It’s onward and upwards for Birmingham

The skylines of our major cities are in a state of constant flux, with scores of cranes and scaffolding towers peppering our urban vistas. We are in an era of large-scale construction, and the number of tall buildings emerging in clusters across our cities is likely to increase further with the government’s commitment to “unlock” the planning system. Considering that we’ve demolished over half of the tower blocks built in the 1950s, '60s, and '70s, it might seem strange that we are reviving high-rise living. Are we simply maximizing the use of brownfield sites, or do these statuesque structures also serve as symbols of wealth and prosperity?

At SEC Newgate’s Birmingham office, we have witnessed the demolition of some of the city’s controversial brutalist architecture, including its 1960s Central Library, with skyscrapers rising in their place. Recently, a 41-storey residential tower on Bristol Street, Birmingham, went before planning, along with the approval of Renaker’s £1bn skyscraper cluster in Manchester.

As a country, we face a pressing need for new housing, and a high-rise apartment block provides more homes per square foot than any other solution. But is this the main reason for the resurgence of high-rise living? Or is there still a status associated with having the tallest buildings?

Our office at Brindley Place, just off Broad Street, is in the heart of one of the many clusters of new-generation apartment towers emerging across Birmingham’s city center in designated tall-building zones. The renewed focus on health and wellbeing is reminiscent of the 1920s when housing was first linked to public health. Modern high-rise buildings feature shared indoor and outdoor spaces, fostering community and cohesion, with a fresh emphasis on mental health.

I recently toured Cortland’s newest build-to-rent scheme on Broad Street, Birmingham. This 440-unit skyscraper stands at 364ft (111m) tall, making it the city’s third-highest residential building, surpassing 103 Colmore Row, Alpha Tower, and Birmingham University Clock Tower. While its exterior looks modern and smart, I was unprepared for the range of amenities offered in modern city rental properties. Residents enjoy sky suites with stunning views and entertainment spaces, outdoor terraces, a communal state-of-the-art gym, co-working space, a residents' lounge, and a private garden with a dog park — a far cry from my rental experiences in the late '90s and early 2000s.

These new rental developments are impressive, and we seem to have learned from the high-rise blocks that failed to stand the test of time. Birmingham City Council’s planning department appears to approve buildings designed to be sustainable and safe, making good use of brownfield land while addressing the urgent need for housing.

In the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, high-rise building designs have evolved to prioritize life safety in the event of a fire. Buildings over 11m must now be fitted with sprinkler systems, and new buildings over 18m must include a second staircase. Additionally, regulations around combustible materials have been clarified. Although the tragedy has caused significant stress for those owning or living in buildings with unsafe cladding, the industry remains committed to investing in skyscrapers across the UK. Local councils are approving a new generation of high-density, high-quality living spaces, ensuring that residents' safety is a top priority.

Last year, Building Design’s Joe Holyoak questioned whether Birmingham’s tall-building policy was becoming a “free-for-all.” He described it as a “blatant disregard” of the city’s masterplan and tall-building policy — ‘High Places,’ published in 2003 — and Birmingham’s Design Guides, leading to what he calls “an incoherent townscape.” Holyoak cites 103 Colmore Row as one of the “chief offenders,” criticizing its construction in a conservation area that covers much of the city center. He also expressed concerns about the Octagon, part of the Paradise development, arguing that “tall buildings continue to be seen as symbols of prestige, which is at odds with the real arithmetic of the carbon crisis.”

Birmingham currently has over 375 tall buildings, with many more under construction or awaiting planning approval. Are these vanity projects or genuine attempts to provide much-needed new homes while building something different?

The UAE has seen a race to build taller and taller buildings as symbols of affluence and economic success. This raises the question of whether our renewed interest in building taller structures is merely a response to a growing population or a reflection of a desire to harness high-density living as a more efficient use of limited urban space.

In March of this year, Glancy Nicholls’ 47-storey tower received approval, which, upon completion, will be the tallest on Birmingham’s Broad Street. Meanwhile, Regal Property Group’s 145m-tall building under construction at 90-97 Broad Street will join the growing cluster of towers in the city center.

However, not all proposals in the Broad Street cluster receive immediate approval. The Glassworks, a 42-storey glass skyscraper proposed to be built over a Grade II listed Georgian hospital on Broad Street, made national headlines when the architect was asked to reconsider the proposal. Another controversial project under review involves the demolition of the Ringway Centre, an example of brutalist architecture, to make way for three additional high-rise buildings.

New tall buildings currently under construction include The Octagon (155m), The Hundred (100m), and One Eastside (155m), along with clusters in Southside and the Jewellery Quarter. These developments are prime examples of utilizing brownfield sites for regeneration.

If all the proposed buildings are constructed, Birmingham’s skyline will look very different, with over 500 tall buildings and structures.

Does this indicate an upturn in Birmingham’s fortunes? It certainly reflects significant investment in the city, and for Birmingham, it seems the only way is up.