Bluecastle presses ahead with ‘landmark’ city tower plan

A plan to replace Birmingham’s former M&S department store with a 52-storey apartment tower has moved forward, after a pre-application request was lodged with the city council.

London-based Bluecastle Capital snapped up the site at 42 High Street in central Birmingham last April, revealing plans for a landmark Build-to-Rent scheme shortly afterwards.

A consultation exercise on its emerging proposals for the half-acre site concluded in December, with a screening opinion request submitted to the city council this week detailing a mixed-use plan for 755 residential homes, and up to 4,000 sq ft of commercial floorspace.

At the launch of the consultation, Bluecastle said the site provided a “unique opportunity to develop a landmark building” in the city centre, describing it as a prime location in one of the UK’s most strategically important regeneration locations, around 250 ft from the planned Curzon Street HS2 hub.

“The site represents a rare opportunity to deliver new homes in a highly sustainable, city-centre location close to the future Curzon Street HS2 station,” said a spokesperson for the company.

“It is an important gateway between the city centre, Digbeth and the emerging Smithfield district, and we believe it has the potential to play a positive role in Birmingham’s ongoing regeneration. We look forward to working with the council and local stakeholders as our proposals develop”.

Last month, Bluecastle also confirmed the purchase of the former Yorkshire Post headquarters in Leeds, with plans for a 350-home Build-to-Rent development.

The pre-application request can be viewed on Birmingham City Council’s planning portal under reference: 2026/01122/PA