CITY LIVING

RESHAPED
Octagon is not just a first for
Birmingham, but will be unique in the
UK and beyond. Offering a mix of 346
spacious new Build to Rent (BtR) homes
designed to excel in every way, we
want to build the first pure residential
octagonal high rise building in the world.
 Introduction03

CONTENTS
Planning History06

Site Location12

Octagon16

Key Facts22

The Architecture24

Internal Design28

One Bedroom Home34

Two Bedroom Home35

Three Bedroom Home36

Ground Floor Uses38

The Central Core & Cladding42

Market Demand44

Delivering Octagon46

The Architects48
 INTRODUCING
RESIDENTIAL
TO PARADISE
Following the Octagon online public
consultation process held from
5 – 26th May 2020, we are now
processing the many comments we
received which will help inform the
planning application we submit to
Birmingham City Council this summer.
If Birmingham City Council subsequently
approves our plans, the hope will
be for work on Octagon to begin
during 2021 and complete in 2024.

02 / Octagon Birmingham 03
 Paradise is the £700 million
transformation at the very heart
of Birmingham attracting new
businesses, jobs and visitors to the city.
View across Chamberlain Square
04 / Octagon Birmingham
Outline planning permission was
obtained back in 2013 and detailed
We are working as part of a public
private sector Joint Venture (JV) with
applications are now being progressed
on a phase by phase basis.
Birmingham City Council, the LEP and
Federated Hermes, a global investment
The company managing the development
management company, to bring
forward up to 2 million sq ft of new
at Paradise is Argent, who originally
developed Brindleyplace in Birmingham,
development in the heart of the city.
Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester Our aim is to create a whole new part
and King’s Cross in London. of Birmingham by designing buildings
that are both desirable and inspiring.
We are very experienced at bringing
forward large, mixed use schemes with
both commercial and residential elements.
We are now working with Glenn
Howells Architects to bring a true
octagonal-shaped residential
skyscraper – a world first – to the city.
05
PLANNING
HISTORY
The first phase of Paradise Two Chamberlain Square

has already been delivered and

DLA Piper will relocate to the
top two floors in late 2020.

includes new public spaces as Award winning wine bar and restaurant
Vinoteca will open at the front of the
well as our first two buildings. building overlooking Chamberlain Square.

One Chamberlain Square

PwC opened its largest UK regional

office in January 2020, home to
more than 2,000 employees.

Indian eatery Dishoom is

set to open on the ground
floor later this year.

06 / Octagon Birmingham 07
 The second phase of development
has now started with our next
office building, One Centenary Way,
set to complete in 2023. This will
bring a further 280,000 sq ft of
commercial space to the city as well
We will also be bringing forward
as new retail and leisure units. a new 22-storey hotel, which is
earmarked to complete in the second
phase, together with Western Terrace
- a new piece of public realm.

There will be another new commercial

building, Three Chamberlain Square,
built next to the Town Hall and
Paradise Street, along with a new
public space, Ratcliff Square.
Hotel

Western Terrace

One Centenary Way

08 / Octagon Birmingham 09
 Masterplan Changes In order to accommodate the Octagon
building at Paradise, a change to the
approved masterplan is proposed.

Octagon will replace one of the

ten commercial buildings set out
in the Paradise masterplan.

The addition of residential will help

to complete the mix at Paradise and
add life to the development. This Build
to Rent (BtR) building will be built
specifically for renters with all homes
owned and managed by one landlord.

The building adheres to the main

masterplan principles of connecting the
city and restoring and enhancing the civic
setting at the heart of the Birmingham.

