Thanks for Feltip for delivering the details. :)

Location: 79-84 High Street, Birmingham city centre
Architect: 3D Reid
Developer: Cushman & Wakefield

Progression of the proposal:
Started with this news article:
Wellcome / Cushman to submit Brum retail plans
Lisa Pilkington 13/06/2008 11:30



The Wellcome Trust and Cushman & Wakefield Investors are to submit plans for a retail development in Birmingham city centre.

They will reconfigure 79-84 High Street – close to the Bullring shopping centre – to provide 43,000 sq ft of new shopping space over four floors.

Stores with floorplates of 11,000 sq ft will be on the ground and first floors, while up to 15,000 sq ft of space will be provided on the upper floors for office or leisure uses.

Work is expected to start later this year.

Churston Heard and Cushman & Wakefield are the agents.

And this render:
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z101/steldemetriou/highst.jpg

Planning application submitted on July 2nd:
Application number
C/03582/08/FUL

Date application received
02/07/2008

Date application registered
02/07/2008

Status
Under Consultation

Location
79-84 High Street, City, Birmingham, B4 7TE

Proposal
New full height, part projecting facade, removal of external canopy and increased floorspace to incorporate A1 & A2 uses at basement, ground & first floors & A1 - A5, B1(a) & D2 uses at second and third floors

Applicant name and address
Mr Dominic Ward
The Wellcome Trust Ltd
215 Euston Road
London
NW1 2BE

Agent name and address
3D Reid
12 Caroline Street
Birmingham
B3 1TR

Council decision
Under consideration
Decision date

Consultation details
Consultations Help
Start date
02/07/2008
End date
29/07/2008

Images from the planning app:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Planning%20Images/74HighStreet3.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Planning%20Images/74HighStreet4.jpg

And now the new renders:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Planning%20Images/74HighStreet1.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Planning%20Images/74HighStreet2.jpg

New Retail Development for Key Birmingham Site
08.07.08
Cushman & Wakefield Investors have released details of a new retail development in a 100% prime location on High Street, Birmingham designed by the Midlands office of architects 3DReid.

Located opposite the Pavilions Shopping Centre Entrance and close to the Bullring and intersection with New Street, the development will provide nearly 43,000sqft of flagship retail accommodation over 4 floors with the flexibility to divide into 3 separate units depending on specific requirements. Above the retail, there is again flexibility with the building suitable for both office and leisure uses, including health and fitness and restaurants.

This area has been long over due for a facelift and sits within a large urban block which has not been altered since it was built in the 1960’s. The intention is to remove the solid concrete canopy, which runs at low level around the perimeter of large sections of the urban block, the replacement with full height glazing to the retail frontage will substantially improve the visual impact. This prime retail area between the Bullring and Marks & Spencer is perfectly placed to attract either high profile single or multiple tenants as the floor plates are both generous and flexible. The joint letting agents on the development are Churston Heard and Cushman & Wakefield.

Robert Alston from Cushman & Wakefield, said: “The potential development allows up to circa 15,000 sq ft of 2nd/3rd floor space to be potentially used for leisure or restaurant uses, accessed from a designated lift/lobby area, as well as benefitting from prominent signage fronting High Street, which is visible from the Bull Ring entrance”.

Damian Sumner, Retail Director at Churston Heard comments: ‘Having secured vacant possession of the entire site, we are able to confirm deliverability to potential tenants which is key in the current market. The exciting redevelopment offers retailers with modern, well configured units at a time when there is limited comparable availability elsewhere in the city centre.’

Cushman & Wakefield Investors are looking to start on site towards the end of 2008, with handover proposed for Summer 2009.
http://www.3dreid.com/content/298/view

And larger renders:
http://www.3dreid.com/uploads/content/298/highstreet_web2.jpg

http://www.3dreid.com/uploads/content/298/highstreet_web.jpg

Looks like the design has changed since the article, looks good!

Is this not part of the "greater" big top then?

I like it, it's very "German or Spanish City" looking - and makes the crap around it look very drab!

^^As this snippit in the planning app says, the owners do not have any authority over the rest of the complex so they are restricted with what they can do.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Planning%20Images/74HighStreet3.jpg

It's a shame the rest of the shops on that side aren't included. It would have made that part of High St really good as it leads up to what will be Martineau Galleries.

Well I suspect Big Top will see a redevelopment post Martineau Galleries. Would almost be silly not to with potential for increased revenue through increased demand a redevelopment will bring for the site owners.

Be interesting to see what potential designs would develop to link with Martineau Galleries, Bullring, Corporation Street and this development.

Definitely agree it has a nice vibe F&N.

i really do like this scheme, shows what a good quality refurb can actually do...

... though if your waiting for wholesale redevelopment of the site then you will be waiting a LOOOOOOOOOOONG time!

Someone please refurb the shity tower on top of that... :bash::bash::bash::bash:

I think this site is just so prominent that a redevelopment right now is really out of the question. And the fact that it is owned by several groups, makes it more difficult to redevelop the whole thing at once. Unless they can join into an alliance like the Birmingham Alliance which consists of Hammerson, Henderson and Land Securities (and apparently the Pearl Group). These are major property investors with real ambition. At Big Top, the owners are really not that big and I am not sure that they would really want to enter a partnership to deliver something as major as a complete reconstruction of the site. It's a shame as this really has potential.

But as this proposal shows, not everything needs to be resolved through demolition. A good, thorough refurb can have an amazing effect. I would say the priority when it comes to refurbing this would be the New Street side and the apex facing the Bullring. The High Street side should then follow soon. I would love to see City Centre Tower getting a good refurb too. It has great potential, being so central. But because it is so hidden and so 'in-the-background', it just isn't receiving the attention it needs!

... though if your waiting for wholesale redevelopment of the site then you will be waiting a LOOOOOOOOOOONG time!

Who knows. We didn't see this coming and who knows what 5 or 10 years down the line will bring.

I think even a piecemeal approach as Erebus says has potential when you see how gorgeous this refurb looks.

The way time flies an all ;)

I think the council need to look at this site and prepare some supplementary planning guidance for this they can;t allow it to be developed piecemeal without an overall strategy in place.

