Birmingham hotel plans set for nod

Proposals for a 25-storey hotel to be built near Birmingham’s recently redeveloped New Street Station and Grand Central shopping centre are set to be approved by planners next week.The project is led by BLOC Hotels, which was founded in the Jewellery Quarter in 2011.If given final approval, the building will be located on the corner of Hill Street and Station Street, opposite the main entrance of Birmingham’s flagship John Lewis store.Under the plans, lodged by BLOC Grand Central and Gallan Developments, Gallan House, a 1960s office building, will be demolished to make way for the 238-room venue.The hotel will also include a café or restaurant at ground floor level, as well as a double height frontage. The restaurant will be run separately to the hotel but will be integrated into the lobby. It will be open to both guests and members of the public.The application has been recommended for approval ahead of a Birmingham City Council planning committee meeting next Thursday (1 September 2016).Planning officers said the redevelopment of Gallan House is “consistent with local and national land use planning policies”.They added that its location is “highly sustainable” and easily accessible to public transport links.Approval will be subject to a number of conditions, including the submission of a drainage scheme and CCTV plans.The venue will be Birmingham-based BLOC Hotels “flagship” development in the city. The business launched in the Jewellery Quarter and also has a second site in Gatwick.