10 / Octagon Birmingham 11
SITE
LOCATION
A new planning application is being
prepared to submit to Birmingham City
Council this summer, to introduce a
OCTAGON
residential element to Paradise as part of
phase three which will benefit from a new
public square, Congreve Square, as well as
up to four further commercial buildings.
B
Octagon will front onto Summer Row at
the very apex of the overall Paradise site.
I Congreve
Instantly recognisable and marking the Square

heart of the city, Octagon will stand

tall and proud and be a signpost for
C Chamberlain
Birmingham, making the most of its
H Square

location on the Birmingham ridge – a

line of higher ground that stretches
from Snow Hill to Five Ways along
Colmore Row and Broad Street.
G
The building’s commitment to world
class design reflects its proximity to F
the nearby Jewellery Quarter with its
workshops, both old and new, and Hotel
historic role in the industrial revolution. Centenary
Square
Octagon will offer world class homes
for its residents with amazing space,
views and advanced safety features in
an overall environment of excellence.

12 / Octagon Birmingham 13
 VICTORIA SQ.

CHAMBERLAIN SQ.

CENTENARY SQ.

14 / Octagon Birmingham 15
A WORLD
FIRST ON THE
BIRMINGHAM
SKYLINE
We want to build a new 49 storey
tower and the first pure residential
octagonal high rise building in the world.

Octagon will rise to a height of 155 metres
(or 292 metres above sea level) and
offer unrivalled views and never-seen-
before cityscapes across Birmingham.
Taller than the BT Tower, Octagon will
house 346 new homes offering a mix
of one, two and three bedroom options
and incorporate a number of affordable
homes, and will also include communal
space and resident amenities both at the
entrance and at the top of the building.
It is a world class, world first
structure – and a building everyone
in the city can be proud of.
The warm tone of the building reflects
the nearby historic city landmarks
such as the Council House, Birmingham
Museum & Art Gallery and Alpha Tower.
The building’s frame is punctuated with
large 10m wide horizontal windows
finished in a dark bronze metal to
complement the building’s soft tone.
On the ground floor will be a mix
of uses such as a gym, cycle hub,
resident’s lounge and storage as
well as a reception area and café.
Subject to planning approval, work
on Octagon could start on site in
2021 and be finished by 2024.

16 / Octagon Birmingham 17
 Octagonal buildings are relatively
uncommon, helping to make
them instantly recognisable.

A pure residential octagonal high

rise building – with eight equal
façades – has never been built
before anywhere in the world.

Other octagonal buildings do exist, as

shown opposite, but do not have eight

MLC Centre 383 Madison Avenue equal sides (they have four sides of
equal width and the other four sides
Sydney New York
are of a different equal width) and are
therefore not ‘pure’ octagonal buildings.
→

→
→

80 Collins Street
Melbourne

18 / Octagon Birmingham 19
 RESHAPING
CITY
CENTRE
LIVING

20 / Octagon Birmingham 21
346
Key Facts

2
170 x one bedroom homes (57 m2)
168 x two bedroom homes (78 m2)
8 x three bedroom homes (97-117 m ) 2
plant floors

8 155 49
new homes

13m equal sided pure metres tall (3 metres storeys above ground

44
octagonal shape taller than the BT Tower)

292 360 1 º
residential floors

15,000
metres above sea level due to façade home per
location on the Birmingham ridge – 13m façade
the highest part of the city centre

10m 3 4x
1
sq ft of ground and first floor
communal and ancillary spaces

plant floor

wide horizontal windows per

home with openable sections
passenger lifts
and 1 staircase
6m internal corridors
linking from the central lift
2
entrance and
lobby to each quadrant amenity floors

22 / Octagon Birmingham 23
THE
From the outset, the relationship
of this building with other city

ARCHITECTURE
landmarks has been considered
and the complexity of the
site’s location has allowed for
a uniquely shaped building. A
building that reflects the impact
of landmarks such as the listed
modernist designs of the Rotunda
and Alpha Tower with a simple,
elegant architectural language.
In terms of space, views,
amenities and location, we
believe Octagon will excel
in every possible way.
Rotunda

OCTAGON

ROTUNDA
ALPHA

Alpha Tower

24 / Octagon Birmingham 25
 The Octagon shape perfectly aligns with
the site’s geometry and the evolving
Paradise masterplan and sits at the
convergence of many of the city’s main
public squares at the heart of the city.