The key for me is the need to cut a diagonal route through the site from Bullring to Warwick Passage / City Arcade. The footfall this would generate would create so much additional value in comparison to the current arcade passages through the site that it would compensate for the extra space required.. I'm sure i've put a plan i did for this up before but i've no idea where... i'm gonna do another on i think

Right incorporating the above plan for 79-84 High St and based on what i said in my post above here is an idea of what I think they should aim for with this site:

I've tried for a mix of unit sizes although overall they are probably a bit small.

I envision a covered mall with a nice high glass ceiling and 2nd floor gallery up the main axis between Bullring and Union Passage / Warwick Passage etc and also down to the 2nd New St entrance .

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e228/chris_engels/BigTopplan.jpg

I like that Engels.
Reinstates the link City Arcade had through to New Street.

I think piecemeal development could be more successful here than a complete redevelopment. Eventhough it is one building, there idea of separate styles alongside each other could prove successful. Each shop could have its own individuality. It would make the whole thing a lot less dominating on the High Street and on New Street.

Of course, it would have to be done respectfully to the shops around or it could end up as a real hodge podge!

I think the New St side is fine. Amazing what a clean can do, esp for the hotel. The High St bit should be improved though.

I'd say the New Street side would need work but not much. For example, the canopy should be removed and, of course, the facade needs cleaning! The High Street side desperately needs work though!

:banana:
Planning approval for this.


Application number
C/03582/08/FUL

Date application received
02/07/2008

Date application registered
02/07/2008

Status
Decision Made

Location
79-84 High Street, City, Birmingham, B4 7TE

Proposal
Erection of full height, part projecting facade, removal of external canopy and increased floorspace to incorporate A1 & A2 uses at basement, ground & first floors & A1 - A5, B1(a) & D2 uses at second and third floors (A1 shops; A2 financial & professional; A3 restaurants & cafes; A4 drinking establishments; A5 hot food takeaways; B1a offices; D2 assembly & leisure)

Applicant name and address
The Wellcome Trust Ltd
215 Euston Road
London
NW1 2BE


Agent name and address
3D Reid
12 Caroline Street
Birmingham
B3 1TR


Council decision
Approve - Conditions

Decision date
21/08/2008


Conditions and Reasons:

All building materials to be used (samples to be provided where requested by the Local Planning Authority). REASON: In order to safeguard the visual amenity of the area.

Facilities for the treatment and extraction of fumes to be provided before the occupation of the building(s). REASON: In order to safeguard the amenities of the occupiers of premises/dwelling(s) in the vicinity.

Details of servicing and delivery arrangements, to be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. REASON: In order to secure the satisfactory development of the application site.

Details of roller shutter to the arcade and the finishes for the canopy edging abutting the proposed scheme (samples to be provided where requested by the Local Planning Authority). REASON: In order to safeguard the visual amenity of the surrounding area.

Adequate facilities are to be maintained to enable people with mobility and sensory disabilities to use the building(s), in accordance with the details indicated on the approved plans. REASON: In order to secure the satisfactory provision of facilities and access for people with mobility and sensory disabilities in accordance with the standards adopted by the Local Planning Authority.

Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, or any order revoking or re-enacting that Order, with or without modification), no structures, extensions, satellite antenna, apparatus or plant of any sort, (including structures or plant in connection with any use for telecommunications systems), are to be erected on any roof, or within the curtilage of the premises without the prior written consent of the Local Planning Authority. REASON: In order to safeguard the visual amenity of the area.

This permission relates to the details shown on Drawing Numbers 073032-D-01 D, 073032-D-02 D, 073032-D-11 D, 073032-D-12 D, 073032-D-13 D, 073032-D-14 D, 073032-D-15 D, 073032-D-16 D, 073032-D-17 C, 073032-D-18 C, 073032-D-19 C and 073032-D-20 B and shall not be altered unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. REASON: In order to define the permission.

No sound reproduction or amplification equipment (mechanical or electrical), shall be installed or used in, or adjacent to any part of the building(s) at any time for purposes of external use. REASON: In order to safeguard the amenities of the occupiers or premises/dwelling(s) to the vicinity.

The rating levels for cumulative noise from all plant and machinery shall not exceed 10dB(A) below the background level at any noise sensitive premises to the proposed development as assessed in accordance with British Standard 4142 (1997). Alternative levels and monitoring locations may be used subject to the prior approval of the Local Planning Authority. REASON: In order to safeguard the amenities of the occupiers of premises / dwelling (s) in the vicinity.

The level of the noise emanating from the entertainment premises (Leq,5min) shall be at least 10dB less than the background noise (measured in the absence of the entertainment noise) in octave bands from 63 Hz to 4 kHz at the façade of any noise sensitive premises. REASON: In order to safeguard the amenities of the occupiers of premises / dwelling (s) in the vicinity.

The development hereby permitted must be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission. REASON: To comply with Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, (this section limits the duration of the planning approval).

Birmingham City Council grants Planning Permission subject to the condition(s) listed below. The reason for granting permission is because the development is in accordance with: Policies 3.8, 3.10, 3.11 and 3.14 of the Birmingham Unitary Development Plan 2005, Places for All (2001) and the Shopfronts Design Guide (1995) which have been adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance.
View policies

Ooh good! I forgot to comment on this application. It got through the system pretty quickly though.

Forgot all about this scheme, and it really good from my point of view!

My only problem with it is that it makes the frontages either side of it look even worse!

^^ I don't see that as a problem myself. It'll embarrass the owners into doing something about it. Especially if retailers in the adjacent sides bugger off. WHSmith dropped plans to spend £1.5m on a top to bottom refurb of their store - the biggest and most profitable one they have - in favour of a new carpet and a lick of paint. The minute they find somewhere else suitable, they'll be off. Wouldn't be suprised if BHS up sticks to Martineau Galleries either.

The Birmingham Alliance may have to expand the retail provision in Martineau Galleries if there really is an exodus of retailers from Big Top!

Why is this being lorded while the failed attempt to jazz up the boring frontage with an interactive advertising feature next door? How on earth an advert 100m away can avert one's eyes from a statue of Nelson???

The Birmingham Alliance may have to expand the retail provision in Martineau Galleries if there really is an exodus of retailers from Big Top!

True. The one thing Big Top does have in it's favour is footfall. Against it is the shapes of the Major Space User units. BHS is split in two at the ground floor, and WHS have huge amounts of space which isn't used at all. Anyone remember the old Music & Video floor in the basement which is closed off now?

