'Canalside tower would amount to vandalism'

Developers said the tower would generate more power than it consumed

Plans for a 29-storey canalside skyscraper have been described as "vandalism" by a group working to conserve the Birmingham waterways.

Those behind the project for nearly 250 new homes have said the proposed building, in Gas Street Basin, would be an "energy-positive" building, through generating more power than it consumed.

However, the Birmingham Canals Navigation Society said the development would overshadow everything else in the heritage area.

Plans by GNM Developments (GNMD) have been submitted, but have not yet been considered by Birmingham City Council.

Gerald Manton, managing director of GNMD, said: "The site itself is 106 metres long by 8.5 metres wide. When you take the form of that site, you can't go outwards, you can only go up. It's that narrowness that actually allows this building to be energy positive."

The shape of the building had allowed architects "to put so much solar on the one side that it was able to be energy-positive", he explained.

Bob Fox, from Birmingham Canal Navigations Society, said the building would "stick out like a sore thumb"

However Bob Fox, from BCNS, said: "It's going to overshadow everything here in what is actually what is actually a very, very good heritage site.

"To ignore the existing culture and produce something that is totally at odds with it, is tantamount to vandalism.

"It sticks out like a sore thumb really - in our view a non-starter. It lacks sympathy with what already exists."

The plans will see a toll house, which was built in 1875, repurposed and restored, but the warehouse next door to it would be demolished.

BCNS has said Gas Street Basin contain many listed structures.

In earlier objections, the society said: "The plans do not adequately acknowledge the historic importance of the canals.

"The balance between canalside charm, industrial heritage and contemporary development has swung too far towards the latter, sweeping away the very heritage that attracts visitors in the first place."

Lead architect Rachael Korbly said a lot of thought had gone into the scheme

Rachael Korbly, lead architect for the building, said demolition would be required on the site.

"The existing building isn't structurally sound, so we are going to demolish it, but repurpose the bricks," she said.

She said "a lot of thought" had gone into making sure the scheme reflected the local character of the area, adding: "We think that blend of old and new together really works."

The planned building will have apartments, communal gardens, lounge areas, a cinema and fitness facilities, the developers said.