Its 360 degree design openly
addresses each part of the city
and the warm cladding and dark
bronze detailing complement the
surrounding civic landmarks.
Amenities on the ground floor of the
building will bring life and activity
to the street frontages as well as
convenience and wellbeing style
support for the residents.
Jewellery Quarter
This, together with the location within
Paradise, will give residents connections
to everything the city has to offer.
Some parking will be available in the
new Paradise underground car park
although overall the scheme will
support public transport options as
much as possible, whether it is bus,
rail, tram, or pedestrian routes.

Centenary Square Centenary Way

Great Charles Street

26 / Octagon Birmingham 27
INTERNAL The 346 new homes in Octagon will

DESIGN
be some of the most distinctive
ever built in this country.

28 / Octagon Birmingham 29
 As well as light and bright one and two Each home will have its own segment,
The petal shaped homes will bedroom homes, there will also be a with storage and bathroom facilities

be significantly larger and

number of spacious three bedroom on the inner edge to maximise the
homes towards the top of the building. living and bedroom space running up

lighter than most traditionally Thanks to the shape of each home,

to the 13 metre wide façades. Each
home will have 10 metre horizontal
every room will have a wider aspect
shaped apartments, offering: glazing across the front - incorporating

57
than most conventional homes with

97-
opening windows – maximising the
generous light and exceptional views –
light for each individual home.
whether on the first floor or forty fourth
floor – keeping the ever-changing life of

M2
the city always in touching distance.

78 117 M2 *
of space in the one bed homes

M2 *
of space in the three bed homes

* Apartment sizes are indicative at this stage. These are currently being
of space in the two bed homes market tested with advice from a leading residential agency and subject
to valuable feedback from the public consultation. As a minimum, all
apartments will meet the Nationally Described Space Standards.

30 / Octagon Birmingham 31
 Typical Floor Plan Upper Level Floor Plan

One
57m2

Two Two Three Three

78m 2 78m2 97m2 117m2

One One One One

57m2 57m2 57m2 57m2

Two Two Three Three

78m 2 78m2 117m2 97m2

One
57m2

32 / Octagon Birmingham 33
1 BEDROOM
HOME
Internal Area: 57 sq m / 614 sq ft
2 BEDROOM
HOME
Internal Area: 78 sq m / 840 sq ft

Living / Kitchen Area: 34 sq m / 366 sq ft Living / Kitchen Area: 37 sq m / 398 sq ft

Panoramic View: 10.4m / 34 ft of glazing Panoramic View: 10.4m / 34 ft of glazing

Bedroom: 12 sq m / 129 sq ft Bedroom: 13 sq m / 140 sq ft

34 / Octagon Birmingham 35
3
TYPE A
BEDROOM
HOME
Internal Area: 97 sq m / 1,044 sq ft
TYPE B Internal Area: 117 sq m / 1,259 sq ft

Living / Kitchen Area: 37 sq m / 398 sq ft Living / Kitchen Area: 56 sq m / 603 sq ft

Panoramic View: 13.7m / 45 ft of glazing Panoramic View: 17.4m / 57 ft of glazing

Bedroom: 14 sq m / 151 sq ft Bedroom: 14 sq m / 151 sq ft

Master Suite: 17 sq m / 183 sq ft

36 / Octagon Birmingham 37
38 / Octagon Birmingham 39
ENGAGING
By opening up the ground floor with eight Proposed lower level uses include
double height legs, a recessed segment gym, wellness hub, co-working

GROUND
creates a new entrance onto Summer
Row and a new front door to Paradise.
Housing communal amenities for the
space and a café / deli.
It will also open up to a landscaped
courtyard within Paradise, drawing

FLOOR USES
residents and places to meet and engage, people through into the development.
Octagon will engage with its surroundings
and open up to the wider area.

Octagon creates a high profile

landmark for Birmingham, with its
eight consistent sides appreciated
equally from any approach in the city.

