One of Birmingham's most recognisable office towers in the heart of Colmore business district looks set to be demolished to make way for a new building.
The 22-storey NatWest Tower, on the corner of Colmore Row and Newhall Street, has been vacant since 2003 and was bought from British Land in November by Rockspring Property Investment Managers on behalf of a client.
Rockspring and development partner Sterling Property Ventures have now lodged plans with Birmingham City Council to demolish the entire structure and build a paved external space.
A further planning application, detailing exactly what will be constructed in its place, is expected to be lodged by late March, with developers hopeful of securing planning permission by the summer.
Although few details have been released at this stage on what will replace NatWest Tower, planning documents say the new owners "intend to deliver a high-quality, modern building similar in overall height" to the existing tower which will be "sympathetic to the conservation area".
It is likely to be grade A office space and have at least 200,000 sq ft of accommodation.
Demolition is expected to take around ten months and the new building could be completed by the end of 2017.
Completed in 1976 and officially called 103 Colmore Row, the building was designed by renowned Birmingham architect John Madin and sits just a short walk away from another of his well-known creations facing demolition, Central Library.
Fans of his Brutalist architecture will consider it another loss to the city as several of Madin's buildings, such as Pebble Mill and Chamber of Commerce House, have either been knocked down or are facing the end.
Elsewhere, his office block at 104-106 Hagley Road is due to be reborn as a student halls of residence.
