Towering triumph for Birmingham

Doone Silver’s design for a new landmark tower in Birmingham for Sterling Property Ventures and Rockspring Property Investment Managers has been given planning permission from Birmingham City Council. ABC+D discovers more…

103 Colmore Row will be a distinctive 211,000ft2 structure, replacing the former 1970s NatWest Tower. At 26 storeys and 336ft/102.5m high, the £60m structure will be the tallest building in Birmingham’s central business district.   

Comprising 200,000ft2 of office space over 19 floors, and with floorplates of up to 12,000ft2, the scheme will also feature a terrace on the 18th level, for the exclusive use of the occupier. The building is capable of accommodating around 2,000 workers.

John Silver, director at Doone Silver Architects commented: “103 Colmore Row will be a landmark addition to Birmingham’s emerging skyline and a strong indication of the city’s vibrant economy.”

The project also includes 15,000ft2 of leisure space. At street level, plans include a winter garden and café facing Colmore Row and a restaurant/bar along the Newhall Street façade. There is provision for an 8,600ft2 restaurant at the top of the building, to include a 2,900ft2 lantern space offering 360° views across the city. The apex of the building will be 243m above sea level.   

The demolition of the exisiting 22-storey concrete-clad tower will begin in early August and the project is due to complete by Spring 2018.   

Peter Graham, construction director of Sterling Property Ventures, said: “We’re very pleased that Birmingham City Council has acknowledged our unwavering commitment to this project and this great city. It means we can now move this project off the drawing board and on to site, replacing an outdated, inefficient building with a modern, landmark office development that Birmingham can be proud of.”   

Three agents have been appointed to advise on lettings: Colliers International, DTZ and Knight Frank.   

Matt Long, director in the national offices team at Colliers International, said: “The timescale for delivery means we can work with interested occupiers to ensure their workspace matches their aspirations.”   

Eric Linden, European director at Rockspring, said: “We have been encouraged by the support for our plans for this landmark development, from the people of Birmingham and potential occupiers, as well as from the City Council and other stakeholders. Rockspring is pleased to be playing such a significant role in the improvement of this prime area of Birmingham; a city we view as a strengthening target for regional investment in the UK and where there is significant demand for quality, modern office space.”   

Doone Silver is one of the UK’s leading architecture practices with a portfolio of significant commercial projects. Director, John Silver, has a long-standing connection with the Colmore Row project having designed a previously consented scheme for the same site.   

Sterling Property Ventures specialises in commercial property development, finance and investment. The company is bringing forward more than 860,000ft2 of development in Birmingham, including 200,000ft2 at 103 Colmore Row, the first in a new generation of office towers to be built in the city. Sterling’s founding directors have more than 50 years combined experience in property and construction and a track record in Birmingham, having developed Colmore Plaza and 5 St Philips Place.   

Rockspring Property Investment Managers is a professional investment fiduciary specialising in the acquisition and management of commercial property throughout the UK and continental Europe on behalf of global, blue-chip institutional clients. Rockspring has more than 30 years’ experience in creating value through property investment management. 103 Colmore Row is Rockspring’s first development in Birmingham.