Really, it depends on what MG's Rents & Projected footfalls are, and how the arrival of MG could affect footfalls around Big Top. It may be that retailers from other parts of the city move into MG, leaving a better opportunity for the Big Top MSUs - for example, Boots may move from their current spot, leaving a decent sized unit for someone.

Be very interesting to see how this all pans out.

True. The one thing Big Top does have in it's favour is footfall. Against it is the shapes of the Major Space User units. BHS is split in two at the ground floor, and WHS have huge amounts of space which isn't used at all. Anyone remember the old Music & Video floor in the basement which is closed off now?



I remember it well! In fact I had no idea they'd closed off the basement..... I'm obviously not part of their footfall....

WHSmiths record department always makes me laugh....

A friend of mine at school got a job at the old Nelson House on Dale End - if anybody remembers that! He got sent out by his boss on a wind-up to buy "Wide eyed and Legless" by Marty Feldman and Arthur Askey! He went to Tempest who just laughed at him, but in WHSmiths they apologised for not having it and said they could order it for him.....:lol:

It's an old joke and probably lost on all you young 'uns! Sorry!

Why is this being lorded while the failed attempt to jazz up the boring frontage with an interactive advertising feature next door? How on earth an advert 100m away can avert one's eyes from a statue of Nelson???

Maybe the council have a financial interest in the Rotunda screen being commercially successful ? after all they are putting money into it. Not good to have another screen right next door, potentially after the same advertisers. Impartial planning :lol:

I'm glad they refused the planning application for that screen! With this pretty much next door to it, it should convince the owner to do something more substantial with the frontage!

This is a refurbishment. If this is a refurbishment, then I must know what the existing building looks like before it gets the refurbishment takes place. I hope the existing facade looks boring.

Here you go Jim :)

http://i43.tinypic.com/30ruyh2.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Planning%20Images/74HighStreet2.jpg

Why are they retaining those two 60's blocks either side?

They're owned by different landlords. It's hoped that the refurbishment of this address on the block will prompt the others to get their act together and follow suit. :)

Because they are part of a much larger complex. Personally I would like the facade either side to be cleaned up with an improved ceiling system / lighting to the undersides of the shelter run.

There are so many buildings along New Street that would look fantastic if they were cleaned up, Britannia Hotel a prime example! It look's shite with all that grime on the walls, do the council not have powers to force the up keep of privately owned buildings

http://i43.tinypic.com/30ruyh2.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Planning%20Images/74HighStreet2.jpg

The refurbished building looks like you demolished the existing building and replaced it with a new one. If you want ti refurbish the building properly, then you should have went with the render on the first post.

^^What? :?

i think he means the 1st render on the 1st page is a lil different and looks better in his opinion...maybe

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z101/steldemetriou/highst.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Planning%20Images/74HighStreet3.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Planning%20Images/74HighStreet4.jpg

^^That render at the top of your post does not apply to the diagram below from the planning application. The render you just posted is the old one...

This will be a nice improvement but it will look so odd if they do nothing about the buildings either side, it will be a mix that looks out of place. If they arnt going to refurbish all these units in one go i think i would rather them just give then a good scrub to clean them up. Its just not gonna look right like this.

I agree, the canopy will look a little bizzare

It will look bizzare but think about it in the long run - there is a very good chance that the land owners either side will see what is being done here and seriously consider improving their plots to match (or even excel) this one. This refurbishment is going to push up demand for these particular units and will certainly win more customers' hearts than what is currently there - whether it will attract more customers is a different matter because it's all down to the actual retailer occupying the space!

I think Cannon House has set a precedent here and every tired 60s facade will be improved in recognition of how a refresh can improve streetscapes dramatically.

Just walked past this site this morning, and there was a large number of guys inside in hard hats and high viz jackets- literally tearing the interior apart, i couldn't actually see what was being done because the windows were covered but it was definitley the sound of demolition. Fingers crossed this gets moving soon. :)

Then I think this needs to be moved to the construction forum! :pepper:

I'm Sure Woody'll put it in his 'to do' list

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a0-M0HIjsC4/SYtr5d_vV-I/AAAAAAAAAbE/hsbTusrwjEs/s200/lazy-man.gif

Update of hoarding round the site.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Construction%20Bham%202/14March09HighSt1.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Construction%20Bham%202/14March09HighSt2.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Construction%20Bham%202/14March09HighSt3.jpg

does anyone know if we are getting the render with the angled windows or the one with flat glass......?

The angled glass Brum. The flat one was an earlier design.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Planning%20Images/74HighStreet2.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Construction%20Bham%202/14March09HighSt3.jpg

So should this be in under construction now?

cool, is it just me or is Birmingham having a run of good design at the moment....exciting times

AHHHH yes :banana: been waiting for this bad boy to finally get under way!! I think it's really going to make this rather monotonous street much more interesting. And i can't agree with you more brum 2003, definitley exciting times....and who knows in the future this building (and possibly others who follow suit ) will provide a great link to martineau galleries.

Now for the shops either side please.

Yeah this does look exciting, but as for a link to Martineau Galleries, can anyone actually see that one starting any time soon?!

It jars a bit but that is more down to the neighbouring buildings. It shows what could be done to the Big Top in these recession times.

Think this might have to go in the construction sub-forum soon.

Update from today showing work taking place in the units.
(image clickable thumbnails)

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/1944/21mar09highst1.th.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=21mar09highst1.jpg)

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/1218/21mar09highst2.th.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=21mar09highst2.jpg)

Thanks for the update .

The hoardings are uglier now. Can this thread go in construction forum pleez?


http://www.trainonthebrain.plus.com/1204hs1.jpg

http://www.trainonthebrain.plus.com/1204hs2.jpg

Went passed this today and the canopy was getting its ass kicked!

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t318/john_Birmingham/april%2020th/DSCF2878.jpg

And CityGent has already asked, but can this be moved to the construction forum please?

nice to see....

so... Woody can we move this to the construction sub-forum please ;)

I live in the Rotunda and have been wondering what this development was for some time now, I walk past it several times a day and can see it from my window. Luckily I came across this forum and found out all the details. I'm impressed at what it's being turned into, a lot different from it's current state.

I've got a few pics of this development from the past few months. I'll try and get more as it develops.

