List of tallest buildings and structures in Birmingham
High-rise development in Birmingham was most active during the post-war development phase of the 1960s when many box-shaped, concrete towers were constructed; this included many tower blocks housing flats. These towers are now either being demolished or renovated; for instance, The Rotunda on New Street has undergone a dramatic makeover.
High-rise development slowed during the 1980s and early 1990s, but is increasing again with the completion of 10 Holloway Circus and the Orion Building and many proposed projects in development areas such as the Eastside. Many of these new high-rises contain residential properties, which are promoting city living. The Snowhill development will also dramatically increase the office space available in the city centre; Birmingham hopes to capitalise on its recent good fortunes of attracting overseas investment. The planned High Speed 2 railway linking London to Birmingham and beyond will be an additional marketing tool that Birmingham will hope to capitalise on. There are three buildings that have been approved for construction which are taller than 10 Holloway Circus, which is currently the tallest habitable building in Birmingham.
In recent years, Birmingham City Council has relaxed its attitude towards tall skyscrapers. However, some restrictions remain. The city centre is located on a 361 ft (110m) sandstone ridge and as a result, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has imposed a maximum building height limit at 794 ft (242m). Prospects of building between 427 ft (130m) to 574 ft (175m) would normally require consultation with Birmingham Airport. Skyscraper proposals with heights between 574 ft (175m) to 794 ft (242m) would require consultation with the CAA.[1] It is not known why these restrictions are in place, considering the fact that the city centre is not on the approach path to the airport.
There are currently two skyscrapers with a height of 100 metres (328 ft) or more,[2] and 191 high-rise buildings with a height of at least 35 metres (115 ft) or more.[3]
Tallest buildings and structures
This list ranks externally complete Birmingham buildings and free-standing structures that stand more than 50 metres (164 ft) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. An equals sign (=) following a rank indicates the same height between two or more buildings. The "Year" column indicates the year in which a building was completed. Buildings that have been demolished are not included.
Tallest under construction, approved and proposed
Under construction
Rank | Name | Use | Height | Floors | Image | Notes | |
metres | feet | ||||||
1 | The Bank Tower 2 | Residential | 102 | 335 | 33 | Estimated completion: 2019 | |
2 | Three Snowhill | Office | 90 | 290 | 18 | Estimated completion: 2019 | |
3 | Exchange Square 1 Tower 3 | Residential | 81 | 266 | 23 | Estimated completion: 2019.[73] | |
4 | Arena Central Plot G | Residential | 80 | 262 | 26 | Estimated completion: 2018 | |
5 | Lancaster Circus | Student Accommodation | 77 | 253 | 24 | Estimated Completion: 2020 | |
6 | The Bank Tower 1 | Residential | 68 | 223 | 22 | Estimated completion: 2018 | |
7 | 3 Arena Central | Office | 62 | 203 | 18 | Estimated completion: 2018 | |
8 | One Centenary Square | Office | 58 | 190 | 11 | Estimated completion: 2018 | |
9 | The Lansdowne | Residential | 53 | 172 | 18 | Estimated completion: 2018 | |
10 | Exchange Square 1 Tower 2 | Residential | 52 | 170 | 16 | Estimated completion: 2019.[73] |
Approved
Rank | Name | Use | Height | Floors | Image | Notes | |
metres | feet | ||||||
1 | 2One2 Broad Street | Residential | 132 | 433 | 42 | Approved in 2018 | |
2 | Beorma Quarter | Office | 113 | 371 | 27 | Estimated completion: 2018.[74] | |
3 | 103 Colmore Row (New tower) | Office | 106 | 348 | 26 | Approved in 2015 | |
