Birmingham City Council has resolved to use its Compulsory Purchase powers to unlock the major development site, Axis Square, which includes the redevelopment of The Axis building on Holliday Street in the city centre.
London and Continental Railways’s (LCR) plans for Axis Square were granted planning permission last year, and will create one million square feet of new Grade A office accommodation and a new public square.
The site is currently dominated by an increasingly dated 1970s office block and, sitting between The Mailbox and the new Arena Central Development, is a key redevelopment site for the city. The development will create a stunning new city centre destination with four modern office buildings with cafes, restaurant and retail opportunities at ground floor, formed around public open space featuring over 100 new trees.
The development is designed to achieve the highest environmental credentials, with a focus on wellness and wellbeing. Plans include features such as winter gardens and terraces with food growing spaces for employees and a running track. In addition, there will be wider public benefits through the addition of a new pedestrian route through the site from New Street Station to Arena Central and beyond.
Birmingham City Council will now look to implement the CPO process, enabling the development to start on site in a year’s time.
LCR Development Manager, Nick Clough, comments:
“The council’s resolution to grant the use of a CPO is a fundamental step forward in delivering this important development for the city. Axis Square will cater to the increasing employment needs of the region, both for government and the private sector, with office space for 10,000 people, and contribute around £300 million to the local economy.
“The development has been designed with sustainability and health at its heart and we are keen for the benefits of this to be felt by the wider public through the inclusion of new public spaces and an enhanced retail offer.
“We look forward to getting our highly anticipated plans off the ground so that this city centre site can finally reach its potential in contributing to the city of Birmingham .”
