Birmingham’s ambitious £81 million office development at Arena Central is back with planners despite past approvals.
- The development at 5 Centenary Square has seen design tweaks following expired planning consents.
- Kier Property seeks permission for a ten-storey building with updated facilities including cycle hubs and terrace.
- The project is situated at the strategic corner of Broad Street and Bridge Street near major landmarks.
- Arena Central has been a significant site for office-led developments, welcoming key infrastructures over the years.
The plans for a new £81 million office development in the heart of Birmingham city centre have been re-submitted to planners. This follows previous consents granted in 2019 and 2021, which have since expired, leading to further design adjustments by the developers.
5 Centenary Square is poised to be the third office block within the Arena Central project, located opposite the Library of Birmingham. The latest application envisions a ten-storey office building featuring two floors dedicated to plant services, a landscaped terrace on the top floor, and basement provisions for 12 accessible car parking spaces along with a 160-space cycle hub equipped with changing rooms.
Significant design changes include relocating cycle parking from the basement to the lower ground floor, thus allowing direct access from Bridge Street. Additionally, the development incorporates a small unit envisaged for retail or café usage fronting onto the Bank Court public square. The reception area has been enlarged, facilitating better access to the cycle hub and its core, offering greater flexibility for potential tenants.
Spanning 280,863 sq ft, the proposed structure is expected to accommodate approximately 1,385 occupants. A detailed two-year construction programme anticipates creating the equivalent of 421 full-time jobs, injecting further employment opportunities into the region.
Arena Central has seen the successful introduction of numerous buildings, including a Holiday Inn Express and HSBC UK’s headquarters at 1 Centenary Square. In 2021, a government hub commenced operations at 3 Arena Central, housing departments such as HM Revenue & Customs. This continuous development underscores the area’s importance as a business centre.
The re-submission of designs for 5 Centenary Square marks a continued effort to enhance Birmingham’s commercial landscape.
