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Birmingham was once dubbed the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's lap dancing capital - but that dubious crown could be toppled amid plans to turn one such club into a new

Plans to transform the Medusa lap dancing club, in Suffolk Street Queensway, have been submitted to the city council by owner Birmingham Properties Group.

The move was welcomed by a city business leader who said the south of the city centre was benefiting from a tourist boost thanks to the likes of the nearby Mailbox and Radisson hotel.

The move comes as work takes place on a student development above the Medusa club which is expected to be completed this summer. The club continues to trade at the site in the meantime.

Julia Chance, manager for the Business Improvement District (BID), said the change reflected an improvement in the area. She said: "This is another example of a growing confidence in Birmingham as investors are embracing the significant opportunities that the city has to offer.

"The £600 million investment in New Street Station is a transformational project that is creating a fantastic new gateway to the Southside BID area and we are seeing investors respond to the potential new footfall that will be created when the project is completed later this year.

"This part of the city around the Chinese pagoda traffic island is already popular thanks to the Radisson and the But there is still potential for further regeneration to really create the kind of environment that is going to continue to attract visitors from inside and outside the city, so a new restaurant in such a prominent location is great for the area."

Birmingham was dubbed the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's lap-dancing capital when as many as 12 clubs once operated in the city.