Development is on the left (not yet started), taken in the February snow.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/DSC01418.jpg

Another shot from above as the snow melted.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/DSC01470.jpg

A shot from the ground before the develop began, not very clear.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/DSC01427.jpg

Development has begun, taken on the 12th March.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/DSC01578-1.jpg

This is the latest, taken just (Saturday 25th April, 01:10)
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/DSC01742.jpg

Welcome the forum RobBrum. Great spot for updates. Cheers for the pics :)

Welcome to the boards RB ; great photos :). Any news about the Rotunda's roof ?

Any news about the Rotunda's roof ?

None, there were several things discussed during development such as a rotating restaurant and a weather beacon but none of them materialised.

Floors 4-18 are all apartments, each floor is made up of single and duplex apartments. Floor 19 is a hotel operated by "Staying Cool", floor 20 is made up of 6 penthouses, one is owned by the hotel. Floor 3 is no-access, floor 2 has no apartments, access to the outdoor terrace is provided and also something else (possible adjacent building access).

Thanks for the pics Rob and welcome :)

floor 2 has no apartments, access to the outdoor terrace is provided and also something else (possible adjacent building access).

Floor two has three duplex apartments as I went round them couple weeks back with my friend who was looking to potentially buy. Because the duplex's cross the bank vault they had to cut through the vault which took them four months. List price for one was £400,000 but they would accept £225,000 for the one and £200,000 for another.

There are pictures of the view from the terrace on the rotunda thread.

If I win the lottery I think i'd seriously consider one.

Quick update:

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/DSC01812.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/DSC01813.jpg

Windows coming out for the scaffolding. Covers going up. This is going to be dusty work. :)

Thanks for the update .

Scaffolding has now gone:

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/DSC01952.jpg

Haven't they done a lovely job, very 1950's:lol:

:nuts: erm.......why has the scaffolding gone?

Maybe they have decided to use the dynamite afterall :D

On a serious note this cant be a good sign can it?

It was only being put up a matter of days ago

Im confused dot com :?

Maybe the scaffolding company has gone bust :dunno:

Not quite sure what's going on, it's been fairly quiet over there this week, the scaffolding pics were taken on Sunday and the latest one earlier today. I'll keep you updated if I see anything.

Walked past this morning and they have taken the barrier around the site (it probably has a name) all the way back to the doorways, not sure if they are working on the inside first.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/DSC02005.jpg

Looks to me like they've stopped work and sealed the site.

Nice that they've managed to make it look crap before they stopped work. They must belong to the Arena Central school of crap development.

maybe they were just one kind of contractor and we'll see another set start again soon

They are working on the interior. Had a good chat with some of them while filming outside HMV the other day.

Could be - demo contractors have finished now. I can't imagine they would even start work unless it was going ahead.

The new one doesn't have a canopy anyway does it?

Two vans turned up earlier and the highstreet was cordoned off, they had some sort of trailer attached. Turns out to be some sort of jet washhing equipment because they have hooked them up to the water supply outside the Rotunda. They are cleaning the highstreet, looks pretty good from what they've done so far:

Captured a short video clip of them in action and some pics:

yUc0tp0kj1c

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/DSC02028.jpghttp://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/DSC02029.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/DSC02030.jpghttp://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/DSC02031.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/DSC02032.jpg

Cool, you have a good view of some visually interesting work there!

Ahh, they have worked there way there quick. They started by 5 ways and up Broad Street last week, I then noticed Victoria Square was done later in the week.

I despise the paving on High St.

maybe they were just one kind of contractor and we'll see another set start again soon

Or perhaps in true Birmingham style we'll see nothing happen for months on end, and this site will become another city centre plot. lying untouched for ages :ohno:

No sign of any action for the past 2 weeks, looks like they packed up and went home.

I really like this. Glad its going ahead. It adds a real sense of variety to what is ultimately a bland stretch of the High Street.

Add some nice yellow lights at nightand i'll be nursing a semi.

Things may be progressing, saw some guys surveying the site eariler with the laser things on tripods.

And now the black protruding hoardings are back :nuts: Plus there's hoardings going up in the passage that connects High St to the old post office.

http://i43.tinypic.com/28k26x4.jpg

They were putting up scaffolding too when I went past earlier today.

Things are happening :)

should this be moved to the construction forum? of do we need to wait and see if they suddenly abandon the site again?

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t318/john_Birmingham/june%2018th/DSCF2963.jpg

Some photos from The Rotunda.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/hsbdg01.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/hsbdg02.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/hsbdg03.jpg

Thanks for the pics! I have never noticed that arched bit in the middle of the roof before! :)

Some photos from The Rotunda.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/hsbdg03.jpg

You be careful hanging out the window ;)

Nice little remote control toys they've got there! And who'd have thought there was a car park on top of boots.

Nice little remote control toys they've got there! And who'd have thought there was a car park on top of boots.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't know about that car park! Is it private for staff? If not where's the entrance to it?

Also, bit of an odd question but more on topic, how are deliveries etc made to the Big Top? I can't see any access roads or the like.

Theres an underground loading area, the entrance to which is by Boots. I think its also the entrance to the car park. I had to go in there once about 10 years ago, just after boots had taken over the building. Think it was mothercare before, or somthing like that.

Yeah, I never noticed the car park before, I can't normally see that far without opening the window. Here are some more pics from today, they are doing something on the roof.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/jspic0xf1.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/jspic1xf2.jpg

I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't know about that car park! Is it private for staff? If not where's the entrance to it?

Also, bit of an odd question but more on topic, how are deliveries etc made to the Big Top? I can't see any access roads or the like.

The entrance to the loading bay is on the corner next to the shoe shop (Deichmann is it called?), there is a lift somewhere in there which takes the cars up to the roof. Many moons ago I worked at River Island when it was opposite M&S, they didn't own a space though so never got to use it :ohno:

Theres an underground loading area, the entrance to which is by Boots. I think its also the entrance to the car park. I had to go in there once about 10 years ago, just after boots had taken over the building. Think it was mothercare before, or somthing like that.

It was Littlewoods.

Remember them? :)

I do.

Does anyone remember Fosters on the corner?

:yes:

Ah thank you all. How odd I never really noticed the entrances. Doesn't say much for my observational skills

I was nearly always getting runover by the vehicles pulling into the entrance on my way to Uni each morning. You notice a lot of the small details when you actually live in the city center rather than being a visitor. There is a hell of a lot of work that goes into keeping the Bullring looking ship shape that no one ever sees. They jet wash the paving and glass several times a month and there are cranes and scissor lifts working most nights.

