Masshouse

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This article or section contains information about expected future buildings or structures.
It is likely to contain information of a speculative nature, and the content may change as building construction begins and new information becomes available.

An image of the future result of the development under construction. This image is located around the site on which Block I is being constructed on.

Masshouse is a site within Birmingham, United Kingdom which is under development with the construction of 13 new highrise blocks intended for public services, commerce and residential purposes. When completed, the blocks will have a prominent position on the Eastside skyline.

1 History
2 Development
- 2.1 Facts and Figures
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] History

The Masshouse area existed in the Victorian times as nothing else but Masshouse Lane. It was a small lane which was connected to Dale End and the junction at Albert Street and Duddeston Row where the tram line parted. The eastern section of the Masshouse area consisted of Saint Bartholomew Church.

It was developed in the 1960s into an elevated road intersection and was named Masshouse Circus and the area below it was cleared. The elevated roadways were made of concrete which created an appearance disliked by locals. Under the roads was a large car park with pedestrian walkways in the form of tunnels which were usually occupied by homeless people seeking shelter. The road intersection became known as the "concrete collar" which restricted the expansion of the city centre core beyond it into the east. As a result, prices of office space within Birmingham City Centre rose putting off potential occupiers.

Along with the Bull Ring Shopping Centre, the roundabout was demolished to clear the land for development and this demolition was named the "breaking of the concrete collar". However, the land was left as a car park for a number of years as plans and designs for the development were created. Pieces of the rubble collected from the demolished structure, were put on sale by the Birmingham branch of Friends of the Earth with a price tag of 50p per piece.

[edit] Development

This is Block I after it has been topped out. c.July 2006.

Masshouse is now cleared and ready for development with the largest of the three sites being used as a temporary car park. It has been separated into two phases with Phase 1 retaining the Masshouse name. The other land, Phase 2, cleared for development will be called City Park Gate named after the City Park to be constructed next to it.

The area of Phase 1 will stretch from the McLaren Building to the Park Street Gardens. This land will be home to 13 new highrise towers, designed by Edward Cullinan architects, which are part of a general scheme covering the entire Eastside of Birmingham. One of the thirteen towers has been topped out and the exterior completed with only the ground floor and furnishings to be completed. The foundations for the other adjacent towers are under construction. The entire project is due to cost £350 million.

An outline planning application has been resubmitted by GVA Grimley to increase the height of the tallest tower and also for a reclad of the adjacent McLaren Building. Outline planning permission was granted however the wings on the top of the block had to be removed.

Masshouse submitted plans for a second apartment building adjacent to the current building in August 2006. The 14 storey building is set for construction in late 2006 with completion in 2008 and will contain 163 apartments [1].

[edit] Facts and Figures

500,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation.
550 high specification apartments creating a new high quality residential quarter of the city.
250,000 sq ft Birmingham Magistrates Court, with 33 court rooms in a purpose designed complex.
Ground floor cafes, restaurants and retail units.
Two new public squares, with traffic free landscaped areas, water features and public art.
800 car parking spaces.
New pedestrian routes from the city centre.