Calthorpe Estates is planning to knock down a 1970s office block in Edgbaston to make way for its £300 million New Garden Square project.

The family-run firm has applied for permission to bring down the vacant 18-storey Edgbaston House, in Duchess Road, and a neighbouring multi-storey car park.

Its previous tenants included the Islamic Bank of Britain and is one of several buildings earmarked for demolition to make way for the new development.

Last month, Calthorpe Estates unveiled a masterplan including new apartments, commercial units and leisure facilities to be built around a garden square on land between the Plough and Harrow pub and Five Ways island.

The plans for New Garden Square have been created in collaboration with regeneration specialist U+I which is also leading the development of a new designer outlet village in Cannock.

Calthorpe Estates is also behind The Village in Edgbaston, a project aimed at creating a new urban village around Greenfield Crescent which will include new boutique shops and restaurants and residential accommodation.

A planning application for New Garden Square is due to be lodged with Birmingham City Council in December.