Hotel and office plans unveiled for next phase of Paradise scheme

Plans have been published for a 17-storey, 152-room hotel and a 10-storey office block in the second phase of Birmingham’s £700m Paradise scheme. The 17-acre city centre project will ultimately comprise 10 new buildings and three new public squares. It has been overseen by MEPC since the summer, having been led by Argent until that point. The latest planning proposals envisage a new hotel, One Ratcliff Square (pictured), which has been pitched as “a speculative boutique offering [designed] to attract smaller-scale, independent operators”. In a planning statement for reserved matters, ISA Architects said: “Much has changed in the hotel sector since the parameters were set within the outline consented scheme back in 2014 and the various other hotel design iterations which have followed since then.” The architecture firm added that its own research suggested there was “already proliferation of volume and budget hotel operators currently in Birmingham, with very little planned-in pipeline for more upscale or boutique propositions”. Separately, plans for the nearby Three Chamberlain Square office development have also been lodged with the council. The 180,000 sq ft scheme, which again already has outline planning permission, would have retail and leisure units on the ground floor. The Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios-designed offices will emphasise wellness and ESG factors, according to a statement from the architects. “The working world as we know it has changed, and as we cautiously plan for a life beyond Covid-19, Three Chamberlain Square will be at the forefront of the future workplace agenda,” it said. “Wellness and sustainable value has never been so prevalent within our office buildings; nor has the need to create the most attractive places for the workforce to come together.” The building will target a minimum BREEAM Excellent rating, as well as low embodied and operational carbon. Plans are also underway to redevelop the public realm around these schemes. Paradise’s outline planning includes provision of 2m sq ft of commercial development. The first buildings, One and Two Chamberlain Square are in the final stages of construction. The third phase could include up to five new buildings. To send feedback, e-mail tim.burke@eg.co.uk or tweet @_tim_burke or @EGPropertyNews Photos © Glenn Howells Architects