British firm K4 Architects has announced it will abandon proposals to build a tower above Birmingham’s Central Fire Station. The scheme, which was in its third version for redeveloping the site, featured a large student housing tower above the former fire station.

The original 30-story tower was trimmed to 23 stories following criticism from the city's design council and preservationists. The next scheme was formally rejected by the city’s planning committee.

The firm has now dropped all tall elements of the project and is concentrating on preserving the character of the station, the Architect's Journal reports (registration).

"Although there is no tower, the proposals go beyond ‘textbook conservation,'" K4 founder Bob Ghosh told the Journal. "Interventions are still bold and challenging. We’ve increased the conversion aspect of the listed building, including basement spaces and the Drill Tower. There is still a significant new-build element within the courtyard and a glass rooftop extension to one of the perimeter wings."

Mr. Ghosh reported that English Heritage, the Twentieth Century Society, the Birmingham Civic Society and Birmingham’s Conservation and Heritage Panel have all commended this new approach.

Watch a video of the departed tower project below.