Lower Ground Floor Upper Ground Floor

Wellness Hub

Wellness Hub
Cycle Hub

Landscaped
Courtyard

Parcel Room
Lounge

Residents reception
Studio Space
Porte-cochère and lounge

40 / Octagon Birmingham 41
THE CENTRAL
CORE &
CLADDING
The concentric internal layout provides
an efficient form allowing for a short
distribution of services to each home.

The central lobby area will be equally As well as benefiting from an intrinsically
enjoyed by all, providing private corridors efficient design, Octagon features the
each with access to just two apartments UK’s first pressurised ‘central core’ which ↑
rather than the more standard long, is an advanced safety measure that CENTRAL

bland corridors more commonly used.
Safety of the building is paramount.
The building’s non-combustible
external cladding meets the very
latest specifications brought in
following the Grenfell disaster.
↑
LOBBY
ensures smoke free access and a clear ↑
route to the stairwell in an emergency
situation. In addition, sprinklers will be
installed in all homes and common areas.

42 / Octagon Birmingham 43
REACTING
The private rented sector in Birmingham,
specifically the interest in high quality

TO MARKET
BtR (Build to Rent) space, means there
is pent-up demand for this kind of
residential development in the city.

DEMAND
Big businesses like HSBC, with the
head office of its UK ring-fenced bank
at Arena Central on Centenary Square,
are helping to drive demand for high
quality homes in the heart of the city.

Our aim is to help meet this need

by developing a residential building
that is both highly sustainable

Over the past two decades, and highly desirable.

Birmingham has had the second fastest

It will also become a new landmark thanks
to its world class design, adding to the

growing city centre population in the genuine mixed use nature of Paradise.

UK, ahead of cities like Manchester and

Leeds, and there are currently 7,000
new residential units either being built
or planned across the city centre.*

* Centre for Cities report & BBC, 2020

44 / Octagon Birmingham 45
DELIVERING
OCTAGON
The buildings at Paradise are being
brought forward through Hermes
Paradise Circus Limited Partnership
(HPCLP) managed by Hermes
Investment Management with Argent
acting as the Development Manager.
Argent and Hermes enjoy a strong track
record for delivery with a particular
strength in the creation of successful
cityscale, mixed use developments.
46 / Octagon Birmingham
Brindleyplace One St Peter’s Square King’s Cross
Paradise benefits from the continuity and
commitment of this working partnership
The combination of Argent’s flair in
which has already delivered 4.4 million
sq ft of development through some of
creating successful places – where
the most significant and challenging people want to live, to work and to be
regeneration projects in the UK
including Brindleyplace in Birmingham, – together with the financial expertise
and resources of Hermes, provides a
the Piccadilly area in Manchester and
the redevelopment of King’s Cross.
The driving force behind these solid foundation from which to bring the
developments is the enormous amount
of thought and effort that is put into vision for Paradise through to reality.
creating places that are enjoyable,
vibrant and welcoming. Places that have
a human scale, that respect their history
and context, and connect well with their
surroundings and the local community.
47
THE
ARCHITECTS
Octagon is being designed by Birmingham-
based Glenn Howells Architects (GHA).
This award winning architecture
practice works across the country
and around the world on high profile,
sustainable development projects.
One & Two Chamberlain Square
48 / Octagon Birmingham
GHA is responsible for the Paradise
masterplan and a number of
buildings in and around Paradise
including Two Chamberlain Square
and One Centenary Way.
It has also designed nearby Eleven
Brindleyplace, Cornerblock on Cornwall
Street and The Mercian on Broad Street.
Eleven Brindleyplace Port Loop
“
The GHA approach to design and sustainability
can be summed up as follows:
Nature designs structures and
organisms to use the least material
possible – in other words lean
structures. We also strive to make
lean buildings and this is because they
use less material, are more economic
to build and ultimately consume less
energy and are better for the planet.”
49
 Being delivered by:

octagonbirmingham.co.uk