Historic Digbeth factory set for major hotel expansion

Proposals to more than double the floorspace of a former fertiliser works in Birmingham to provide 78 hotel rooms and conference facilities have been submitted to city planners.

The scheme for Ladbrooke House, once the home of Midland Cattle Products but converted into hotel accommodation in 2015, would also see a sports centre and banqueting suite constructed as part of a modern 24,500 sq ft extension to the original 1920’s building.

Under the plans submitted by Venturi Architects, the building’s historic art deco style frontage would also be cleaned and restored, with existing non-authentic windows exchanged for ones that follow the original designs. A second layer of windows would also be installed to enhance the thermal performance of the building.

The hotel sits directly opposite the new BBC headquarters currently being built in a former Typhoo tea factory on Bordesley Street, and is located within the Digbeth/Deritend conservation area.

The building has been locally listed as “Grade B” which, under Birmingham City Council’s criteria, describes the building as important in the city’s architectural context – but a local listing does not offer it any particular protections associated with official listed status.

“The proposed development at 28-35 Bordesley Street seeks to secure a culturally and functionally viable future for the site through sensitive regeneration,” said a heritage statement submitted with the plans.

“The proposal strives for a balance between up-to-date architectural expression and respect for the historical fabric. This avoids pastiche, which is in line with present-day architectural thinking that discourages the direct imitation of past styles.

“Located opposite, the proposal… could, as such, be distinctly complementary to the Typhoo Tea Factory development.”

Plans and documents relating to the scheme can be accessed on Birmingham City Council’s planning portal under reference: 2025/02390/PA