The Government has refused a fresh request to save Birmingham’s Central Library from demolition.

Heritage Minister John Penrose upheld a ruling by former Culture Minister Margaret Hodge that the controversial 1970s building is not worth saving.

He was asked to reconsider the decision by pressure group Friends of the Central Library.

Mr Penrose admitted that Mrs Hodge was unwise to announce her decision a year ago in a live broadcast on Radio WM.

Comments she made in the broadcast could have given the impression that “irrelevant considerations” were behind the decision not to list the library as a building of architectural merit, Mr Penrose admitted.

He said he had to deal with claims that Mrs Hodge’s decision “may have been incorrectly made”.

It was necessary to take a fresh decision about the library, although he saw no reason to take a different view to Mrs Hodge.

His decision not to save the Central Library flies in the face of environment watchdog English Heritage, which believes the building is worthy of special protection.

The library in Paradise Forum, which was designed by celebrated Birmingham architect John Madin, has been criticised over the years as a “concrete eyesore”.

City council bosses want to demolish the building to make way for a £600 million redevelopment of Paradise Circus – flattening Paradise Forum.

Work is underway on a new £187 million Library of Birmingham in Centenary Square, which is due to open in 2013.

A council spokesman said: “The Paradise Circus site is of great strategic importance and holds enormous potential for the future success of the city centre.

“ Opening the area up will create new streets and squares, as well as direct access and dramatic lines of site between the historic civic heart of the city and Westside.

“We are progressing our ideas and holding discussions with land owners for the potential relocation of the Birmingham Conservatoire.

“We expect to hold a planning consultation in early 2011.”