[wjfox]

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=596

2006-05-14 >

Arena Central To Be A UK First

The decade long Arena Central saga in Birmingham city centre looks close to finally coming to fruition after years of uncertainty.

Having been surrounded by numerous rumours recently, Steve Evens, the head of Miller Developments has finally broken the silence to give Skyscrapernews.com an exclusive update on how the development is progressing.

Following a number of rumours stating that a final height of the tower has been decided upon, it would appear that this is still not the case. However, Miller is still committed to maximising consent for the tower which currently stands at over 180m.

Correspondence between Miller Developments and Birmingham city council continue to be close and positive strides are being made. Although the height of the tower is yet to be decided, it would appear a final design of between 40 and 50 storeys has been adopted. A number of high-spec renderings have been drawn up in an effort to ensure that all views of the tower are of the highest quality and it relates properly to its surroundings.

Steven Evens stated "the calibre of the tower will be higher than anything currently in the city and also in Manchester".

The design of the tower is to be a UK first and was likened to "a tube of toothpaste, squeezed in at one place and bulging out at others".

After a long hiatus, the pace at which this development has been progressing has suddenly increased in recent months. Arena Central Ltd, a joint venture between Miller Developments and Andy Ruhan's Bridgehouse Capital attended this years MIPM conference in Canes to market the scheme to the international office market.

Also, in an atempt to have more influence in the development of Arena Central, Birmingham city council purchased the former TSB bank house, the last remaining stake of Hampton Trust in the Arena Central project.

A formal application should finally be in sooner than later and planning permission is expected to be received before the end of the year. Once approved, work is expected to start quickly.

Arena Central
Cost: £500m circa
Use: Residential/Office/Hotel/Leisure
Status: Approved
Start: 2012
Finish: 2018 est.

NEWS: 300 bed hotel will begin construction Q4 2012. V Tower will proceed once residential market picks up. Increase in office space approved from 500,000 sqft to 800,000 sqft.

Design's for masterplan and hotel still to be revealed.

V Tower

 

[Accura4Matalan]

I dont understand the headline. How will it be a 'UK first'?

 

[samsonyuen]

"the calibre of the tower will be higher than anything currently in the city and also in Manchester".

...and also in Manchester. LOL No rivalry there!

 

[Guest]

Thats fair to say. But dont believe Birmingham isnt doing anything with itself

Arena Central will be located opposite Orion 1 in this image. Orion 2 is also due to start within the next 2 weeks. Aswell as rumoured twin 125m residential towers for New Street just behind orion.

Arena Central will be opposite the 100m alpha tower just to the right of Orion the tower U/C in this picture

Not to mention, Birmingham is very cosmopolitan and they are trying to use the exisitng architecture and work it into the new developments which is a major plus

 

[Jack Rabbit Slim]

Those two pics are very impressive!

Btw Accura, your avatar is starting to freak me out!

:cheers:

 

[Agent Vengence]

I like the idea that its going to be built soon after approval, but that isnt usually the case in this country though is it?

 

[Audiomuse]

Great news. I visited Brum 2 months ago. It has nice buildings and the Jewlery Quarter is nice but it does not seem like a city of 960,000 to me. It has a nice Indian road too. Lots of exotic Indian stores.

 

[Guest]

Brum really needs news within the next few weeks on some project. Its so dry after a few months of constant news.

 

[FLD]

Brum really needs news within the next few weeks on some project. Its so dry after a few months of constant news.

Be patient, our time is nearly here!

 

[Guest]

Its been "nearly here" for the last 7 years on these forums

 

[FLD]

Its been "nearly here" for the last 7 years on these forums

It is a $1 billion project, they don't happen in British cities every week! This isn't Dubai, and Birmingham has got to get this project right for the next generation!

 

[Guest]

It could've been right 3-4 years ago. Brum had stalled since HCT and AC were proposed. Its picking up now again, but I cant help feel weve lost the edge and others have gained it.

