Planning submitted for new Birmingham Conservatoire

Plans for the first newly-built Conservatoire in the UK for a generation have been submitted to Birmingham City planners.

A brand new home for Birmingham Conservatoire, part of Birmingham City University, will open its doors to students in 2017, continuing a history of producing talented musicians and performers dating back to 1886.

Birmingham Conservatoire boasts a wealth of high profile graduates, including in recent years the award winning singer/songwriter Laura Mvula and classical singer, theatre actor and TV presenter Rhydian Roberts.

The new facility is the first complete new build Conservatoire in the UK since 1987, and will provide state-of-the-art performance space and acoustical quality. It will comprise five performance venues, including a public concert hall with the capacity for over 450 seats and a full orchestra, plus a recital hall at 150 seats and smaller experimental music space, organ and jazz rooms. There are also plans for more than 70 music practice rooms of various sizes.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Cliff Allan said: “These state-of-the-art facilities offer current and prospective students’ unrivalled teaching provision. During its long history our world renowned Birmingham Conservatoire has earned an international reputation for the excellence of its music teaching, research and performances.

“This new building, designed by leading architect Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios, provides us with a glorious opportunity to build on our proud history and continue to develop world-class music facilities for future generations.”

Building work will begin in the summer of 2015 and is scheduled for completion in summer 2017. It will be situated alongside Millennium Point, adjacent to Jennens Road in Eastside and in the heart of the City’s learning quarter, which is already home to Birmingham City University’s City Centre Campus, the ThinkTank Museum, and the Birmingham Ormiston Academy.

"The development is being taken forward with the support of Millennium Point and Birmingham City Council.”