One Arena Central is the first phase of the wider £400m scheme to deliver a 2.3m sq ft of mixed-use development, including 800,000 sq ft of offices, hotels, flats and 1.2m sq ft of retail/leisure units.

The 9.2 acre Arena Central scheme, which has outline planning, is being driven by a joint venture between Miller Developments and Bridgehouse Capital.

The flagship office project is expected to cost around £20m to build. It will consist of a curved 8-storey block with ground floor shops fronting Broad Street.

It has been designed by renowned architect Ken Shuttleworth of Make Architects and the Birmingham office of E C Harris is the cost consultant.

Jonathan Wallis, from Arena Central Developments, said: “The development of One Arena Central is the first step towards the realisation of our vision for a truly mixed-use, office-led destination in the heart of the city centre.

“In Arena Central, we are looking to provide a high-quality location that will continue to build on Birmingham’s burgeoning reputation as an attractive destination for blue chip occupiers.”

Clearance work at the site is underway to allow work on One Arena Central and the new public realm is set to start in early 2015.

A Holiday Inn hotel job is presently out to bid with several contractors, including Sisk and Galliford Try.  A contractor is due to be appointed in the autumn for  the 14-storey hotel, which will back onto Arena Square.