CSJ Brooke Smith gets landmark courts job

Apr 22 2008

A Birmingham consultancy has been appointed to advise the Government on the development of the new £80 million landmark Magistrates' Court building in Birmingham.

CSJ Brooke Smith will be consulting with Her Majesty's Courts Service on the new courts building - earmarked for a plot near the Masshouse development.

Outline planning permission has already been taken out by developers for the city centre site.

The CSJ Brook Smith appointment was made by international architects Denton Corker Marshall, who designed Manchester's Civil Justice Centre.

Louise Brooke-Smith, of CSJ Brooke Smith, said: "The Manchester Civil Justice Centre is one of the UK's most innovative, ambitiously designed buildings and has earned numerous awards.

"It's fabulous that architects of this quality have been appointed to bring something equally ambitious to Birmingham.

"We'll be working closely together to provide the highest level of professional advice to ensure this building becomes a reality that Birmingham can be proud of."

Her firm has been charged with leading the submission of the full planning application, which will be made later this summer. A decision from Birmingham City Council is expected by the end of the year.

It has previously worked with Irish developers the Naus Group on a five-acre mixed use site in Digbeth, among other projects.

John Rintoul, director at Denton Corker Marshall, said: "We are very excited to have the opportunity to design the new Magistrates' Court building in Birmingham city centre, and are extremely pleased to be able to draw on the vast experience and expertise of CSJ Brooke Smith to assist us with our applications to the city council."