Campaigners say they will oppose "aggressively inappropriate" plans for a new 48-storey residential tower in Birmingham city centre which they warn will cast giant shadows over the local community.
The Digbeth Deserves Better group is ramping up its resistance to new proposals by Court Collaboration to redevelop a vacant site in the district after launching a campaign against a neighbouring project last year.
Earlier this month, the developer unveiled plans to build the mammoth block, containing 454 apartments to rent and 10,000 sq ft of amenity space, at the corner of High Street Deritend and Chapel House Street.
It follows a deal to purchase the site which before it moved to Kings Heath in January.
The application site is next door to another vacant plot where Court Collaboration is hoping to develop an apartment complex called The Stone Yard, containing 928 units across a series of buildings reaching up to 30 storeys, under plans outlined in September.
Digbeth Deserves Better was saying it would "cast a dark cloud" across the district and has made similarly disparaging comments about Court Collaboration's latest designs.
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Bennie Gray, the man behind the Custard Factory development in Digbeth, represents the campaign group.
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He told BusinessLive the people who worked and lived in Digbeth were not "meddling, tree-hugging, reactionary nimbys" but that they embraced and admired good architecture.
"We are all keen for these barren industrial sites on the High Street to be developed," he said.
"But it's crucial for the city and local community they are developed in a manner which respects the unique character of the area, especially because Digbeth has become a jewel in Birmingham's creative crown.
"Many thousands of people have already forcibly expressed their views on the neighbouring Stone Yard project so you can well imagine the reaction this aggressively inappropriate 48-storey skyscraper has received.
"I have already been inundated with emails and calls from residents, businesses and stakeholders in Digbeth, all deeply distressed about this latest announcement.
"The design is not in keeping with the unique character of the area and will cast giant shadows over the existing community.
"There is also a very important question - will the proposal include the much-needed affordable housing the developer's other projects seem to lack?
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"Alongside many others, I certainly will be objecting to this latest proposal."
Birmingham's new tall towers
These latest plans for the Irish Centre are not the only high-rise projects tabled for Digbeth's High Street, with the 28-storey Connaught Square and 25-storey Lunar Rise both winning city council consent.
The point is reiterated by Court Collaboration's founder and chief executive Anthony McCourt, who told BusinessLive tall buildings along High Street were already supported by the city and were "nothing new".
Referring to his latest project, he said: "As an island site at a key gateway into the city, our proposal offers an exciting regeneration opportunity that will provide modern living in a sustainable and high-quality development.
"As Birmingham evolves, the old and the new will continue to complement each other, helping our communities to thrive and co-exist together.
"We welcome all comments on our latest proposals and will take everything into consideration as we progress with the plans - every citizen should have their say in what the skyline of Birmingham looks like.
"In these unprecedented times, significant construction opportunities such as this act as real catalysts to help our local labour market and the Birmingham economy as a whole which we support wholeheartedly."