Major regeneration scheme revealed for city centre site

Details of a regeneration scheme which would see the site of a 1960s shopping centre in Birmingham city centre transformed into more than 1,000 apartments, a 400-bedroom hotel and major office, retail and leisure space have been revealed.Hammerson, which co-owns the Bullring and Grand Central, is behind the Martineau Galleries project.The 14-acre site includes The Square Shopping Centre, Dale House and High Street Car Park as well as 1-7 Dale End and is bound by Priory Queensway to the north, Moor Street Queensway to the east, Albert Street, New Meeting Street and Bull Street to the south, and Corporation Street to west.Under the current plans, which are still subject to change, the scheme will include up to 1.3 million sq ft of office space, 1,300 apartments, 400 hotel bedrooms and 296,000 sq ft of space for retail, food, entertainment and leisure uses.If the green light is given, construction could start in 2021 and be completed in 2038 over several phases.The details have been included in an environmental impact assessment scoping report which has been submitted to Birmingham City Council.An outline planning application is expected to be submitted in the summer, while a final decision could be made towards the end of the year.Glenn Howells Architects is the masterplanner for the scheme.