4 | Bloc Hotel | Hotel | 83 | 272 | 25 | Approved in 2015 | |
5 | Lunar Rise | Residential | 75 | 246 | 25 | Approved in 2018 | |
6 | Post and Mail | Offices and residential | 73 | 239 | 17 | Approved in 2015[75] | |
7 | Snow Hill Wharf | Residential | 67 | 220 | 21 | Approved in 2018 | |
8 | 3 Arena Central | Government Offices | 62 | 203 | 14 | Approved in 2017 | |
9 | Kent Street Baths | Residential | 61 | 200 | 19 | Approved in 2018 | |
10 | Bristol Street Apartments | Residential | 60 | 197 | 18 | Approved in 2017 |
Proposed
Rank | Name | Use | Height | Floors | Image | Notes | |
metres | feet | ||||||
1 | Exchange Square Phase 2 | Residential | 140+ | 460+ | 46 | Proposed in 2017 | |
2 | Axis Square Tower 2 | Office | 100+ | 328+ | 23 | Proposed in 2017 | |
3 | Monaco House Tower 1 | Residential | 90 | 295 | 29 | Proposed in 2016 | |
4 | Smallbrook Queensway | Office/Residential | 88 | 289 | 26 | Proposed in 2016 | |
5 | Connaught Square | Residential | 88 | 289 | 27 | Proposed in 2017 | |
6 | Arena Central Plot E1 | Residential | 86 | 281 | 22 | Proposed in 2015 | |
7 | Monaco House Tower 2 | Residential | 80 | 262 | 26 | Proposed in 2016 | |
8 | Axis Square Tower 1 | Office | 70+ | 230+ | 16 | Proposed in 2017 | |
9 | One Centenary Way | Offices | 68 | 223 | 13 | Proposed in 2016 | |
10 | 49-51 Holloway Head | Residential | 53 | 173 | 17 | Proposed in 2016 | |
11 | St Martin's Place | Residential | 53 | 173 | 17 | Proposed in 2017 | |
12 | Residences Edgbaston | Residental | 51 | 167 | 16 | Proposed in 2018 |
Unbuilt
This lists proposals for the construction of buildings in Birmingham that were planned to rise at least 100 metres (328 ft), for which planning permission was rejected or which were otherwise withdrawn.
Rank | Name | Use | Height | Floors | Year | Image | Notes | |
metres | feet | |||||||
1 | VTP200 | Observation Tower | 200 | 656 | 10 | 2010 | [76] | |
2 | Arena Central Tower | Office | 175 | 574 | 50 | 2007 |
| |
The Birmingham Pinnacle | Observation Tower | 175 | 574 | 2008 | The Pinnacle was proposed as Europe's first vertical theme park. It would have provided a range of theme park rides, an observation deck, restaurants, shops, bars and leisure facilities. Superseded by VTP200.[78] | |||
4 | Bull Ring Tower | Office | 160 | 525 | 35 | 1990 | Developed by London and Edinburgh Trust and designed by Chapman Taylor were plans that surfaced continuously between 1987 and 1990 for the redevelopment of the Bull Ring Shopping Centre in Birmingham and the demolition of the Rotunda.
In the place of the Rotunda was to stand a 160 metre tall office block, a Post Modern design with Art Deco hints of a similar manner to One Liberty Place in Philadelphia. The recession at the start of the 1990s however saw the plans fail to come to fruition and the Rotunda was later listed and restored.[79] | |
5 | V Building | Residential | 152 | 499 | 51 | Proposed in 2006.[80] A new but smaller scheme has been proposed in its place.[81] | ||
6 | Post and Mail Scheme (Tower 1 Scheme C) | Office | 150 | 492 | 35 | 2010 | [82] | |
7 | Rough Diamond Hotel Tower | Hotel | 120 | 394 | [83] | |||
Rough Diamond Office Tower | Office | 120 | 394 | [84] | ||||
Rough Diamond Residential Tower | Residential | 120 | 394 | [85] | ||||
10 | No 1 Snow Hill Plaza | Office | 118 | 387 | 29 | 2011 | 1 Snow Hill Plaza was to be constructed on the site of the Kennedy Tower, however these proposals were dropped following the collapse of the developer, Kenmore. The building that stands on the site has now been renovated and turned into a new Holiday Inn Express indicating that the proposal for a new office building is permanently dead.[86] |
Demolished
This lists buildings and structures in Birmingham that were demolished or are undergoing demolition and at one time stood at least 50 metres (164 ft) in height.
