Approval for 151m 2 Snowhill Plaza Tower

A modernist-inspired 48-storey build-to-rent skyscraper, set to soar to 151m, has today been approved by Birmingham City Council (6 July).

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The HUB Group scheme, designed by Metropolitan Workshop and backed by pan-European fund MARK, will deliver 462 apartments, along with terraces on the 46^th, 24^th, and 14^th floors – as well as at podium level.

The low-carbon design has been heavily influenced by Birmingham’s own grade II-listed Alpha Tower, and Marcel Breuer’s ski resort in the French Alps.

The existing site currently hosts a two-storey run of disused commercial units with surface parking at the rear. It is hemmed in by Lloyd House, and a 20-storey Holiday Inn Express hotel.

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'EXCITING AND DRAMATIC': Before the meeting, planning officers considered the building’s design to be an “exciting and dramatic form” on what is a “difficult” site and should “weigh favourably” in the overall planning balance.

The committee was in agreement and, despite objections, they agreed that the public benefits outweighed the “less than substantial harm” caused – namely to the setting of both St Philip’s Cathedral and St Chad’s Cathedral.

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MOVING FORWARD: The site will see a new £583K public realm with landscaping to both Snow Hill Queensway and Weaman Street, with widened pavements and steps with a 24-hour accessible lift, complemented by a brand-new ground-floor commercial unit.

At street-level the building will sport a modernist GRC concrete plinth reminiscent of Breuer’s Alps ski resort, providing a range of community and resident spaces.

Venturing upwards, the tower’s dramatic form will be largely made up of silvery light green metal cladding in a PPC finish, soaring up to 151 metres.

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Internally, there will be 13.5K SF of resident facilities at levels 1, 14, 22 & 26, with a multi-levelled entrance and lobby, lounges, co-working spaces, a cycle workshop with 464 resident cycles, a gymnasium, and residential storage.

Around 38% of homes will also benefit from having their own private balconies/Juliette balconies.

AFFORDABILITY: With an estimated £110m build cost, and factoring in inflation costs for demolition, externals, infrastructure, professional fees, abnormal costs, etc., 2 Snowhill Plaza will be able to provide 9.95% affordability without rendering the project unviable.

With approval granted Hub Group will now enter into a S106 legal agreement to secure the affordable homes and the rights to acquire the entire demolition site.

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2 Snowhill Plaza, images from HUB & Metropolitan Workshop.

2 Snowhill Plaza: Plans In For 48-storey Tower

EXCLUSIVE: Plans for a 48-storey tower at Snow Hill have arrived.

The residential plans have been brought forward by HUB Group, together with pan-European investment group, MARK, with designs coming from Metropolitan Workshop Architects.

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2 Snow Hill Plaza is a major 48-storey (G, UG + 46fl) build-to-rent (BTR) development comprising 462 one- to three-bedroom homes, on-site shared amenities, ground-floor commercial, and a new public realm.

Modernist-inspired 2 Snowhill Plaza is being developed by HUB Group, in partnership with pan-European investment manager MARK.

Using a lower carbon approach, the scheme will deliver 228 one-bed (1-2 persons), 189 two-bed (3-4 persons), and 45 three-bed apartments (5 persons), complemented by a mixed-use plinth offering on-site communal amenities, as well as a public ground-level commercial unit.

The plinth will incorporate a multi-levelled entrance featuring a lobby, cycle workshop, and co-working spaces. Venturing upwards, chamfered corners will be made at levels 14 & 22, allowing for lounges & pocket gardens. Additional semi-covered space will also be provided on floor 46.

A new east-west public connection, allowing for fluid walkable routes from Snow Hill Queensway to Weaman Street for the first time since the late 19th century, will also be created.

With 2 Snowhill Plaza predominately car-free, 486 cycle spaces will be allocated alongside 2 off-site disabled spaces, 2 off-site motorcycle spaces, and 2 off-site car club spaces.

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Words by Stephen Giles; images from HUB, Metropolitan Workshop.

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2 Snowhill Plaza: 47 Storey BTR Tower

EXCLUSIVE: These are the first images for the proposed 47 storey tower at Snow Hill.

The plans are being brought forward by HUB Group, together with investment group, MARK, and Metropolitan Workshop Architects.

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Currently in the throes of a second and final public consultation, 2 Snowhill Plaza would provide a new marker building for the emerging Snow Hill side of the city.

Rising to 47-storeys and using a lower carbon approach, the scheme would offer 462 build to rent homes with a mixed use plinth offering shared residential amenities as well as a new commercial unit facing onto Snow Hill Queensway.

Activating the street with active frontages, landscaping & seating, a new east-west public route would also be created to allow for walkable access from Snow Hill Queensway to Weaman Street, for the first time in a generation.

Facilities at 2 Snowhill Plaza are expected to facilitate a lobby, bicycle workshop, storage, and co-working spaces; with additional vertical amenities ranging from biodiverse gardens to shared lounges, allowing for private classes and community events.

An opportunity also exists for a south-facing rooftop terrace at the peak of the building, allowing for additional amenities.

A planning application will be submitted in the coming weeks.

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Words by Stephen Giles; images from HUB, Metropolitan Workshop