Island House is an Edwardian building in Birmingham, one of a very few old buildings in the Eastgate area. It was supposed to be the centrepiece of the City Park Gate scheme, part of the regeneration of the Eastgate, and the owners, Quintain Estates, have a legal duty to restore and refurbish the building.
The City Park Gate scheme was cancelled some years ago, but Quintain Estates still own the building.
They are now trying to get permission to demolish the building, claiming “no tenant is interested in taking occupation of the building as they will have to vacate in a few years to make way for the new HS2 station”. Campaigners trying to save the building say that the building is not affected by the HS2 plans.
(In contrast the Royal College of General Practioners are continuing to develop one of their buildings near Euston, on the assumption that if it needed to be demolished for the HS2 plans, they would get a premium on top of the value of their property.)
Groups trying to save Island House include the Victorian Society, Birmingham Friends of the Earth and Digbeth residents
There is more information about the campaign and a demonstration they held yesterday
See also Birmingham historian Carl Chinn joins fight to save Island House from demolition, Some history of Island House by Joe Holyoak and Save Island House.
The public have until an extended deadline of 23rd February to make their views known: see The fight to Save Island House is far from over! for how to do so.
At the other end of the line, in Regents Park, Camden, a packed public meeting discussed the effects near Euston – see HS2: our homes are not for rail for details.
Great work!
Keep it up!!