Smallbrook Queensway Buildings, Birmingham

The proposed site map - click to enlarge

The Proposals

This page provides details of CEG’s proposal for the redevelopment of the Smallbrook Queensway Buildings.

Plans are being developed for a residential-led, mixed use development to include the demolition of the existing buildings and replacement with three separate buildings. The buildings will range between a 44 storey building to the west of Hurst Street, a 56 storey building between Hurst Street and Wrottesley Street and a 48 storey building on the eastern end, and will include new homes to rent on the upper floors. The ground floors, facing onto a range of new or improved publicly accessible spaces at the top of Hurst Street and Wrottesley Street, will provide a range of commercial uses.

The proposed development will provide 1,750 new build to rent homes, which will be fully managed, including a 24-hour concierge and shared amenity space for residents.

The design of the new buildings take inspiration from the existing architectural and design features of the current site, while reflecting the city’s future ambitions in a contemporary development.

By creating space between the existing buildings, the project will improve the connections between the city centre, the Chinese Quarter, the Gay Village and the emerging district at Smithfield.  As well as being places to pass through, these new spaces will become part of the increasing number of people friendly public areas that are transforming the city centre.

The proposed development will create extensive new public realm which will contribute to the greening of the city centre, a key aspiration of the City Council’s Our Future City Plan. There are three key interventions which can only be delivered through the redevelopment of the existing building:

  • Hurst Plaza, a large, primarily pedestrian area at the junction of Smallbrook Queensway and Hurst Street. The emerging scheme is being designed around the current public realm and highways work being supported by the Southside BID, GBS LEP and City Council. It will also allow for the complete pedestrianisation of the area in the future.
  • The Wrottesley Steps, enabling the reconnection of Wrottesley Street with Smallbrook Queensway via a fully pedestrianised new public space and arcade.
  • The Smithfield Steps, transforming the descent from Smallbrook Queensway down to Dudley Street and Pershore Street and on to Smithfield and Digbeth

The new residential community will benefit from new public green spaces. Click the image to enlarge

Hurst Plaza
Hurst Plaza
Wrottesley Steps
Wrottesley Steps
Smithfield Steps
Smithfield Steps
Proposed view from the Hippodrome
Proposed view from the Hippodrome
Proposed view from the Bullring
Proposed view from the Bullring

Frequently Asked Questions

Below we include responses to some frequently asked questions. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the team. You can do this by Freephone 0808 1688 296 or by email at contact@smallbrookqueenswaybuildings.co.uk

We are in pre-application discussions for a residential-led, mixed use development to include the demolition of the existing buildings and replacement with three separate buildings. The buildings will range between 40 and 60 storeys and will include new homes to rent on the upper floors. The ground floors, facing both north to Smallbrook Queensway and south onto new plazas at Hurst Street and Wrottesley Street, will provide a range of commercial uses including retail and food.

By creating space between the existing buildings, the proposals will improve the connections between the city centre, the Chinese Quarter, the Gay Village and the emerging district at Smithfield.  As well as being places to pass through, these new spaces will become part of the increasing number of people friendly public areas that are transforming the city centre, and the new tenants will give a boost in footfall to existing local businesses.

The proposed development will provide 1,750 new build to rent homes, which will be fully managed, including a 24-hour concierge and shared amenity space for residents

We are in discussions with officers about the level of onsite affordable housing in the scheme.

The proposed development will create extensive new public realm which will contribute to the greening of the city centre, a key aspiration of the City Council’s Our Future City Plan. There are three key interventions which can only be delivered through the redevelopment of the existing building:

  • Hurst Plaza, a large, primarily pedestrian area at the junction of Smallbrook Queensway and Hurst Street. The emerging scheme is being designed around the current work being supported by the Southside BID, GBS LEP and City Council. It will also allow for the complete pedestrianisation of the area in the future.
  • The Wrottesley Steps, enables the reconnection of Wrottesley Street with Smallbrook Queensway via a fully pedestrianised new public space and arcade.
  • The Smithfield Steps, transforming the descent from Smallbrook Queensway down to Dudley Street and Pershore Street and on to Smithfield and Digbeth.

Birmingham City Centre is becoming increasingly popular as a place to live, not least due to the close proximately of local nightlife and late night activities. We will be undertaking all relevant surveys and proposing necessary mitigation measures to ensure the two exist harmoniously.

To allow us to deliver the high-quality redevelopment proposed with the associated public realm we would need to replace the existing buildings.

We have completed studies which show that there are no significant effects. This assessment along with the wide range assessment of other potential impacts will all be provided to the Council at submission.