Tall & Urban News

Birmingham's city council has approved plans for a 37-story build-to-rent skyscraper on Hagley Road in Edgbaston, designed by Fuse Studios for Calthorpe Estates and Moda Living. The tower will house 462 apartments, meeting spaces, and gyms, and will be replacing the vacant office building at No. 1 Duchess Place. The development is part of the larger 1,600-home New Garden Square masterplan, aiming to revitalize the city’s edge with modern, high-density residential options.

Despite some objections due to its proximity to grade II-listed villas, the project received the green light after a financial contribution of £1.9 million was committed by the developers to support off-site affordable housing. The council's report acknowledged the urban transformation of the area, noting that the benefits of the project, including housing provision and the potential to become a local landmark, outweigh the concerns about its impact on nearby historic buildings. The approval is contingent on meeting conditions related to flood assessments and an evaluation by Birmingham Airport.

Learn more about this story at the BBC.