and innovative approach".

It said that the proposal allowed for the retention and careful repurposing of a Grade II-listed building to bring it back into public use, while simultaneously creating a striking 42-storey landmark tower that contains much-needed housing to accommodate the city's ever-growing population.

The historic building was last used as a nightclub and known as Islington Villa. Developers hoped to restore this and build a 134m tower for the rental flats, 20% of which would have been affordable.

Source; Construction Enquirer 

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