A new hospital to be built at the former BBC studios at Pebble Mill is set to be even bigger than originally planned.

Birmingham City Council had already approved the development of a 54,000 sq ft building at the Edgbaston site but on Thursday (May 24) the authority's planning committee will decide whether the scheme can be increased to 97,000 sq ft.

The new facility, which is also to be used for research and development, would rise in height from five storeys to eight, although that includes two storeys of 'roof plant areas'.

Applicants Pebble Mill Investments, a subsidiary of Calthorpe Estates, say the building will predominantly be five to six storeys tall.

An artist's impression of the new hospital planned for the site of the former BBC studios in Pebble Mill, Birmingham.
An artist's impression of the new hospital planned for the site of the former BBC studios in Pebble Mill, Birmingham.

The number of parking spaces has also been increased from 140 to 167 which would be located on a surface level and two basement levels.

Specific details of the facility's end use, as well as the number of beds and consultation rooms, have yet to be confirmed and a more comprehensive application - referred to as reserved matters - would be submitted at a later stage if it is approved.

Although a 3D mock-up of what it could look like has been submitted while a planning document said Calthorpe were looking at providing extra accommodation for the neighbouring dental hospital.

The site was once a central component of the BBC studios' main 11-storey building which they vacated in 2003 to move to the Mailbox.

No formal objections have been submitted against the enlarged proposal but West Midlands Police has called for CCTV.

The former BBC studios at Pebble Mill, Birmingham.
The former BBC studios at Pebble Mill, Birmingham.

The force stated Edgbaston was a high-crime area which between August and January had seen 228 reports of anti-social behaviour, 204 burglaries, 321 incidents of vehicle crime and 60 bicycle thefts.

They have also been called out to the neighbouring dental hospital ten times since March last year, for three vehicle crimes and seven thefts.

Force counter terrorism chiefs asked to be notified if the facility was to carry out animal testing or store pathogens.

Council officers concluded the hospital would be a 'welcome addition' to Pebble Mill forming another part of the 'growing medical park'. Councillors on the committee will have the final say.