The New Birmingham c. 1964
Project 36
Location
|
Corporation Street/Union Street
|
1964 Status
|
Proposed |
2014 Status
|
Unbuilt
|
Name
|
Victoria House
|
Due to start in 1965, a plan for shops had superceded the earlier idea
of a multi-storey car park on the site. However, the photographic
evidence, below, shows that the shopping development never
happened. It was 1996 that site was finally redeveloped when
Victoria House, which contained the inevitable city centre apartments
on the upper floors, was built. Styled to reflect some of the
architectural features of nearby buildings, it failed to match their
splendour and quality. In 2014, it was this building that
occupied the site.

Part of the site of Project 36, c. 1967. One of the
signs in the shop says, "Premises for Demolition". The grubby
upper floors were occupied by the New Victoria Hotel.
Picture from the Geoff
Thompson Archive.

In May 1971, it's clear
that work is taking place on the upper floors. Photo from the
Steve
Gosling Archive.

By c. 1972, we can see that
the upper floors have been refurbished.
Picture from the Geoff
Thompson Archive.

Victoria House, built 1996, pictured in May 2014