Marrons says it will work with council on new design for 80 Broad Street site
The development consultancy behind rejected plans to build a 42-storey residential tower above a grade II-listed building in Birmingham is looking at other options for the site after councillors called for a 鈥渃omplete refresh鈥�.
Marrons鈥� proposals for the 80 Broad Street site were unanimously refused at a planning committee meeting last week, with one councillor describing the scheme as 鈥渦tterly bonkers鈥�.
The 300-home build-to-rent tower would have been built directly above the early 19th century former Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, a prime site in the centre of the city.
But the proposals were derided by councillors because of the scheme鈥檚 heritage impact, with another telling last week鈥檚 committee: 鈥淭hey鈥檝e just plonked something on top of it and hoped that it works.鈥�
A spokesperson for Marrons told 黑洞社区: 鈥淭he committee members suggested that the design needs a 鈥榬efresh鈥� and we will be engaging with the council towards other options for regenerating the site.鈥�
The firm added it would be working with the council 鈥渁s part of a design process for the regeneration of this important site鈥�.
> Also read: 鈥楤onkers鈥� plans to build 42-storey tower above listed Birmingham building flatly refused
Marrons and the scheme鈥檚 developer HJB Investments previously described the site as 鈥渦nder-utilised brownfield鈥� which 鈥渄oes not positively contribute鈥� to the surrounding area.
Planning documents pointed to schemes in Australia and Canada that have introduced new build development above historic buildings and their frontages as precedents for the 80 Broad Street proposals.
Its examples include Fitzpatrick & Partners鈥� 88 Walker Street hotel and office development in North Sydney, which is 50 storeys tall; John Wardle Architects鈥� 16-storey 271 Spring Street development in Melbourne; and Hariri Pontarini Architects鈥� 60-storey Massey Tower in Toronto.
Marrons planning director Charlotte El Hakiem has previously said the firm鈥檚 Broad Street proposals were a 鈥渄istinctive and innovative approach鈥� that allows for the retention and careful repurposing of a grade II-listed building while simultaneously creating a striking landmark tower.
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