In the next decade, Birmingham is set to be transformed and it’s not limited to the arrival of the HS2. Brum is set to get bigger with fifteen new skyscrapers set to crop up across the city centre, Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter, bringing the cityscape closer to New York, London, Toronto and other metropolises.
A skyscraper is usually at least 100m in height. The new skyscrapers will join Birmingham’s five existing skyscrapers that have already been built. These are:
- Moda The Mercian,
- 12 Holloway Circus - which is home to Radisson Blu Hotel
- 103 Colmore Row
- The Bank-Tower 2
- Alpha Tower
Many of the new developments are already on their way to reaching new heights with construction underway, while others are still in a proposal phase. However, if they are all completed - Birmingham will be home to 20 skyscrapers in total, according to the latest planning approvals. In comparison, Greater London already has 39 fully built skyscrapers and Greater Manchester has 17. In the West Midlands neither Wolverhampton or Coventry have any skyscrapers.
While some people welcome the changing landscape in Birmingham, others see it as a loss of heritage. Several Birmingham landmarks have had to bite the dust to make way for contemporary buildings as the city’s population continues to grow. And, like many cities across the world, Birmingham is also growing vertically to accommodate the increasing number of residents.
Many of the new buildings are part of large developments that aim to regenerate parts of the city centre and include amenities like gyms, co-working spaces and more. Whether we like it or not, the city is changing, and here are 15 planned, under construction or proposed skyscrapers coming to Birmingham:
1. Curzon Wharf - 171.9m
The £360 million Curzon Wharf scheme would see industrial land next to the Dartmouth Circus island and the A38 Aston Expressway transformed into a huge complex centred around a 53-storey residential building. At 171.9m, it would become Birmingham’s tallest building, dwarfing the Octagon building at 508 feet. Across the site, there are plans for four buildings providing up to 732 student apartments and 620 residential homes. Space for retail, food and drink, a gymnasium, a public house and drinking establishments as well as a bowling alley and cinema will also be provided. (Photo - Woodbourne group) | Proposed Aerial shot of the site Credit: Woodbourne group
2. CGI of plans of 2 Snow Hill Plaza - 158m
Two Snow Hill Plaza in Snow Hill Queensway will sit next to the Holiday Inn Express building, while also being at the rear of West Midlands Police’s Lloyd House headquarters near Snow Hill railway station. The project will see 462 rental-only apartments in 48 storeys (making it around 158m tall) built alongside a new public realm, ground-floor commercial space and on-site amenities for residents. The existing commercial building, which is vacant, will be demolished. (Photo - ING Media) | ING Media
3. Octagon - 155m
Paradise’s Octagon building – designed by Birmingham-based Glenn Howells Architects – is set to be the “world’s first” purely octagonal residential tower.The Octagon is expected to be a 155m skyscraper in the heart of Birmingham. It is expected to be complete by 2025. (Credit - Paradise Birmingham) | Paradise Birmingham
4. Tower Leaf - 146.7m
454 contemporary one and two-bedroom apartments are coming to Deritend with a rooftop terrace on the 48th (146.7m) floor at the Tower Leaf. It will have a gym and lounge, fantastic views across the city, high-quality kitchens and bathrooms, fitted wardrobes and floor to ceiling windows at all apartments. It is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2025. (Photo - Google Maps) | Google Maps