A Midland construction company has been awarded a £4 million contract to build a private car park at the University of Birmingham’s Edgbaston campus.
Nottingham based Clegg Construction will create a six-storey facility for staff and students which will cover more than 100,000 sq ft and provide almost 500 spaces.
It will reduce current parking problems, while making use of vacant land within the university’s 250 acre Edgbaston campus.
The car park is part of a wider £175 million estate development plan which includes a new £37 million library, student accommodation and Olympic size swimming pool.
Birmingham City Council planning committee has approved plans to demolish the existing 1950s library and Associated Architects, based in The Mailbox, have designed the new facility which will have six storeys and a cafe and exhibition hall.
Councillors were critical of the modern design, which they claimed is out of place on the historic red brick site, but admitted the existing 1950s library has outlived its usefulness.
The Gun Barrels pub on Bristol Road is also to be demolished and replaced by an £11 million 50-metre swimming pool and sports facility being built by the University of Birmingham.
The existing Munrow Sports Centre, opened in 1963 and which includes a 25-metre pool, will also be bulldozed – although the adjacent athletics track will be retained.
Simon Blackburn, managing director at Clegg Construction, which also has offices in Leeds, said: “The new car park has been designed so that it is in keeping with Clegg Construction’s policy of providing high quality, innovative buildings.
“We’re looking forward to starting work on the new car park and know it will make a huge improvement to the campus.”