I'm in Portsmouth for two weeks so it will be interesting to see this development when I return. Unfortunatly I'm moving out of the Rotunda soon as well so I won't be able to provide many more photos. I'll be sure to do a panaramic or something before I leave so I remember the view.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/DSC01418.jpg


http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/DSC01470.jpg




http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/hsbdg02.jpg

These pictures remind me of a Lowry painting with little stick people hurrying hither and thither in the cold, or with more colour in the spring. Excellent photos.

Some photos from The Rotunda.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/hsbdg01.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/hsbdg02.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/hsbdg03.jpg

does anyone know what the building was originally?

that curved roof, & the amount of round skylights, seems a bit fancy for office or storage use.

i dont know why, but looking at it, im thinking restaurant.

Can this go in the construction sub-forum now Woody?

It's nice to see construction work still going on with the doom and gloom of recession etc.

I notice that the visuals on the hoarding now show Orange and Barclays as shop fronts to two of the units instead of the usual generic shops for the remaining units. I assume this means that these have been signed up as tenants

Yep both Barclays and Orange are pre lets, with one unit remaining.

I've moved out of the Rotunda now, here are the last pics I took of the site on 19th July:

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/02.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/03.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/huntr2/04.jpg

Are They taking the Whole Building down?

Are They taking the Whole Building down?

looks like theyve taken down the top floor, it had a barrel roof

does anyone know what it was originally, seems unusual to have a barrel roof & that many roof lights, circular as well, for store rooms or office space.

I think it was the old Barclays Bank building so the offices on the top floor might have been more of the plush variety.

I've moved out of the Rotunda now, here are the last pics I took of the site on 19th July:


Thanks for the pics Rob .Was it a good experience living there ?

Thanks for the pics Rob .Was it a good experience living there ?

Yeah, the views were great and it's in an ideal location for reaching everything. It's not really practical in the long term though as the apartments are quite small and you do have a more limited selection of goods and services in the city center. The supermarkets nearby are more expensive than their outer city equivalents and the choice of broadband providers were very limited, no LLU services. As a student though it was fine, a lot better than the student accomodation.

Glad to hear it :) .

Couple of updates. Looks like they have pre-lets and also the steelwork for the jutting out bit is now becoming visible.

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/3729/79highst1.th.jpg (http://img179.imageshack.us/i/79highst1.jpg/)

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2927/79highst3.th.jpg (http://img183.imageshack.us/i/79highst3.jpg/)

http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/3776/79highst2.th.jpg (http://img2.imageshack.us/i/79highst2.jpg/)

Well, we already knew about the pre-lets for the retail units, but it's great news to see that the steelwork is going up, and so visibly too! Thanks for the shots. :)

got to say I've never been in this thread and after seeing the renders yesetrday in town , this looks awesome and just the kind of quirky stuff we need.

Didn't realise they were adding an extra floor to this.

Thanks for Feltip for delivering the details. :)

Location: 79-84 High Street, Birmingham city centre
Architect: 3D Reid
Developer: Cushman & Wakefield

Progression of the proposal:
Started with this news article:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Feltip/Planning%20Images/74HighStreet2.jpg


http://www.3dreid.com/content/298/view

The render and my photo.

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2927/79highst3.th.jpg (http://img183.imageshack.us/i/79highst3.jpg/)

I remember this place- I was there in 2006. It was unnormal that in the very heart of this so big city was such ugly building as this. Information and photos about this refurbishment is a very nice suprice :cheers:

They're really crackin' on with this, most the glass is in now!

They're really crackin' on with this, most the glass is in now!

Went passed today and it is certainly looking good, the glass is visible and i would of took a picture but with it being half term and thousands of people about i would have got trampled on. Hopefully get some pictures next week when more of the scafolding has been removed.

Do we have any idea who will occupy the building?? will it all be the one retail space?

I hope it would be some big high street name that we are missing in Birmingham.

Orange and barclays isnt it?

Yeah they're logos are on the hoardings at the bottom, indicating that.

:nuts: Cheers Erebus and mikey

maybe i should open my eyes when i next walk round town

I heard there was going to be a gym in the top floor of this development? If so have they got anyone signed up? Id love to see a david lloyds set up complete with indoor tennis and badminton courts aswell as the gym and saunas jacuzzis etc.

no signs, glass has gone in, its nothing special, looks like rotunda

Surely Barclays and Orange won't occupy the whole of this development.
Noticed that theyve already painted one unit in Orange's distinctive shade of Orange! Not even finished the building work and they've already started decoration!

I think it's a bit of a waste having such an iconic space, jut outs and a balcony-esque features all for a bank and a phone shop. Would a restaurant or boutique not be more fitting?

Surely Barclays and Orange won't occupy the whole of this development.


The investors plan to reconfigure 79-84 High Street, opposite the Pavillions shopping centre and near to the Bullring shopping centre, with 43,000 sq ft of shopping, leisure and office space. The floorplates will be 11,000 sq ft on the ground and first floors for retail with 15,000 sq ft on the other floors for office or leisure uses.

http://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/search/label/High%20Street

A snapette from Friday:
http://i36.tinypic.com/282f7ro.jpg

Oooo looking snazzy.

'ang about! Is that really High Street?! :eek:

very sexy snipet.... more of a tease though!!!!

btw has the big screen gone up at the end of high street

^^Nah not yet, from what I saw. Also, that snippet is really all that's gone in. The rest if just the steel frame so you can still see right through it. It's looking quality though, exciting stuff. :)

How the hell, is that sexy? Some strange people around! TBH it looks pretty shit can't see fuck all.

lol it looks good in real life

Went passed today and it does look good, it looks to be the same style as the bullring and makes it seem like an extension. I really hope this is just the first phase of plans to refurb the whole building.

How the hell, is that sexy? Some strange people around! TBH it looks pretty shit can't see fuck all.

Becase its 1000 times better than whats either side of it and directly opposite it! and come on, how can it be "pretty shit" think about it??

Is that an Oxymoron? GCSE english coming flooding back

Walked past it today, looks great, better than the renders IMO, can't wait to see it finished.. i wonder who else will take up the retail space, 2 floors of it right?

Sorry for the bad quality, was taken on my phones camera.

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t318/john_Birmingham/DSCF3190.jpg

Glassalicious. Thanks for the photo! :)

Stunning!

this is going to look great, now all they need to do is refurb the rest of the row

Thanks Bde we get the general idea...

