Paradise Circus first phase gets go-ahead

Argent has received planning approval on behalf of Hermes Investment Management for the first phase of the £500m Paradise Circus development in Birmingham.

This planning approval covers 350,000 sq ft of office development across two buildings – One and Two Chamberlain Square, designed by Eric Parry and Glenn Howells respectively - and the enhancement of the public space in Chamberlain Square. Practical completion of this first phase is scheduled for the end of 2018.

When complete, the overall Paradise Circus development will comprise 1.8 million sq ft of offices, shops, cafes, restaurants and a hotel in up to ten buildings in Birmingham’s civic and historical centre.

Demolition of the existing buildings is due to begin in the next few weeks with construction on the Eric Parry-designed One Chamberlain Square scheduled to begin in spring 2016. The 172,000 sq ft office building will include a large roof terrace at the sixth floor level, along with restaurant and retail space on the ground floor.

This will be followed by Two Chamberlain Square in Autumn 2016, along with the refurbishment of Chamberlain Square.

Glenn Howells Architects has designed the seven storey building, which will feature a five storey portico fronting onto Chamberlain Square and a roof terrace on the sixth floor. Ground and upper ground levels will provide restaurant and retail space. 

Grant Associates Landscape Architects is overseeing the refurbishment of Chamberlain Square, which include includes a new, wide pedestrian street through the centre of the development, linking the upgraded Chamberlain Square to Centenary Square.

Rob Groves, senior projects director at Argent, said: “Now we have the City’s permission, we will move forward on delivering these two exceptional office buildings and public space enhancements and bring our plans to create this prestigious business address at the civic heart of Birmingham into reality.  As well as the two new office buildings, the attractive wide streets and squares will enhance the remarkable historic setting, which has one of the UK’s finest collections of Victorian civic buildings.”

The Paradise redevelopment is being brought forward through Paradise Circus Limited Partnership (PCLP), a private-public joint venture with Birmingham City Council, with the private sector funding being managed by Hermes Investment Management with Argent acting as development manager. The enabling and infrastructure works, currently underway, have been funded through an approved £61m investment by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP).