Birmingham M&S demolition plan for 53-storey tower faces heritage concerns

A planning application has been submitted to Birmingham City Council to demolish the former Marks and Spencer store on High Street and build a 53-storey skyscraper with 729 homes, but conservation officers have raised serious concerns. The 1957 building, once the UK's largest M&S branch, is considered a 'non-designated heritage asset'. The council's principal conservation officer stated the application "understates the degree of harm" to the skyline, particularly affecting nearby heritage sites including Birmingham Cathedral and St Martin in the Bull Ring church. Officials have requested more information from developers REAP 4 and Bluecastle Capital to justify total demolition, questioning whether alternatives were "robustly explored". The council's city design officer has recommended refusing the application, citing a failure to deliver "good, cohesive architecture".