It looks stunning in the flesh

But its a bit like Cinderella with her ugly sisters either side

Its really stunning! I think Cex need to move from the site to here, make more people know that Birmingham have one, and just to move outa that trampy spot

If you think about it, this really wasn't a refurbishment - it was more a reconstruction. They took off the roof, the walls, big chunks of the floors etc. and banged new stuff in it's place!

I reckon some folk on here need to look up the word 'stunning' in a dictionary...

The Orange shop looks ready to open from what i saw today

Yeah it is, and the interior is looking very nice. The signage display reminds me a bit of the Adidas store in the Rotunda podium. I'll post some pics in a bit. :)

Here are the promised pics and I'll include a shot of the scaffolding for the installation of the screen at the apex of the block as well.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2459/4100557445_2ca2dc035f_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2522/4100558567_e135c00091_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2613/4100559611_e6c1f12210_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2725/4101316864_2d2798e647_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2727/4101317880_fc95a5e8fb_b.jpg

It looks great. I never thought I'd say that about any part of this block.

This is fantastic, I like the way it stands out from the immediate surroundings, looks like a bit of modernity has broken through the row. But at the same time the buildings either side need an extra floor or two on top of them, or at the very least a good scrub.

This looks absolutely brilliant !!!

The rest of that row needs an update including the shops round the corner on the same side as the soon-to-be-erected screen.

So far, so good though :okay:

wow, this turned out much better than I thought plus true to the renderings too. I agree with everyone else that the immediate neighbours need some sort of scrubbing or renovation done to them

looking good, imo that row has always looked rotten this is just what it needs...(apart from demolition)

^^ Failing Demolition - which would surely be made more difficult now that this has happened, the whole structure would need a similar treatment. i.e. stripped back to it's bare bones and started again.

It's dark, cramped, suffers from poor ventilation which sucks dirt into the stores & the unit shapes are all wrong, ceiling heights are too low. A cheap refurb / reclad simply won't do.

We're only likely to see that happen if the Major Space Users, WHSmith, BHS & Primark agree to the disruption it will cause to their businesses. Or move elsewhere.

If they had thought this through maybe they could have redone this part but moved the tennants across so they wouldnt be disrupted to then work on their former units and keep doing so

If they had thought this through maybe they could have redone this part but moved the tennants across so they wouldnt be disrupted to then work on their former units and keep doing so

this whole site is made up of a few owners, not just one

Any news on any other retailers taking space here?

Love this refurb.. absolutely brilliant. Just needs a spruce up everywhere else on the block and set of ad-screens on the corner to New street... a la Piccadilly Circus.. provide a better view up the ramp than just seeing Phones4u......

:banana:

I am of the opinion that the tram line should have been extended down the High Street/New Street, then onto Stephenson Street instead of Corporation Street. This would have provoded full accessibilty to all shop frontages and a direct link between Wolverhampton and the Bullring

/Discuss...

I think that route would lend itself too much to the Bullring and the already active part of New Street. Having the route going down Corporation Street not only provides a direct access to Corporation Street shops, with them becoming a new focal point again, but it also places the Metro more or less equidistant from either end of New Street - it doesn't appear bias to any particular end.

I think that route would lend itself too much to the Bullring and the already active part of New Street. Having the route going down Corporation Street not only provides a direct access to Corporation Street shops, with them becoming a new focal point again, but it also places the Metro more or less equidistant from either end of New Street - it doesn't appear bias to any particular end.

Trouble is, with so many buses also using that route, the danger is that there could be so much congestion for something that only serves one route. It wasn't that I had the Bullring strictly in mind but with better organisation of traffic management it would probably be better not to interfere with the bus interchange, which already has a few problems during peak times (I happen to use a few services from here so have seen it first hand) - seriously, Corporation Street can get that blocked at times - and that's without having random cars driving down the street. So the main reasoning is that it would allow the trams to run at more regular intervals, especially important at peak times, preventing them from getting hooked up behind buses.

I do have a slightly more off the wall solution to this but I will get lambasted for mentioning it.....:shifty:

There won't be any buses using the route when the metro is extended down Corporation st.

Personally I'd have seen the Metro go down Bull st, past Dale end and High st, onto Moor st then under the tunnel and out onto Smallbrook Queensway. It may not go through the centre of town but it would link all three stations, provide an extra link for Eastside and all in one line, (And avoid any potential demolition of the back of Waterstones). The spur off to the Airport Via Digbeth could then be at Moor st station, giving Eastside a big interchange and perhaps another reason to demolish the Pavillions and replace it with something permeable!

Personally I'd have seen the Metro go down Bull st, past Dale end and High st, onto Moor st then under the tunnel and out onto Smallbrook Queensway. !

This was one of the routes debated in the nineties .Eventually Corporation St , the cheaper and shorter route ,was chosen terminating just after Five Ways .

Why not send the metro down Bull St, with a stop on high St, then down carrs lane with a stop outside moor st station, then down to the back of the bullring, then down digbeth and on to the Aiport via Coventry road like is planned.

THEN have a line which goes from Aston Uni -> Childrens hopsital -> down corportation st -> stephenson st -> the mailbox -> Park central and then why not all the way down the Bristol road to Rubery like in the good ol' days?

££££££££££

It wouldn't make much sense for the first extension of the metro to bypass New St, it's the main justification for getting a metro extension, if the extension for the existing line doesn't involve New St then the business case for it evaporates.

There won't be any buses using the route when the metro is extended down Corporation st.

Personally I'd have seen the Metro go down Bull st, past Dale end and High st, onto Moor st then under the tunnel and out onto Smallbrook Queensway. It may not go through the centre of town but it would link all three stations, provide an extra link for Eastside and all in one line, (And avoid any potential demolition of the back of Waterstones). The spur off to the Airport Via Digbeth could then be at Moor st station, giving Eastside a big interchange and perhaps another reason to demolish the Pavillions and replace it with something permeable!

Just what I was thinking ^^ Although to take it a further step and knock down Pavillions is inspired :)

problem with the metro is they built the shit route first!

problem with the metro is they built the shit route first!

They built the cheapest route first. It's 98% old Heavy Rail Trackbed remember?

yeah i know, thats what i ment.....:-/

In fact the street running section between Priestfield stop and St George's in Wolverhampton is the most uncomfortable .It's a smooth ride on the old trackbed .:)

The new Barclays Bank is being fitted out and theres some pictures up outside on the hoardings showing the interior

has the led screen been installed above phones 4 u yet?

