Paradise has ambitious plans to build the world’s tallest fully octagonal tower in Birmingham city. The 346 home, 49 storey Build to Rent building – named Octagon – will be one of the UK’s most distinctive towers.
Taller than the BT Tower and recognisable from across the city, the Build to Rent octagonal tower will offer uninterrupted views across the city, with a maximum of eight spacious apartments on a floor. The look and feel of Octagon will reflect the nearby Jewellery Quarter and its industrial workshops.
“We are hugely excited about delivering the first pure Octagonal residential tower in the world here in our hometown.
“This is not just a first for Birmingham and a new landmark on the city’s skyline, but it will be a distinct and instantly recognisable design offering homes of unparalleled individuality, with every apartment enjoying a generous 13m facet of the Octagon, a first ever for a residential product.”
Dav Bansal, Glenn Howells Architects
Subject to planning aimed at being submitted this summer, the proposals will see a 155 metre (510 foot) tall residential landmark built at the northern apex of the Paradise site, on land currently occupied by the 77 Paradise Circus Queensway office building and fronting Summer Row. Designed by Birmingham-based Glenn Howells Architects, Octagon could be completed by 2024.
“Our ambition with Octagon is simple – to build one of the finest apartment schemes ever seen in the UK. Everything about the building – its height, the size of the apartments themselves and their design, the views and the location in the city centre – will be a first.”
Rob Groves, Regional Director, Argent
The Build to Rent octagonal tower will also incorporate affordable homes for rent as part of the overall mix of one, two- and three-bedroom homes. More details on this will be considered in discussion with Birmingham City Council during the planning stage.
Paradise is looking to submit a new planning application to introduce a residential element into the scheme. It’s proposed that the remainder of the masterplan will be delivered in accordance with the outline planning permission and subject to detailed planning consent for each building.
“Octagon is exactly the kind of world class project that proves that Birmingham is open for business. Octagon will be a great addition to Birmingham’s skyline. Paradise itself is an important landmark development for the city and the incorporation of a residential element will help bring this mixed-use scheme even further to life.”
Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council
At almost two million square feet, Paradise is delivering up to ten new flagship buildings, with offices, shops, bars, cafés, restaurants and a four-star hotel across 17 acres in the heart of the city, together with the proposed Octagon tower.
Residents will also have access to private lounges, a wellness centre and workout studio. There will be three new public squares, 120,000 square feet of retail and leisure space, 440 cycle spaces, 550 car parking spaces and it’s managed 24 hours a day.
“The setting within the city’s most ambitious mixed-use development gives Octagon a unique quality of life proposition and benefits from some amazing amenities. Paradise is about many things, including re-connecting the city and adding to the life and vitality of the city centre.
“The approach for this design is straight forward: we want to create the finest city centre homes Birmingham, if not Britain, has ever seen, in a location that is simply unrivalled and in a building that is distinguishable for all the right reasons and become a part of this world-class destination.”
Dav Bansal, Glenn Howells Architects
