Plans for Birmingham’s tallest building on Curzon Wharf approved

Plans to replace unused industrial land in Birmingham City Centre with a highly anticipated, £360 million site have been unanimously agreed.

The Curzon Wharf waterfront scheme is set to transform brownfield land near what will be the Curzon Street HS2 station, providing a shimmering gateway to the city.

Developer and investor Woodbourne Group, headed up by chief exec Tani Dulay, is set to implement “the world’s first mixed-use net zero carbon ready development”.

Three towers will comprise one for student accommodation, one block of ‘co-living’ flats, and one tower of ‘offices/research and development space’.

The built-to-rent block will be 53 storeys high, making it Birmingham’s tallest building at 172 metres (564 feet).

Planning specialists at Turley and CBRE have reportedly calculated the scheme will generate more than one thousand jobs.

The development was announced in 2021 and plans were considered by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee on Feburary 23.

However, members were unimpressed with the ‘housing mix’ which favours one-bed flats and the limited number of affordable units.

This morning they were happy to vote through amended plans which included a condition requiring at least 51 per cent of the residential units to be built to have two or three bedrooms.

The percentage of affordable housing on offer was also increased from three to five per cent.

Tani Dulay, chief executive of Woodbourne Group, said: “We’ve worked hard to reach this point and it is incredibly satisfying to stand on the brink of delivering such a world class development for a city I’m proud to call home.

“I would like to thank the planning committee, our team and everyone else that has supported this scheme.

Mr Dulay added: “We need to help power the economic recovery by facilitating investment, creating jobs and acting as a catalyst to further success.”

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Birmingham is proud to have young entrepreneurs like Tani who have the persistence and enthusiasm to drive us towards a brighter and more sustainable future.

“His tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to creating the world’s first mixed-use net zero carbon ready development are a testament to his determination to make a difference.”

Neil Rami, Chief Executive of West Midlands Growth Company said: “Curzon Wharf has the potential to catalyse growth and innovation in the West Midlands, not only creating jobs in it’s own right, but helping to drive regional investment as a flagship development that is a very visible beacon of the regions commitment to creating world class, sustainable, infrastructure.”

Paul Kitson, Director of Place, Prosperity, and Sustainability at Birmingham City Council, said: “Curzon Wharf is an exciting project for Birmingham and builds upon our ambition to be a greener and more sustainable city.

“Being home to the world’s first mixed-use net zero carbon ready development is something we’re immensely proud of and after six years in planning, we’re delighted that the £360 million development has been given the green light to rejuvenate a key gateway into the city, as well as becoming another key piece of the Birmingham skyline.”