The simple answer is no, it is strange as the scaffolding has been taken down and there is no sign of anything whatsoever having been done on the corner.

Maybe the delivery of the screen has been delayed?

The scaffolding come down on the 25th of November as erliest as i knew so its been a while

I finally went down to see this and get some decent pictures, it's a really good little development, the buildings next to it really need a refurb and another floor or two adding to them to improve the streetscape.

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w314/concretelover/aa01-1.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w314/concretelover/aa03-1.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w314/concretelover/aa04-1.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w314/concretelover/aa02-1.jpg

Great pictures i_l_c thanks for braving the christmas crowds to get the shots

didn't realized they'd put doors fronting that passageway to bhs

Whenever i walk past this and see the CGI's on the hoardings i think they should read "Making Next Door Look Shit "

They'd better do something about the neighbours, it's going to look strange if it's left there on its own. There's a lot of potential to improve High Street, hopefully the owners will realise that now.

Whenever i walk past this and see the CGI's on the hoardings i think they should read "Making Next Door Look Shit "

LOL - thought exactly the same - :cheers:

ILC "the buildings next to it really need a refurb and another floor or two adding to them to improve the streetscape."

I thought architecture was supposed to go the other way around. You don't just design something that bears no relation to what's next door (unless there are plans for redevelopment???). I have a feeling that the developer wanted to squeeze as much out of this site as possible and so we end up with another context-less building.

Gash

Monkey Spanker, if humans had followed that logic we'd never have progressed past caves.

The buildings either side of this development are not high enough to make the most use out of a city centre location, and they have a detrimental impact on the coherence of the streetscape, they simply don't enclose the street enough.

I think when the neighbouring buildings are so poor it is a pretty good idea for a developer to create a building that stands out from them, so as to detract attention away from the shabby surroundings, I'm thankful to them for this development.

ILC "the buildings next to it really need a refurb and another floor or two adding to them to improve the streetscape."

I thought architecture was supposed to go the other way around. You don't just design something that bears no relation to what's next door (unless there are plans for redevelopment???). I have a feeling that the developer wanted to squeeze as much out of this site as possible and so we end up with another context-less building.

Gash


So what you're basically saying is that because the buildings either side are crap this building should have been redeveloped to look crap as well, just to fit in. What a rediculous comment. If that was true then the only way to develop this site would to have been to demolish the lot. Never going to happen!

It's not bad, just hope the finishing is good, unlike Digbeth Coach Station, wil they be finishing the inside of the roof? and do I see something missing off the furthest extruding edge?

It isn't finished yet it seems. Nice job though and because of the treatment to the linking arcade will surely put the pressure on the Big Top people to do something to the other arcade and empty shop units and then hopefully that will lean onto the Britannia Hotel to drag themselves into the 21st Century. I live in hope!!
Actually I was thinking of some new tenant options for the old post office and that lovely arcade behind Big Top - surely some coffee chain or restaurant could take some space in these places I say because the footfall is pretty high around here.

Those doors to the arcade are a security guard's dream! So many times have I seen someone run from HMV with an armful of CDs and manage to escape into the arcade, never to be seen again. Now they run into a faceful of glass and metal. Lovely. :)

So what you're basically saying is that because the buildings either side are crap this building should have been redeveloped to look crap as well, just to fit in. What a rediculous comment. If that was true then the only way to develop this site would to have been to demolish the lot. Never going to happen!

Not really 'rediculous', just a point on the scale and massing of the building in general. I am not saying that they should copy the finish of the building next door, just pay respect to the scale. I just think its funny how buildings can just pop up like this without care or attention to context.

Here's hoping there is a long term plan to redevelop this zone, after all there is a reason for everything in design.

There is no possible way that you can consider that the scale of a 4 story building does not to pay respect to that of a 3 story one :bash:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

EXACTLY!!!!!!

Especially when you consider that for a location as central as this even 4 stories isn't exactly huge. IMO it's the surroundings that need to change (and about time too!!), not this beauty!

Went past this today and Barlcays bank is being fitted out and i think theres pictures up of the interior and also people are working on the upper floors of this.

Also is there going to be a balcony bit on the side where the glass goes back into the building on the right as theres doors on them?

Just looked at the renders and answered myself lol

Still wondering who else will be taking space here.

Upper floor is apparantly being taken by a gym operator, can't recall where i read this though.

Ive got afeeling it will be LA fitness on temple row where i go as they will eventually have to move from under the old bank of england building as it has been approved for redelopment.

Yeah the upper floor is deffinatly going to be a gym.

I think it would be good if DW Sports looked at the gym so we could get a gym combined with a sports store as i think the retail arm of it would better suit for its location.

Also what do you think will happen to the old Barclays unit next door when they move into this new development as its a bit of a wierd unit being upstairs with an escalator?

Its a awkard unit, i can't see it been anything else for now when Barclays do move.. Maybe we could see redevlopment of the corner units with the new LCD screen!?

Probably not the right thread for this but the new screen on the corner has recieved temporary approval. There's a committee date set for the 11th of Feb.http://eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=398308&XSLT=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/Birmingham/xslt/PL/PLDetails.xslt&FT=Planning%20Application%20Details&DAURI=PLANNING&XMLSIDE=

Well actually the screen does have approval but this is so that they can show visual adverts instead of just still images. Either way we should see some movement on this now :)

explains why work hasnt started then!

The original argument against the corner screen was that it would ruin the view if looking up at the statue of Nelson from the balcony in Bullring - I tried it the other day and I found that the ad screen would be lost amongst the other restaurant fronts like Cafe Rouge and Urban Pie on either side. Pure fantasy from the dinosaurs in planning and probably a little mischevious too.

it was total bo**ox, i was involved in this, and readily realised that this would not endanger the setting of ether the nelson statue or the catherdral.... but the city council nor the civid society wanted it. the ciivic society hated it for its location - which was easily argued against, and the council didnt want a large media screen to out-trump or be seen as a better alternative to their own troubled scheme.

it was therefore unsupprising that when it went to committee, meetings behind closed doors had already decided for no good reason it should be rejected, and the committee voted to refuse advertisement consent. i dont know why they bother though, as when it went to appeal, the inspector commented on their being no single reaon the council could have rightly refused it!

the interesting world of planning

certainly wouldn't endanger the Cathedral as its on Colmore Row :| ;). Yeah I find it hard to find any reason why it would threaten St Martin's or the Nelson statue unless for a warped notion of something 'modern' being near something old. Particularly with the incline of the slope and there being other visual attractions as Morestoreys said with Cafe Rouge it's not a massive beacon threatening the streetscape as they seem to suggest.

