Auchinleck endeavours

Demolition work has finally started on Auchinleck House in preparation for it's redevelopment into a new hotel.  As I noted in July 2012, Room occupied - Birmingham expands hotel space, plans to redevelop the former office block will see a new hotel alongside banqueting and conference facilities.

The block is named after Field Marshal Auchinleck who was chairman of the company that built the block.

Field Marshal Auchinleck was a key figure in the North Africa campaign against the Germans, laying the foundations for Field Marshal Montgomery’s victory at El Alamein, but is best known for his service in India both during and immediately after the war. 

As Commander-in-Chief of the Indian forces he was responsible for ensuring the supply and reinforcement of General Bill Slim’s Fourteenth Army fighting the Burma campaign. 

Birmingham-born General Slim later said that without this support the army could not have liberated Burma from the Japanese.
http://www.birminghampost.net/news/w...5233-30438777/

The demolition finally overcomes several false starts for the site which was the location for a £100m mixed use scheme called Pentavia.

Back in February 2008, Birmingham Properties Group and Mars Pension Fund, managed by Lasalle Investment Management, planned a £100m plus mixed-use scheme to comprise a 120,000 sq ft office block, a four star 200-bedroom hotel alongside a 136-bedroom budget hotel, a 200 flat student accommodation block with shops and private flats. However, plans were dropped owing to the economic downturn.
http://www.estatesgazette.com/blogs/midlands-property/2012/03/mipim-2012-fingers-crossed-fiveways-gets-the-development-it-deserves.html

Indeed since the planning approval in early 2012, and my blog post referring to plans in July, the proposal saw changes with a revised planning application submitted in December 2012.

Application Number 2012/08251/PA 

Proposal Mixed use scheme comprising part demolition of existing shopping centre, change of use of Auchinleck House to a 272 bed hotel, rooftop restaurant & bar, refurbished retail facilities, temporary car park and to allow for the phasing for new banqueting & conference halls with business centre, car parking and associated works

The new hotel which will be operated by StayWell and is due to open in 2014.

StayWell’s first UK hotel will be the Park Regis Birmingham for which StayWell has secured a 30 years long term management agreement. Due to open in 2014, Park Regis Birmingham, currently under construction, overlooks the Five Ways roundabout and in close proximity to The Bullring, The ICC, Brindleyplace, The Mailbox and a number of restaurants and bars.
Park Regis Birmingham will be of 4 star quality with extensive facilities including 272 guest rooms, lobby lounge and bar, rooftop restaurant and cocktail bar, library, gymnasium, spa and business centre.http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4057014.html

The photos below show Auchinleck House, demolition work and hoardings around the site from 3 June 2013.

These photos from February / March 2011 show the 1960s office block with closed former Five Ways Shopping Centre precinct and statue of Field Marshal Auchinleck showing it's decline from it's heyday.