GNM Developments has submitted a planning application for a new 21-storey co-living tower in Birmingham.
The proposed scheme will see a derelict canalside site at 52 Gas Street in the city’s Western Gateway Growth Zone transformed into a residential tower housing 249 co-living apartments and extensive communal amenities.
Designed by Broadway Malyan, the new building, named The Narrowhouse, will feature more than 4,000 sq m of building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) on its façade and aspires to be the world’s tallest multi-storey energy-positive development.
The scheme will comprise a six-storey podium, the retained Toll House, a 21-storey tower clad in BIPV and a glass box containing communal facilities for residents.
Gerald Manton, managing director of GNM Developments, said: “The Narrowhouse is more than a building; it’s a statement about the future of sustainable urban living. This is a once in a generation opportunity to position Birmingham as a global leader in sustainable development. With the UK working towards net zero targets and demand for affordable housing increasing, Birmingham is perfectly positioned to lead this transformation.”
Hugo Fitzgerald, principal at Broadway Malyan, added: “We are hugely excited to submit these proposals. The Narrowhouse is a pioneering proposal which we hope will set a new benchmark, both in terms of energy-positive and super slim building design. The proposals ground the development in its history, taking design prompts from wharf building typology and creating an attractive vibrant frontage along an underused part of the city’s extensive canal network. Re-using stacked brick from the original building to form the podium makes the building relatable and with the retention of the Toll House, echoes the past.
“The 21-storey tower is entirely clad in an animated BIPV façade, signalling Birmingham’s ambition to move forward with the use of future developments that could potentially offer positive energy to feed back into the city, supporting the city’s net zero ambitions, whilst also providing an exciting new place for Birmingham’s population to live.”
If planning consent is granted, work on The Narrowhouse is expected to begin in Q4 2026 with completion scheduled for 2028.
