Birmingham Post & Mail

[Bachy Soletanche]

Hmm.. it's not really a building, it's more a very large window that stay up somehow!

Couldn't find a place to take a decent picture, so I didn't.

But:

I think simply cleaning the concreate would make this a good building...

Or maybe sticking reflective metal to give fake full length mirror effect or something, I dunno!

[smysticed]

Originally Posted by Stephen Robinson

I think simply cleaning the concreate would make this a good building...

I agree, this really wouldn't look that bad if they would just give it a scrub. Surely they'll have to once Snow Hill is all built, or it will sit there ruining all the nice views of it.

[Mercurius]

Looks like an older sister of the Colmore plaza!

[Erebus555]

Originally Posted by smysticed

I agree, this really wouldn't look that bad if they would just give it a scrub. Surely they'll have to once Snow Hill is all built, or it will sit there ruining all the nice views of it.

There are no plans to scrub or reclad it at the moment.

[majabl]

Originally Posted by smysticed

I agree, this really wouldn't look that bad if they would just give it a scrub. Surely they'll have to once Snow Hill is all built, or it will sit there ruining all the nice views of it.

It looks even worse given that the building next door is GLEAMING at the moment!

[Erebus555]

Originally Posted by majabl

It looks even worse given that the building next door is GLEAMING at the moment!

WMP do want it cleaned but they don't have the power to do anything. Embarrassingly, they don't even own the building.

[Steldemetriou]

Birmingham Development Company acquires former Post & Mail building
Jul 9 2009

The team behind The Mailbox is set to create its third landmark development in Birmingham after acquiring the vacant Post & Mail building on Colmore Circus.

The site has been vacant since the last October when Trinity Mirror’s Midland titles moved to a new home at Ford Dunlop. Since then there has ben significant interest in the building from a number of developers but a deal failed to materialise.

Birmingham Development Company, which helped transform the perception of Birmingham with The Mailbox and is currently building out The Cube, have not released full details about their plans for the building other than to say that it will become a new ‘landmark’ for the city.

BDC director Alan Chatham said: “It is exciting to find a building of this scale in such a prominent central location and at a value that provides us the opportunity to do something really special with it. Our company does not do ‘ordinary’, each of our schemes are complex and unique, and as such we will never build The Cube or The Mailbox again, we are looking to do something different that will make the most of the location and create a new landmark for Birmingham.

“The purchase of the site poses a fantastic new challenge for both BDC and BuildAbility. The Mailbox regenerated a part of the city that was previously unloved and The Cube continues to extend this offer in an area that has seen much further regeneration and residential development following on from our initial investment.

“We now plan to create a scheme that embraces what the Colmore Business District is about, whilst pushing the boundaries to provide an innovative scheme that will add to and complement the existing offer in the city core.”

The site is one of the most strategically important within central Birmingham - situated at the head of the traditional business centre of Colmore Row. The nine storey building, constructed in the 1960s, is located right next to Colmore Plaza, one of the biggest office schemes of its type outside central London and within just a few minutes walk to Snow Hill, New Street and Moor Street train stations.

In line with Birmingham’s Big City Plan, the proposed scheme will look to address the connectivity and lack of current amenities in the traditional business core. The 500,000 sq ft building could provide a mix of innovative retail, restaurant, leisure, hotel and office uses, together with car parking and would bridge the gap between existing commercial developments, and provide a welcomed destination and addition to the CBD.

Councillor Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council was delighted to hear about the purchase and said: “Birmingham Development Company is a company with vision and an excellent track record of delivering innovative projects and it is fantastic news that they have chosen another prominent building in the city as their next scheme. It is also great to see that even in today’s current climate, Birmingham still offers a real opportunity for quality property investment and development.”

GVA Grimley and Eversheds acted on behalf of BDC.

http://www.birminghampost.net/birmin...5233-24117458/

[Nacho]

Sounds interesting .Thanks for the article .

[Nacho]

They mention that they will do something "special" with the building . I was hoping they would demolish it and go for something big .However , current markets suggest that a remodelling would be better business .

[Erebus555]

This is fantastic news. We have seen what BDC are capable of in terms of their vision when you look at the Mailbox and The Cube.

It is a shame that the plans for this site originally were not carried forward. Woody mentioned that he had heard something as big as 40 storeys was planned and the amount of floorspace we heard was being considered for the site, you can imagine how massive the structure would be. However, this scheme had a major residential element.

Saying that, I am not expecting an entirely office-based structure here. BDC seem to like variety and I think they will be wanting to add a little something to this to make it special. I am very excited by this news indeed.

[feltip]

Could be our own Printworks (Manchester development).

