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The heart of Birmingham is pulsating with a new urban district that is pumping 1.2 million square feet of mixed-use development into a 9.2-acre site. The transformative project by Arena Central Developments Limited, a joint venture between Miller Developments and Pro Vinci Asset Management, includes an extensive landscaped public realm.
Arena Central overlooks Centenary Square and the new Library of Birmingham on Broad Street. The site was previously occupied by derelict buildings until site clearance began in 2013 in advance of development. One year later, the first commercial office building received planning permission. The second building, an office scheme designed by MAKE Architects for HSBC, is due for completion in 2017. A third office structure is being developed on a speculative basis.
A 250-bedroom Holiday Inn Express hotel is currently under construction at the southeast corner of the site. The 17-storey building will include a bar and restaurant on the first floor. The Tetris-like windows provide openings in what will soon be a pixelated facade of grey. The hotel is expected to be ready for occupancy in 2017.
The masterplanned project will be delivered in phases with additional residential buildings developed in the future. The development is meant to partially meet the demand for high-quality modern office spaces and accommodations within the city centre. Birmingham's Big City Plan outlines a vision for regeneration of tired properties, with 'Enterprise Zones' offering simplified planning and reduced business rates to encourage development. By creating a new mixed-use destination for the city, Arena Central ticks all of those boxes.
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