A new £33m 'chic' hotel is to be built in Birmingham - despite concerns it could lead to the city centre becoming taller.

Jurys Inn has won permission from Birmingham City Council to demolish a multi-storey car park behind its premises on Broad Street to develop a 14-storey NYX hotel.

Birmingham Civic Society argued it could set a precedent and result in a 'creep' of similarly tall buildings springing up, just off the main nightlife strip which would be hard to refuse planning permission.

But council planners dismissed the fears, saying the scheme would not be as tall as the 17 storey Jurys Inn next door.

A mock-up showing what the NYX hotel could look like
A mock-up showing what the NYX hotel could look like

Karen Townend, planning officer, said: "We look for things to step down from that predominant city centre core but we also have to acknowledge that the city centre and the core of it is growing. The development of the city centre itself is getting taller.

"This doesn't necessarily set a precedent, there isn't a precedent in planning each application is dealt with on its own merits. We would have to look at what something is like in its own context.

"We also don't want it all completely flat and everything the same height."

Concerns were also raised by Cllr Gareth Moore, on the council's planning committee, around the loss of the 200-space car park, which serves Jurys Inn customers, even though 152 spaces are to be re-installed for both hotels.

But the applicant stated that the current car park is often left less than half full.

Around 110 permanent jobs will be created when the hotel is opened.

A mock-up showing what the NYX hotel could look like
A mock-up showing what the NYX hotel could look like

A design and access statement supplied by Consarc Design Group provides images of what the finished building would like and also a description of the NYX brand which said: "Every NYX hotel boasts a distinctive ambiance with a wide range of regional influences and local flair.

"They are cosmopolitan, cool and chic.

"Popular trends are adopted and great quality is placed on the selection of furniture, colour schemes and accessories.

"The unique art concept is another highlight which turns every NYX hotel into a unique building.

"Artists with different styles assist in the design of chosen hotel areas - thus an ARTmosphere is created that turns the hotels into hotspots for art and culture lovers."