21 Aug 2014, 5:11 pm
Under plans approved by Birmingham City Council in 2007, the developer proposed to build Europe's tallest residential tower, with 50 storeys housing 706 apartments, on the site of the former Central Television studios to the west of Birmingham city centre. The approved scheme for the building, named the 'V Building', also included three restaurants, wine and coffee bars, leisure space, a library and a spa.
Dandara admitted in 2009 that there was "not the remotest chance" of construction commencing on the building as proposed, due to the effects of the financial downturn. According to the Estates Gazette, the developer has now prepared plans for a smaller building at the site, with around 300 homes. While the final designs are yet to be completed, it is understood that ground floor retail and restaurant space will be included, the report said.
The proposed site of the Dandara building forms part of the 9 acre Arena Central redevelopment area in central Birmingham. The wider site has planning permission for 2.3 million square feet of mixed-use space. Birmingham City Council gave full planning permission for the first building in the area, an eight-storey office block known as 1 Arena Central, earlier this month.