Rank | Name | Use | Completed | Demolished | Height | Floors | Image | Notes | ||
metres | feet | |||||||||
1 | 103 Colmore Row | Office | 1976 | 2017 | 80 | 262 | 23 | Building demolished during 2016-2017 [87] | ||
2 | Birmingham Post and Mail HQ | Office | 1964 | 2005 | 67 | 222 | 16 | The building was designed by John Madin and was one of his key modernist buildings. It was demolished in the 2005 to make way for Colmore Plaza, which stands at 54 metres (177 ft). | ||
3 | Stephenson Tower | Residential | 1967 | 2011 | 63 | 207 | 20 | Demolished in the summer of 2011 as part of site clearance for the redeveloped New Street railway station[88][89] | ||
4 | Wheel of Birmingham | Ferris Wheel | 2004 | 2006 | 62 | 203 | [90] The wheel normally comes back every Christmas season between November and January, along with an ice rink [91] | |||
5 | Dalton Tower | Residential | 1971 | 2011 | 61 | 200 | 21 | Demolished on 8 May 2011 in a controlled implosion as part of phase II of the Aston University student village development.[92][93] | ||
6 | Lawrence Tower | Residential | 1971 | 2011 | 59 | 194 | 21 | Demolished on 8 May 2011 in a controlled implosion as part of phase II of the Aston University student village development.[92][94] | ||
7 | Clyde Tower | Residential | 1967 | 2006 | 59 | 194 | 20 | Demolished 5 February 2006[95] | ||
8 | Stafford Tower | Residential | 1971 | 2014 | 58 | 190 | 21 | Demolished on 27 April 2014 in a controlled implosion as part of phase II of the Aston University student village development.[96] | ||
9= | Cornwall Tower | Residential | 1970 | 2014 | 52 | 171 | 18 | Demolished 26 October 2014[97] | ||
9= | Normansell Tower | Residential | 1972 | 2012 | 52 | 171 | 18 | Demolished 2 September 2012 |
Timeline of tallest buildings and structures
This lists free-standing structures that once held the title of tallest structure in Birmingham.
Name | Location | Years as tallest | Height metres / ft |
Floors | Reference |
St Philip's Cathedral | Colmore Row | 1725–1777 (52 years) | 40 / 131 | N/A | [98] |
Church of SS Peter and Paul | Aston | 1777–1855 (78 years) | 57.9 / 190 | N/A | [99] |
St Martin in the Bull Ring | The Bull Ring | 1855–1908 (53 years) | 61 / 200 | N/A | [100] |
Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower | University of Birmingham | 1908–1966 (58 years) | 100 / 329 | N/A | [101] |
BT Tower | Jewellery Quarter | 1966 – present | 152 / 498 | N/A | [102] |
References
- ↑ "Second City Skyline Gets Second Chance". www.skyscrapernews.com. 2006-04-07.
- ↑ GmbH, Emporis. "Birmingham - Buildings - EMPORIS". www.emporis.com.
- ↑ GmbH, Emporis. "Birmingham - Buildings - EMPORIS". www.emporis.com.
- ↑ "BT Tower, Birmingham - Building #155". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Photo" (JPG). img.photobucket.com.
- ↑ "Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower, Birmingham - Building #156". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Alpha Tower, Birmingham - Building #154". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "The Orion Building, Birmingham - Building #163". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Clydesdale Tower, Birmingham - Building #158". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Cleveland Tower, Birmingham - Building #159". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "The Rotunda, Birmingham - Building #160". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ GmbH, Emporis. "Tyseley Energy from Waste Plant, Birmingham - 396428 - EMPORIS". www.emporis.com.
- ↑ "Centre City Tower, Birmingham - Building #162". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Five Ways Tower, Birmingham - Building #225". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Hyatt Hotel, Birmingham - Building #161". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Two Snowhill, Birmingham - Building #5158". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Snow Hill Plaza, Birmingham - Building #183". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "The Cube, Birmingham - Building #3065". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Londonderry House, Birmingham - Building #1145". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Colmore Gate, Birmingham - Building #192". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Quayside, Birmingham - Building #194". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "McLaren Building, Birmingham - Building #193". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Metropolitan House, Birmingham - Building #226". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Edgbaston House, Birmingham - Building #227". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Midland Building, Birmingham - Building #1146". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Bank House, Birmingham - Building #228". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Brindley House, Birmingham - Building #243". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Fifty4 Hagley Road, Birmingham - Building #209". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Cumberland House, Birmingham - Building #229". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Student Residences - University of Birmingham". www.birmingham.ac.uk.
- ↑ "Centenary Plaza, Birmingham - Building #566". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Muirhead Tower, Birmingham - Building #1147". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Cobalt Square, Birmingham - Building #211". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Holiday Inn Express Hotel Birmingham - City Centre". www.ihg.com.
