Doone Silver’s design for a new landmark tower in Birmingham for Sterling Property Ventures and Rockspring Property Investment Managers LLP has been given planning permission from Birmingham City Council. 103 Colmore Row will be a distinctive 211,000 sq ft structure, replacing the former 1970s NatWest Tower. At 26 storeys and 336ft/102.5m high, it will be the tallest building in Birmingham’s central business district. Comprising 200,000 sq ft of office space over 19 floors, and with floorplates of up to 12,000 sq ft, the scheme will also feature a terrace on the 18th level, for the exclusive use of the occupier. The building is capable of accommodating around 2,000 workers.

The project also includes 15,000 sq ft of leisure space. At street level, plans include a winter garden and café facing Colmore Row and a restaurant/bar along the Newhall Street façade. There is provision for a 8,600 sq ft restaurant at the top of the building, to include a 2,900 sq ft ‘lantern’ space offering 360 degree views across the city. The apex of the building will be 243m above sea level. The demolition of the exisiting 22-storey concrete-clad tower will begin in early August and the project is due to complete by Spring 2018.

Peter Graham, Construction Director of Sterling Property Ventures, said: “We’re very pleased that Birmingham City Council has acknowledged our unwavering commitment to this project and this great city. It means we can now move this project off the drawing board and on to site, replacing an outdated, inefficient building with a modern, landmark office development that Birmingham can be proud of” Three agents have been appointed to advise on lettings: Colliers International, DTZ and Knight Frank. Matt Long, director in the national offices team at Colliers International, said: “The timescale for delivery means we can work with interested occupiers to ensure their workspace matches their aspirations.”