An historic site in Birmingham's Broad Street once home to a hospital could become the latest to house a huge residential tower.
Leicester-based HJB Investments is hoping to win the city's backing to redevelop 80 Broad Street to create a 42-storey tower containing hundreds of apartments and a mix of commercial and community uses.
A key part of the proposal is the retention and incorporation of the old Royal Orthopaedic Hospital which dates back to the early 1800s.
Grade II listed, it was most recently Zara's bar but its licence was revoked in 2019 following a string of violent incidents and the
According to a newly submitted planning application, HJB Investments wants to demolish non-listed structures at the site, erect a brand new tower containing 300 one- and two-bedroom apartments for rent only, with the first six floors located immediately behind the listed complex.
Sign up for your free West Midlands newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn
Email newsletters
BusinessLive is your home for business news from across the West Midlands including Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull, Coventry and Staffordshire.
Click through here to sign up for our email newsletter and also view the broad range of other bulletins we offer including weekly sector-specific updates.
We will also send out 'Breaking News' emails for any stories which must be seen right away.
For all the latest stories, views and polls, follow our
Proposed amenities for residents include a cinema, games room, co-working lounge, gym and nursery and 300 secure cycle spaces.
There would be public realm improvements while the three-storey, listed building would be refurbished, including the removal of later extensions, and a community facility created inside.
Finally, there would be an internal viewing platform encased in floor-to-ceiling glass on the fourth floor to create a hub for exhibitions and other uses and a café called 'Glassworks', overlooking Broad Street.
The name is a nod to the history of the area when, in 1816, glass manufacturers Rice Harris, Owen Johnson and John Berry established the Islington Glassworks on the north-west side of Islington Road, now Broad Street.
Mr Harris owned a detached house to the south-east of the glassworks which would later become known as 80 Broad Street, according to the building's listing by Historic England.
Documents submitted in support of the application said: "The former Royal Orthopaedic Hospital is a grade II listed structure, albeit in a vacant and dilapidated state, located within the heart of the prime regeneration zone in Broad Street.
"This under-utilised brownfield site presents a significant regeneration opportunity to provide high-quality homes and community uses alongside the restoration of the listed building.
"The proposed development has been designed to create a vibrant, mixed-use residential building in a prime location with an identity to add to Birmingham's skyline."
The project has been designed by architecture practice Marrons.
Planning director Charlotte El Hakiem said: "Broad Street is undergoing a period of intense regeneration, with the overriding vision of creating a vibrant residential neighbourhood, so we are extremely pleased to unveil plans to transform a beautiful Georgian-style building on under-utilised brownfield land.
"The proposal takes a distinctive and innovative approach that allows for the retention and careful repurposing of a grade II-listed building to bring it back into public use while simultaneously creating a striking 42-storey landmark tower that contains much-needed housing to accommodate the city's ever-growing population.
"Beyond the tangible housing benefits, the proposal promises to significantly enhance the city's public realm, improve connectivity, and invigorate the local economy through the creation of flexible community spaces and onsite amenities - delivering extensive community and public benefits to the area."
The application site sits at the corner of Broad Street and Sheepcote Street, next door to another tall residential project called The Bank.
Completed in early 2020, it comprises two buildings of 22 and 33 storeys respectively which together contain 406 apartments.
It is also opposite The Mercian, Moda Living's 42-storey behemoth which opened in 2022 and has 481 units and a 200-metre running track atop of a three-storey platform.
Other ongoing or planned tall residential schemes in Broad Street include Cortland's 35-storey scheme with 440 units at the corner with Ryland Street which is nearing completion.
And last month Urban Vision received the green light to redevelop the other corner of Broad Street and Ryland Street. and contain 294 apartments.