[djay]

Originally Posted by feltip

Could be our own Printworks (Manchester development).

we have one of them, Star City lol

[fruit&nut]

This is good news - thanks Stel!

I didn't think the existing building was 9 storeys - does that include basements?

[OperateOnMe]

Sounds great about the post&mail building, getting back to the report... its pretty good, could have been developed more as well as better written but its good.


http://videos.icnetwork.co.uk/icbirm...Masterplan.pdf


Birmingham needs to pick its fights, and fight appropriately!!!
i.e. using the London comparison
Financially -act as a suburb of London -its all electronic anyway, London is financially great and we're close by!
Industrially -on a par, if not with better capacity and amazing skills than London, we all need to be supportive to our industries not look at their downfall and previous greatness, or even solely concentrate on conversion to high tech industry with no imput
Economically/politics -forcing Brum politicians to emulate the greats of the city, fighting for equality and justice... getting them to do really work hard especially when they are in Westminister! Plus getting what is now known as the West Midlands on board by focusing on better links/co-operation, transport, support..... (it's a large stumbling block)
Transport -work in co-operation with London and other cities, look at what works and what does not, do the best with what we have available, so more bus stations, tram stops, international destinations/airport, trains....
New Industries -market and sell the skills of the city's vibrant and forward looking youth, to the world, the world isn't just their oyster, Birmingham is the world's oyster....(feeling giddy)
City centre -look at European cities as well as look accross the atlantic towards NYC, that includes a Mayor not just Central Park
Living -Promote the unique gem that Brum offers in Living, not as busy as London but not quiet, plus a much better home counties area to live in (with green spaces) aka Greater Birmingham than London, a lot more arts and culture than Liverpool, better weather than Manchester/Leeds/Glasgow, better range of food than anywhere in the country....
Academia -like London free transport for children, look to other cities even get City of Brum Uni to copy the INTO projects
Digital -Force BT to provide fibre optic lines to Birmingham as a priority (not just showcase) and allow competition on VirginMedia's network with local policies/bylaws.
Leisure -go back to basics, forget other cities, reintroduce the Superprix, and bid for the Commonwealth games plus instead of just bidding for international sports, develop more acadamies maybe even a college of Sports!


You can hopefully see the gist i.e. Birmingham needs to not only listen and act on the report, it needs to do more and fight appropriately!

It also points to the fact instead of just having a City plan, it needs a developed Greater Birmingham plan!

[hammerb24]

Excellent news BDC have a reputation for moving quickly, look forward to their plans.

[woodhousen]

well the origianl developers who developed the colmore plaza (their name escapes me) had massive plans for both the post and mail and great charles street sites with large towers, all were looking good but they have now pulled out of both.

this is very good news that BDC have bought the site, and imho, the slight sugestion in the article that they want to keep the existing building should be taken with a huge pinch of salt. there is no way you can get 500,000 sqft and connectivity on that site using the existing building.....

this is great news though

[WintrySarcasm]

Originally Posted by Birmingham Post

The site has been vacant since the last October when Trinity Mirror’s Midland titles moved to a new home at Ford Dunlop.

YOU WORK THERE. How the arseing hell can a journalist, even one working for the Post, get their own sodding building wrong? GAAAAAH

[edgexedge]

Originally Posted by woodhousen

well the origianl developers who developed the colmore plaza (their name escapes me) had massive plans for both the post and mail and great charles street sites with large towers, all were looking good but they have now pulled out of both.

this is very good news that BDC have bought the site, and imho, the slight sugestion in the article that they want to keep the existing building should be taken with a huge pinch of salt. there is no way you can get 500,000 sqft and connectivity on that site using the existing building.....

this is great news though

the building will be pretty similar to how the Mailbox was originally, it was built to take printing presses etc
so they could probably do what theyve done before, add floors on top.
i dont see them putting any apartments there though, think of the views!


Colmore Plaza was Abstract Land, they sold it to Carlyle before it was finished, & theyre having problems letting it.
Abstract Land seem to have disappeared since.

[WintrySarcasm]

Originally Posted by edgexedge

Abstract Land seem to have disappeared since.

Wasn't there all that hoopla about the guy running it having not told his previous employers about it, and they sued etc etc

[U475 Foxtrot]

Originally Posted by edgexedge

Colmore Plaza was Abstract Land, they sold it to Carlyle before it was finished, & theyre having problems letting it.

That may have something to do with the rent they're asking for which is around £30 - £33 per sq ft

Fort Dunlop is around 90% occupied, has an equivalent grade A specification, is an iconic building and rent from £10 per sq ft.