Curzon Gate

Construction work on Curzon Gate. This building is now completed, houses student accommodation and fronts Lawley Middleway.

The site on which the development is being constructed.

Curzon Gate (also known as Curzon Gateway) is a residential development located on the edge of Birmingham City Centre, England, on a prominent gateway site into the city centre. The land was formerly occupied by Castle Cement silos. The four acre (1.62 hectare) site is located in the Eastside area, which is currently witnessing a large-scale regeneration scheme. It is located next to Curzon Park and opposite Eastside Locks, both of which are developments. It is bounded by a railway viaduct to the south and a road junction on the A4540 road. It is separated from Curzon Park by the Digbeth Branch Canal.

The government's plan for High Speed 2, published on 11th March 2010, requires the use of the Curzon Gate site.

The land receives its name from Curzon Street railway station and five underground railway tunnels are located directly underneath the site where they terminate. The extension and reuse of the tunnels had been proposed for railway expansion in Birmingham, however, the proposals did not develop. These railway tunnels terminated at the Digbeth Branch Canal however when the Castle Cement silos were constructed, the tunnels were filled in up to Lawley Middleway.

The developers are the Eastside Partnership and the agent are Drivers Jonas.

Planning history

Initial planning permission was blocked by the High Court following intervention by MacDermid who were given permission previously to store hazardous chemicals on their Eastside site. This meant that all planning applications within a 0.5 kilometres (0.3 mi) radius of their site had to be approved by the Health and Safety Executive. However, Birmingham City Council had ignored the HSE which led to MacDermid appealing to the High Court. However, planning permission was granted later on.

On October 12, 2006, an outline planning application for the development was presented before the planning committee who decided to defer it due to Section 106 payments.

Through previous consideration of the application an agreement over the Section 106 issues between Birmingham City Council and the applicant was signed and completed on January 31, 2005. It provided for contributions on the overall site with overall site being defined as the Castle Cement site (which Curzon Gate will be situated on) and the Parcelforce site (which will be covered by Curzon Park).

Construction

The Castle Cement silos were removed in 2005. Phase 1 of the development commenced the following year. Phase 1 consists of 748 student units as well as community facilities. It is currently operated by UNITE, and has been open to residents since July 2008.

Phase 1 topped out in January 2008. Phase 2 will consist of a 12 storey tower with 260 private dwellings. As well as this, there will be a two-storey car park with 210 parking spaces, including 13 for disabled drivers, a café on the ground floor of one of the towers, a gym, retail facilities and a public open space. Phase 2 is yet to begin construction.

Design

The Eastside area was initially masterplanned by HOK International and the Curzon Gate scheme was designed by Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson.

Phase 1 takes its shape from the curve of the road junction. The block is of contemporary design with ivory-coloured stonework on the ground and first floor. The upper floors would have glazed curtain walling, powder coated windows, galvanised steel balconies and a standing seam roof. The 11 storey block is 31 metres (101.7 ft) tall.

Phase 2 will have 120 two-bed flats (including seventeen duplex units), 99 one-bed flats (including seventeen duplex units) and 41 studio flats and 210 parking spaces and would be in a development of the following heights:

• 3–6 storeys fronting the canal with an additional seventh storey at the corner facing the proposed access road (south-western corner of the site)
• 2–7 storeys facing the railway viaduct
• 6–9 storeys fronting on to the new central street
• 12 storey tower fronting on to Curzon Street.

High Speed 2 and possible demolition

On 11th March 2009 the Government announced a plan for a high speed rail line from London to Birmingham, known as High Speed 2. The rail line would terminate at a new station close to the site of the old Curzon Street railway station.

The report indicated that the Curzon Gate site would be required for the approach tracks to the new station. This would require demolition of the completed Curzon Gateway buildings and cancellation of or major changes to all developments planned in the block of land between Curzon Street and the railway.

External links

• Emporis: Curzon Gateway
• Eastside investments PDF (contains map showing Curzon Gate location)
• Birmingham.gov.uk
• Planning application for Curzon Gate
• Agenda Topic