Works to improve Paradise building’s appearance

The team behind Birmingham’s prestigious Paradise project have said works to improve the appearance of a landmark building are still ongoing.

Paradise, the £1.2 billion development which has transformed the heart of the city, has already delivered hundreds of homes, thousands of jobs and new buildings.

But last year Paradise Birmingham put out a statement on the appearance of one of these buildings – One Centenary Way – after white patches were seen on its exterior.

The building, which overlooks the A38 Queensway, was built as part of Paradise’s second phase and is now one of the city’s largest contemporary commercial buildings.

Back in August 2025, Paradise Birmingham apologised for the building’s appearance and said works on its steel frame were the preparation works for the repainting of the building frame.

A spokesperson added at the time that “significant progress” is expected to be made by the end of the year despite works pausing during the winter months.

“There will be some final works on the upper floors next spring [2026],” the spokesperson said. “Once complete, the steel will not require repainting for many years.”

But with white patches still visible on the building this autumn, Paradise Birmingham were asked for an update on One Centenary Way.

A spokesperson confirmed there are still some final works on the upper floors still to complete – and these may not be finished until 2027.

“One Centenary Way is a successful commercial building in the heart of the city and a key part of the Paradise estate,” they said.

“As painting of the building’s unique steel frame exoskeleton continues, which is part of the post-construction completion works, we are working to finish this.

“But it is a complex, weather-dependent job carried out by a specialised team, with different techniques being required to achieve the most effective and long-lasting solution.”

They continued: “Progress has been made with the work this year and we are now looking forward to completing the work with the specialist teams working around the clock to finish the work.

“The white patches that can still be spotted on upper floors is where the steel has been rubbed down and prepared for the final paint coats, it is not the paint peeling off.

“But unfortunately, the process can sometimes make the appearance look worse before it looks better.

“During the winter months some of the work will have to pause due to weather conditions which can prevent the application of the specialist paint finishes.”

“We anticipate there will be some final works on the upper floors still to complete in 2027,” the Paradise Birmingham spokesperson added. “Once work is completed, the steel will not require repainting for many years.”

Paradise is a public-private partnership, involving the likes of Birmingham City Council, Federated Hermes Private Markets and the Enterprise Zone.

On the benefits of the project, the council said previously: “To date, five buildings have been completed, including 370 homes delivered at the Octagon Tower.

“The development has also supported the creation of 7,500 jobs by attracting major global occupiers such as Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, and Arup.”

“Phases one and two are expected to deliver over £318 million pounds of business rates for the Enterprise Zone by 2046.”

The Paradise website says: “Recognising the potential of its city centre landholding led the council to establish the Paradise Birmingham Joint Venture in 2013 to bring forward the Paradise scheme as the UK’s largest city centre redevelopment project.

“The redevelopment of Paradise has successfully brought a new urban neighbourhood to life in the heart of Birmingham, giving the city a new central location that is buzzing with the best that this thriving, multicultural and youthful metropolis has to offer.”

By Alexander Brock | Local Democracy Reporting Service