A former university building in Birmingham city centre sold last year for redevelopment is set to be transformed into a new complex of "luxury" studio apartments.
New plans have been submitted to turn Richmond House into 152 units to rent only, aimed at post-graduate students and young professionals.
The proposals also include a two-storey rooftop extension and shared facilities such as communal kitchen and dining areas, work lounge and podcast studio, cinema, gym, games room and external terrace and socialising area. There will be parking spaces for up to 166 bikes but nothing for cars.
The 67,000 sq ft, seven-storey building, at the corner of Newhall Street and Great Charles Street Queensway, was the home of University College Birmingham for two decades but teaching stopped there in autumn 2021.
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It fully vacated the premises last summer ahead of the undisclosed sale to London-based AR&V Investments which is run by the Azouz family.
The new apartments would be managed on site by AR&V Investments' build-to-rent brand 'The James' which was founded in 2021 and already operates similar facilities in Manchester and Liverpool and has another in the pipeline in Sheffield.
Although no details of rental prices are listed in the planning application, its development in Liverpool is offering studios at £867 and £975 per month on the Rightmove website.
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The revamp of the 1930s building, which is not listed, has been designed by architecture practice Bond Bryan which runs an office in Waterloo Street. Subject to consent, it is expected to open in late 2024.
A report accompanying the planning application said: "The luxury studio units will embrace all demographics including post-graduate students, young professionals, downsizers and transient occupants by offering flexibility for shorter-term stays as well as long term.
"The furnished studio units within the development will allow city-centre living for people who find it otherwise unaffordable.
"The James brand will inject life and energy into a key part of Birmingham's city centre by creating a new living hub, offering residents a living solution that is convenient and luxurious but at the same time affordable.
"Retaining creative and young professionals in Birmingham city centre is crucial to the city continuing to develop."