The Grand Hotel on Birmingham's Colmore Row has gained planning for a £30m refurbishment programme. Horton's Estates, the owners of the Grade II listed building plan to transform the hotel's 152 rooms and build eight new luxury suites. Work will also begin on the famous Grosvenor suite, the grand staircase, and the hotel's iconic facade.
Closed for over a decade now, the hotel's revival seemed unlikely. Under the strict English Heritage conservation guidelines, developers felt that the refurbishment might prove too costly. Surrounding shops and offices have remained in use, but the hotel began to fall into dereliction after the last owners found themselves in financial difficulty.
Hamish McMichael, project director, said: “Hortons’ Estate’s planned restoration and refurbishment of the hotel will be rescuing a building of grace and character that is an important landmark for Birmingham.
“The project will transform the building into a first class hotel and business destination for the city.”
The architects charged with the project have been accredited with developing a sympathetic restoration in keeping with the building's character and period.
Chairman of the council’s conservation and heritage panel Coun Paula Smith said: “I am the first one to criticise if architects do not respect our heritage. But on this occasion I have been very impressed. The detail they have put into this is fabulous.”
Initial concerns over the re-building of the roof to create the new Presidential suites were allayed. Artist impressions showed that little of the alterations would be visible to the passers by below.
As well as the restoration of the building's historic features, the project also involves plans to build a terrace in the central courtyard and a new bar restaurant.
The shops on Colmore Row will also be given a face lift. After the lease renewal, tenants will be obliged to conform to a frontage in-keeping with the Victorian feel of The Grand.
The hotel is expected to reopen in Spring 2014.
