100 Broad Street proposals will deliver 294 homes across 33 storeys

Downsized proposals for a ground-floor-plus-32-storeys build-to-rent residential tower in central Birmingham have been lodged by Howells.

Designs by the recently-rebranded practice, formerly known as Glenn Howells Architects, slash the height of a previously-consented scheme for 100 Broad Street by almost half.

Glancy Nicholls’ 61-storey scheme was designed for Euro Property Investments Ltd and approved in 2020. However, the 503-home scheme is understood to have become unviable and the site was sold to current owner Urban Vision.

Urban Vision says the 294-home Howells proposals will be all-electric and “among the most environmentally and socially conscious developments in Birmingham”.

100 Broad Street 1

Source: Howells

Howells’ plans for 100 Broad Street in Birmingham

Howells director Robert King said the scheme for the site – currently occupied by a five-storey office building – had “challenged” the practice to “look again and question” the blueprint for efficient tall-building designs.

“100 Broad Street pays reference to Birmingham’s architectural modernist past while looking to the future to create a building that is more Birmingham, less anywhere,” he said

“We look forward to working with Urban Vision and the wider team to provide sustainable, build-to-rent homes for the current and future residents of Birmingham.”

Glancy Nicholls - 100 Broad Street - Birmingham tower - CGI

Source: Glancy Nicholls Architects

Glancy Nicholls’ plans for a 61-storey tower at 100 Broad Street

The tower will be on the opposite side of Broad Street from Howells’ recently-completed 42-storey The Mercian build-to-rent development for Moda Living.

The site is less than a mile from Howells’ Brick House homes at Icknield Port Loop, which won a RIBA National Award last week.

100 Broad Street 3

Source: Google Maps

The Centennial House office building on Broad Street in Birmingham, pictured in August 2020 – when work on the extension of the Midland Metro tram line was ongoing