Sad photos show vandalised Birmingham skyscraper before redevelopment

Birmingham's notorious eyesore tower block, was found in a state of disrepair.

Birminghamworld took a look of the 23-storey building, the Five Ways Tower, on Frederick Road in Edgbaston, a well-known commercial structure in Birmingham that was closed nearly 20 years ago.

It has attracted a huge amount of attention since then with urban explorers descending on the tower highlighting its demise back in 2021 - but it has remained empty since then and has become even ore dilapidated.

Constructed in 1979, the building was left abandoned 2005 after being designated a "sick building" due to its poor working conditions, reports The Mirror.

Despite the extensive efforts to prevent damage by installing more fencing, the building suffered extensively from external damage, including many smashed and missing windows, graffiti, and structural damage.

With its broken windows and graffiti visible for miles across the city, being a blight on the skyline; there have been many calls for it to be demolished.

However, there is a glimmer of hope for the future of the site.

Osborne+Co, the current owners of the site, have entered into contracts to move the site forward for redevelopment.

They are working through a detailed planning application to achieve around 800 student beds and 400 residential units, according to their website.

The proposed tower is expected to offer breathtaking views over the city and down to the leafy Edgbaston Conservation area. The mix of Student and Build to Rent uses is said to satisfy ‘the city’s unmet demand’. BirminghamWorld has contacted Osbourne+Co for further updates.

Scroll down to see more photos of the former commercial building as its future begins to take shape: