Sphere Group, has launched its public consultation for Rackhams Place, the transformative mixed-use plans for One Temple Row, 43 Temple Row and the former Rackhams building in Birmingham city centre.

Acting as Development Partner for Freehold owners, L&G, Sphere Group’s plans include over 500 new homes and 21,000sqm of high-quality office space in the very heart of Birmingham city centre, with new and improved areas of public realm and exciting new street-level retail and Food & Beverage opportunities.

The mixed-use regeneration plans form part of Birmingham City Council’s Birmingham Central Heart Vision, the broader, once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform 17 hectares of underutilised commercial retail and office space within the city centre’s retail core.

A public consultation event is being held at One Temple Row in the city centre (B2 5LG) on Thursday 24th September between 3.30pm and 7.30pm, for local community members to view the plans and discuss them with members of the Rackhams Place project team.

People can also learn more and provide feedback via a dedicated consultation website www.rackhamsplace.co.uk which will be live from Thursday 24th September.

The public consultation with stakeholders and the local community will take place prior to the submission of a formal planning application.

Thomas Taylor, Managing Director at Sphere Group, comments: “We’re really excited to show off our plans and discuss them with our passionate Birmingham community. This is urban regeneration defined by high-quality design, attractive new public realm and new commercial spaces.

“The development could provide modern office space, new homes, new retail and improved public spaces, creating around 1,300 jobs and around £350m in Gross Development Value.”

The developer is also asking for people’s memories of Rackhams, which will be collated and considered for future use in celebration of the history the store’s shopping experiences has for so many people.

Mr Taylor added: “We’re a local developer, passionate about our city, and we fully recognise how much Rackhams has been a part of Birmingham’s history. With this in mind, we want to hear people’s memories of Rackhams, which we’ll collate and look to share with the community in the future.”

Submissions can be made at the public consultation event or via the project website.