Im just happy there are a few more towers coming through now.

190m?
175m
152m
142m
122m
110m
100m

Plus a few others 100m+ planned else where in the city and the mysterious tower which is due to be bigger then all, its all starting to pick up again.

 

[CrazyMac]

It is a $1 billion project, they don't happen in British cities every week! This isn't Dubai, and Birmingham has got to get this project right for the next generation!

Good, because at its current rate of progress, its only the next generation that will actually get to use it.....

 

[Guest]

Ohhh. Bitchy

The tower will apparently be up to or over the 100m mark by late 2007 which means a construction stat of either late 2006 or very early 2007.

 

[CrazyMac]

Ohhh. Bitchy

The tower will apparently be up to or over the 100m mark by late 2007 which means a construction stat of either late 2006 or very early 2007.

And when exactly are we gonna see some pictures/renders of this supposed building along with a construction timetable?

 

[FLD]

And when exactly are we gonna see some pictures/renders of this supposed building along with a construction timetable?

During June ............ 2006, just in case you were going to ask!!

 

[Guest]

Thats next month CrazyMac by they way

Im hoping for a few more press releases during June about other major porjects aswell.

 

[CrazyMac]

Thats next month CrazyMac by they way

Im hoping for a few more press releases during June about other major porjects aswell.

Pffft...its always 'next month' and construction is always due start 'next year'...

Show me bricks and mortar, glass and steel on site, then i'll be impressed..

 

[Guest]

You're absolutely correct.

Some might be amazed to know Birminghams current tallest is the BT tower at 152m (502ft) and its tallest habitable tower is 122m (400ft) now - 5 years ago ...

Novermber, 2000
News: Birmingham tower could top 1000 feet

Birmingham: On Sunday, November 12th, Birmingham City Council revealed it's intentions to create a mid-Manhattan in the Broad Street/Paradise Circus area of the city.

The 50-storey City Tower, 44-storey Holloway Circus Tower and twin 30-storey New Paradise Centre are already proposed for the area, but plans are now afoot for a cluster of towering office/residential buildings that could reach 60-storeys/1000 ft. in height!

Jones Lang LaSalle is currently undertaking a feasibility study on the proposals, which could ignite a race to construct the UK's tallest building.

At present, the 774 ft. One Canada Square in London holds the title, but Birmingham's 805 ft. City Tower promises to top that when it is completed in around 2003-4. London already has plans for a 1200 ft. tower at London Bridge, as well as the 1000 ft. Skyhouse, so Birmingham will have to produce something pretty special to clinch the title.

 

[Erebus555]

Arena Central has been going for years and not much news has come out about it since the 9/11 attacks. I am really starting to lose faith in the development and I believe it has been hyped up. However, they could be doing what they do in Dubai and hype it up and then instead give something a lot better than what was first expected.

The Paradise Circus development is different. It looks interesting from the initial sketches however I feel a tall tower will be protested against and will not go ahead. It is in close proximity to the Council House, Gas Hall and the Town Hall. These towers would take the attraction away from these amazing old buildings. As someone said, Manchester's buildings integrate together, Birmingham's dont. If towers are built by the Council House then we are just simply carrying on this trend.

Me and a few mates who are keen architecture fans went around Birmingham looking at what would look good where. We decided (not like our decision makes a difference) that Broad Street would be best for a row of highrise buildings and anything near the Rotunda which excedes the hiehgt of the Rotunda is a complete no no. However, we feel that if a tower was to be constructed on New Street Station (which is a possibilty), and if this tower is considerably taller than the Rotunda then this could create an amazing backdrop for the Rotunda and the skyline would look great. We felt that older buildings are buildings which give a sense of the past should be kept and/or constructed along the canals and around the city centre. These were just small decisions and we felt this would give Birmingham a different feel. It's about time Birmingham appealed to major businesses again and got rid of those concrete monstrosities (can't spell =[)