Old Rackhams building in Birmingham to be reinvented under new plans

A planning application for the innovative transformation of the former Rackham’s buildings in Birmingham city centre has been submitted.Birmingham City Council has received the application from owners LGIM Real Assets, part of Legal & General.The refurbishment proposals have been designed by architects tp bennett, the architect behind the original Rackhams store, retain the essential character of the building and many of its original features as well as they are sensitive to its sensitive location overlooking St Philip’s Cathedral and a square.The buildings – the original Rackhams store and 43 Temple Row – located between Temple Row and Corporation Street in the city centre, have been under the ownership of Legal & General since 2014 and 2018 respectively.Legal & General had previously been in discussions about a reformatted store before House of Fraser entered into a Company Voluntary Arrangement last summer.An agreement was subsequently reached with Sports Direct, which bought the store chain, to allow the business to continue operating from the premises on a short term basis.Full details of the proposals can be viewed by visiting the website – www.rackhamsbuildings.co.uk – where a comment form can also be completed as part of the stakeholder and public consultation activity.