Arena Central Development Plans Put Forward to Birmingham City Council

A planning application has been put forward to Birmingham City Council for a third building at the Arena Central development.

The joint venture led by Miller Developments, Arena Central Developments Ltd (ACDL), has submitted plans for the 14 storey office block, 3 Arena Central, at the heart of the 9.2 acre development site.

Architect Make Architects has designed 3 Arena Central with the outside of the building clad in a geometric pattern of hexagonal metallic panels.

The Arena Central development is next to Centenary Square and the Library of Birmingham and fronting Broad Street.

In all, there is outline consent for over a million sq ft of commercial space, which includes the 135,000 sq ft 1 Arena Central and 210,000 sq ft 2 Arena Central, which will be HSBC’s banking division’s new headquarters on completion in 2017.

ACDL said that “with the right occupier interest” 3 Arena Central could be delivered by the first quarter of 2019.

Make Architects founder partner Ken Shuttleworth said: “As a Birmingham native, I’m delighted that Make is able to contribute in such a big way to the emerging Arena Central masterplan. 3 Arena Central, Make’s third office building in the masterplan which we also designed, is at the forefront of placemaking and will be a new destination at the heart of Arena Central.”

Jonathan Wallis from Arena Central said: “Our decision to submit these plans for 3 Arena Central demonstrates the confidence that we feel in the occupier market post-Brexit.

“By looking to secure planning consent now, we are minimising the lead-in time to the delivery of the building which, with the right occupier interest, could be delivered by the first quarter of 2019.

“The property sector in the West Midlands is fast-moving, with a sustained focus on the city as a prime business destination and we want to be in a position to offer the best possible commercial opportunities to ensure that the city and wider region remains a viable and attractive proposition, contributing to a truly first-class city centre commercial development.”