I think someone stated above, this was more to do with the council not wanting competition for the Rotunda screen, which it was backing...not sure why they don't think there is room for more than one advertising screen in the city centre.....

i think that did play a part i accept, but still i think more of the fact that this screen would highlight the councils failing of the centenary sq screen

i think that did play a part i accept, but still i think more of the fact that this screen would highlight the councils failing of the centenary sq screen

too true - they seem to have an odd vuiew when it comes to digital screen and locations - ie putting one in Victoria Square and they contradicting themselevs with reasins to turn down the rotunda square one :nuts: BCC eh got to love em

What's going on with the one in Victoria Square anyway? Is it up yet?

not yet last time i was there, which was a week ago. last we heard they were being investigated weren't they?

well i believe everything has now (or is very close) to being ressolved, so things shuld start moving???

Upstairs Barclays looks very impressive.

Found these shots from the Ibex Interiors website which shows the work done to the upper floor. http://www.ibex-interiors.co.uk/retail-restaurant/wellcome-trust.html

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/3-2.png

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/2-2.png

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/1-3.png

Thanks Erebus

looks almost Airport like in the second shot

^^ Yes it does, or a new underground station.

Or a virtually unused corridor to BHS and nowhere in particular. The area would benefit so much more with a proper arcade from Bullring Square to City Arcade.

The other arcade next to Primark needs attention with the whole of Big Top getting a kick up the arse.

Found these of flickr :) http://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4376325890_9bdf7ef4ef_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4375574307_6e908f8bb9_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4376328554_493234be0a_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4375582585_611bc50d24_b.jpg

I was going to say

no way are they your pictures.....

...they weren't taken from a bus :)

They would have been before about 1987!

A message has appeared in Barclays High St branch saying the new branch will be open on 16th April.

They would have been before about 1987!

I thought Buses ran along High street up until the late 1990's?

Finally got around to putting some of my photos onto Flickr that I've had in my Picasa library from some time. You can view the set at http://www.flickr.com/photos/rb-rt/sets/72157623487913216/. It contains a few I took whilst I lived in the Rotunda of the building under construction.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4379205607_d5847fa81f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rb-rt/4379205607/)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4379207507_2a5461b24e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rb-rt/4379207507/)

It's strange how much it looks like the 3D rendering that was made before construction, I mean it still looks like it isn't real even in real life.

Probably due to the fact that it look so out of place on High Street

high street and new street barclays will close down when this opens?

high street and new street barclays will close down when this opens?

Yes- I had a letter from my bank a few weeks ago confirming this

Are Barclays still keeping their branch on Colmore Row or has some of this already moved to Snow Hill?

Yes- I had a letter from my bank a few weeks ago confirming this

Makes sense with the branch on New Street / Bennets Hill as the owners of Shell Mex building due to give it a refurb soon.

The Colmore Row has only recently had an expensive looking refurb. However, I imagine some of the backroom staff have moved to Snowhill.

I was going to say

no way are they your pictures.....

...they weren't taken from a bus :)

Took these today to prove you wrong BDE lol

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4386843277_2760bf1e0f_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4387601762_45106499b9_o.jpg

Looks like they're starting to install the balustrade now. Cheers. :)

The Balcony glass is on now, looks impressive!

Agreed :) I had a peep into Barclays last night too, it's looking very impressive in there - like an enormous version of the Colmore Row branch, but on a gargantuan scale :p

good, it will have to do tha job of the High Str and New Str branches which will be closing as a result of this

I knew the high street branch was closingbut I didn't realise new st was :s

It's also going to have to do the saturday work that colmore row currently only just copes with....and colmore row is stupidly busy on a saturday all day, so with this being even more central I dare not go near it at the weekend - even with it's gargantuan two-floor size, I have serious doubts of it coping, they really need to have both branches open...with the customers they get through at the moment I'm sure they could justify it.

The Gym concept is completely different to any other health club offering in the UK. We provide access to health and fitness facilities, in quality surroundings – 24 hours a day. Furthermore, we are able to do this without the need for a contract.
http://www.thegymgroup.com/take-a-gym-tour-birmingham.asp

Wow gotta be the first gym i know thats open 24 hours. Not sure who would want to go the gym at say 2am:nuts:

^^The Australian Olympics athletics team? :dunno:

Sounds like an interesting idea to me :p I'm the sort of nutter that goes for a random walk at 2AM before bed so I suppose people like me - only I hate gyms :s

Also, if they're opening that in spring this year they must already be working on it, surely? The only work I can see being done right now is on getting Barclays ready and the finishing touches on the building itself (i.e. the balcony barrier going up).

I also didn't notice on the plans where people access the upper floors from the outside (I presume this can be done as there will be different plots up there?)

And to top of this round of questioning, is there any word on who will be taking on the third ground floor plot? I don't recall seeing the for let signs up for a while but equally I don't recall any announcements as to who actually let the place...

These pictures are not very good i know lol sorry!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4479738164_e638495d61_b.jpg

Phone Boxes >:(
You can see the balcony now, inside Barclays looks really nice, theres a rotating LED sign saying 'Welcome To Barclays Bimingham' cool :)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4479110179_1f9dc51444_b.jpg

There appears to be a JD store inbetween them phoneboxes... :sly:

Lol i'v never understood why that is there, no advertiments or nothiing just a random JD sign

how random

i love the fact that this scheme is so amazing, but hate the fact this ends up making the surounding look shit!!!!

^^ yeah it's somewhat rubbish that god things only seem to accentuate bad, but I suppose i's the fastest way of making the bad things good...

Great, I love what they've done here but in order for it to not stick out like a sore thumb, the really need to remove all the canopies from the rest of the site and tidy up the stonework/cladding on those old buildings...

it really doesn't fit in with the context of the building's next to it, but they have no architectural merit - so shows what might become of them.

Overall it looks good, but why oh why isn't there some sort of cover behind the glass the behind Barcleys sign, you can see the concrete and other bits and looks a bit of a mess IMO :ohno:, it takes away from the rest of the development.