Plans have been unveiled for what could become Birmingham’s tallest building, promising to revitalise a crucial part of the city centre and enhance the pedestrian experience.
The proposed development is a 53-storey residential tower located at 42 High Street, widely recognised as the former Marks & Spencer building in Birmingham. The design, submitted by Squire & Partners on behalf of developer Bluecastle Capital, aims to match the height of the 172-metre Curzon Wharf tower, which received approval in 2023 but has yet to begin construction.
The scheme includes 729 build-to-rent apartments, along with retail and restaurant spaces intended to bring new vitality to the area. This new tower would replace a disused 1950s Marks & Spencer department store, originally designed by Birmingham architect James M Munro & Son. Since the store’s closure in 2003, the building has remained vacant. Earlier this year, Historic England issued a Certificate of Immunity from Listing for the site, clearing the way for redevelopment.
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Situated close to Moor Street station and in the heart of Birmingham’s future city centre plans, the site is expected to become an important gateway to the city, especially with the forthcoming HS2 Curzon Street station nearby. The planning application states that 51% of the site will be developed as publicly accessible space, enhancing connectivity between Birmingham’s commercial centre and the new HS2 station.
Additionally, the project proposes improvements to the landscaping along High Street, Carrs Lane, and Moor Street Queensway, fostering a more inviting environment for pedestrians.
Squire & Partners’ Bettina Brehler commented, “The design responds to its civic context through materiality and rhythm, featuring a distinctive setback colonnade that grounds the building at a human scale. This also widens Carrs Lane to create a welcoming pedestrian route from HS2 into the heart of the city centre.” The tower’s architectural style incorporates a setback colonnaded base, with a crown that echoes this colonnade motif.
Nick Grant, director at consultancy Iceni, which has supported the planning process, remarked, “Submitting this planning application marks a significant milestone for Bluecastle following a year of collaboration and design development with the Council and key stakeholders. There was strong momentum following the Council’s launch of the Central Heart Prospectus at MIPIM earlier this year. Being the first major development site coming forward in the Central Heart signals an exciting new chapter for planning and development in Birmingham.”