Legal challenge to demolition of Birmingham Ringway Centre

Activists said they had sought a judicial review to stop the demolition of a 1960s office block.

The group Save Smallbrook has argued that the Brutalist building should be preserved and put to new use and believes there are grounds for a legal challenge.

It said its alternative could be delivered at “a fraction of the cost of carbon” and create homes “in a fraction of the time”.

The curved six-storey office block straddles Smallbrook Queensway, the road leading to New Street Station.

The building was designed by James Roberts, best known for Birmingham’s Rotunda, and campaigners claim it is one of the finest examples of Brutalist architecture still standing in the city.

But developers said the scheme would provide new public spaces to “revitalize the area” and attract new visitors.

According to the approved plans, at least 15% of the housing will be allocated for affordable housing.

Save Smallbrook is a coalition of Brutiful Birmingham, Birmingham Modernist Society, Twentieth Century Society, Zero Carbon House and the Birmingham Fair Housing Campaign.

Its supporters include local historian Carl Chinn and TV presenter Kevin McCloud.

The group said its lawyer, Estelle Dehon KC, was confident it had a strong case to present to the High Court.

A film has been created telling the story of the campaign and is due to premiere at Birmingham’s Flatpack Film Festival on 11 May.