Construction on Birmingham’s Tallest Residential Skyscraper To Begin

The title of the tallest residential building in Birmingham is set to change hands as construction work is about to commence on a 525 ft skyscraper overlooking the site of the new HS2 station at Curzon Street.

Developer Court Collaboraton can now push ahead with the construction of the 51-storey One Eastside tower after agreeing a £200 million funding partnership with Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC).

Workers may need some JCB thick socks as they get to work over the winter, starting off a project that will reach for the sky and contribute to the transformation of the east side of the city centre.

The construction phase will last for 46 weeks and deliver 667 apartments once complete, representing a significant expansion of the build-to-rent market in the city. 

Head of Build to Rent at PIC Delphine Deasy said: “The 667 apartments development will have a positive effect on the local economy, including creating hundreds of new job opportunities and supporting the training of local students.”

The skyscraper will be the taller of two buildings in the scheme, which will also provide residential gardens and courtyards, a gym, cinema and a sky lounge for residents on the 51^st floor with panoramic views across the city.

It is not just around Curzon Street that building work has been taking place on a large scale in Birmingham. As well as the expansion of the Midland Metro there have been several other major residential skyscraper projects – and potentially more to come.

Among these is 2 Snowhill, for which developer Hub Group and pan-European real estate investment manager MARK have just submitted a planning application.

If successful, this will add another 48-storey tower with 462 rental apartments to the available accommodation in the city. 

The project would be one of two for Hub in central Birmingham, having gained planning permission in 2020 for a scheme in Digbeth. It also has build-to rent projects in Edinburgh and Maidenhead.