- ↑ "St Martins, Birmingham - Building #2448". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Trident House, Birmingham - Building #212". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Jurys Inn Birmingham, Birmingham - Building #230". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Library Of Birmingham, Birmingham - Building #6001". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Aston University Block A and B, Birmingham - Building #5219". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Aston University Block C, Birmingham - Building #5220". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ University Locks Archived 25 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Briarley, Birmingham - Building #2416". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Churchill House, Birmingham - Building #2418". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Temple Point, Birmingham - Building #1148". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Lloyd House, Birmingham - Building #1151". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Lyndon house, Birmingham - Building #208". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Auchinleck House, Birmingham - Building #1150". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Birmingham - Building #2449". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Barry Jackson Tower, Birmingham - Building #747". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Warstone Tower, Birmingham - Building #769". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "One Snowhill, Birmingham - Building #5159". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "City Centre House, Birmingham - Building #1149". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Pritchett Towers, Birmingham - Building #748". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Hodgson Tower, Birmingham - Building #749". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Sapphire Tower, Birmingham - Building #750". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Durham Tower, Birmingham - Building #754". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Studley Tower, Birmingham - Building #755". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Victor Tower, Birmingham - Building #756". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Century Tower, Birmingham - Building #757". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Holbrooke Tower, Birmingham - Building #759". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Salisbury Tower, Birmingham - Building #761". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Brinklow Tower, Birmingham - Building #762". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Canterbury Tower, Birmingham - Building #763". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Wickets Tower, Birmingham - Building #764". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Wilmcote Tower, Birmingham - Building #767". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Three Brindleyplace, Birmingham - Building #773". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Block M Masshouse Circus, Birmingham - Building #3428". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- 1 2 "Colmore Plaza, Birmingham - Building #1788". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Norfolk Tower, Birmingham - Building #775". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Cornwall Tower, Birmingham - Building #777". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Axis, Birmingham - Building #2413". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "1 Colmore Row, Birmingham - Building #1156". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- 1 2 "Birmingham 600-flat Exchange Square scheme approved - Construction Enquirer". www.constructionenquirer.com.
- ↑ "Beorma Quarter, Birmingham - Building #5439". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Birmingham Post article". Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- ↑ GmbH, Emporis. "VTP200, Birmingham - 307837 - EMPORIS". www.emporis.com.
- 1 2 GmbH, Emporis. "Arena Central Tower, Birmingham - 101377 - EMPORIS". www.emporis.com.
- ↑ GmbH, Emporis. "The Birmingham Pinnacle, Birmingham - 263347 - EMPORIS". www.emporis.com.
- ↑ "Bull Ring Tower, Birmingham - Building #6486". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "The V Building, Birmingham - Building #5155". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Dandara downsizes Brum landmark tower".
- ↑ "Post and Mail Scheme (Tower 1 Scheme C), Birmingham - Building #560". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ GmbH, Emporis. "Rough Diamond Hotel Tower, Birmingham - 1171539 - EMPORIS". www.emporis.com.
- ↑ GmbH, Emporis. "Rough Diamond Office Tower, Birmingham - 1171541 - EMPORIS". www.emporis.com.
- ↑ GmbH, Emporis. "Rough Diamond Residential Tower, Birmingham - 1171543 - EMPORIS". www.emporis.com.
- ↑ "No 1 Snow Hill Plaza, Birmingham - Building #5396". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "103 Colmore Row, Birmingham - Building #224". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Birmingham tower block comes down". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ↑ "Stephenson Tower". Skyscrapernews.com. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
- ↑ "The Birmingham Wheel, Birmingham - Building #1160". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Ice Skate Birmingham". Bigwheelcompany.com. Retrieved 2017-01-28.
- 1 2 "Tower blocks demolished for second phase of £215m student village". Aston University. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ↑ "Dalton Tower". Skyscrapernews.com. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
- ↑ "Lawrence Tower". Skyscrapernews.com. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
- ↑ "Clyde Tower, Birmingham - Building #746". www.skyscrapernews.com.
- ↑ "Stafford Tower". Skyscrapernews.com. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ↑ "St Philip's Cathedral". Skyscraperpage.com. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
- ↑ "SS Peter and Paul". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ↑ "St Martins in the Bull Ring". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ↑ "JC Clock Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ↑ "BT Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved 2008-06-30.