Plans submitted for new Birmingham Assay Office project

Titled ‘Project Gateway’, 18 months of design work has been spent on the scheme to ensure that it addresses the needs of the Assay Office as a secure, flexible facility.

Designed by Glazzard Architects, the 55,000 square foot building will occupy a position at the Icknield Street entrance to the Jewellery Quarter. The multi-use building has evolved in close co-operation with the planning department and local interest groups.

Chief executive of the Birmingham Assay Office Michael Allchin said: “This project is all about the future of the Assay Office. Our traditional hallmarking work needs a fit-for-purpose 21st century facility and our other business activities are growing strongly.

“This move is essential; we need to be able to carry out our work more productively and so need modern and efficient space. Add to that built-in security, reduced operating costs and much better working conditions for all our team, then it becomes the only way forward.”

“We are working closely with the City Council to progress our plans and are looking forward to opening our new building in 2014.”

Mark Wright of Trebor Developments, the company managing the development on behalf of the Birmingham Assay Office, added: “This is a huge milestone to achieve in this key project for the city. The project brief has been highly complex to ensure that all of the Assay Office’s requirements can be successfully delivered. Feedback from our consultations has been really encouraging and now that the planning submission has been made and the land contracts signed, we can start to plan the construction phase.”