Ventureast

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Demolition work on the Ventureast site. c. February 2007.

The former Co-op furniture factory before being destroyed by fire and strong winds.

The former Co-op furniture factory after being destroyed by fire and strong winds. Clearance work has commenced to the back of the building.

Ventureast is a major mixed-use development in the Eastside area of Birmingham, England. It is located next to the City Park development and opposite Curzon Gate.

It is alongside the already completed Millennium Point and will cover the area to the rear of the building (now used as a car park) on top of the area alongside the road. It covers an area of 15.24 acres (6.17 hectares). A replacement car park will be a multistorey building fronting Jennens Road. ^[1]

The current site is occupied by warehouse units, the Digbeth Branch Canal, a listed pub and pumping station. On AB Row was a locally listed Victorian former Co-op furniture factory which was burned on January 11, 2007 in a suspected arson. The roof collapsed and 75% of the building was damaged by the fire which also destroyed seven arched windows^[2]. On January 18 2007, the facade of the building, which had survived the fire albeit smoke damaged, collapsed in on itself in high winds due to the lack of support it received after the fire was put out.

The area has been hailed as the most important development scheme in Eastside by Birmingham City Council due to the variety of uses it will provide.

The canal will remain in the development and will form the hub of the residential and hotel area. The buildings will range from 2 stories to 8 stories. A square will be located at the back of Millennium Point and will be called Exchange Square. Sketch designs have already been produced.

Demolition of buildings on the site began in mid-January 2007^[3].

A proposal for a 175 metre (498 foot) tall observation tower named the "Pinnacle Tower" were presented to the public in early 2006^[4]. This will be located on Jennens Road on part of the Ventureast site. The tower was redesigned with more detailed designs were presented to the public in September 2006^[5].