Plans have been lodged for student accommodation block on the former site of a Birmingham city centre pub.

Permission is sought for a mixed-use development at the old Golden Eagle site, which would include a 16-storey building with 263 student bed spaces.

Developers also want to build commercial and amenity spaces on the ground floor, which they said would enhance the area.

The Golden Eagle stood at the corner of Swallow Street and Hill Street. It was a well-known music venue which closed in 1984 and was later demolished.

Lyle Bignon, Night Time Economy Ambassador for Birmingham, said in a post on X that any new building on the junction “ought to recognise one of the city’s most important 1960s-80s music venues”.

A design document, included within the planning application, said the proposals would “respect the site’s historic, existing and emerging context”.
It said they would utilise an under-used city centre brownfield site and provide high-quality student living through a layout which “promotes social interaction and builds a sense of community”.

“The vision is for a bold proposal which will transform an underused site at a prominent but sensitive location in the heart of Birmingham city centre,” it went on to say.

“It seeks to create a cutting edge and sustainable building that Birmingham can be proud of.

“The proposals will respond positively to the historic context and distinctive emerging character of the surroundings to contribute towards the evolution of the city centre.”

The document said the proposals would deliver student housing in a “highly accessible location that will become home to the next generation of investors, workers and residents in Birmingham”.

“The proposals and new residents will activate and boost the vitality of what is an underused part of the city heart,” it stated.

It said the design team had undertaken extensive dialogue with Birmingham City Council planning officers, the Victorian Society, Civic Society and the local community.

The proposals, submitted by Orion Land, will be considered at a later date by council planners.