Burgeoning development in Birmingham is to continue after the city’s council approved design plans for the first phase of the £400m (US$673m, €504m) Arena Central project.

The wider-scale development has been in limbo for almost 15 years because of planning disputes and the onset of the recession, however the first phase will now see the creation of an office block with shops and a small park.

As the project develops, more offerings are to be added to the site, including leisure, extra office space, shops and restaurants.

The current phase, which planners have suggested will be subject to a speedy uptake in construction, is to see the city’s old ATV studios and Register Office in Broad Street converted for use.

The Arena Central project has been designed by architectural practice Gillespies for a development group made up of Miller Developments and Bridgehouse Capital.

The development comes as part of Birmingham’s Big City Plan, which seeks to make the region a leading international destination for culture, tourism and business.

The city is already underway with its wider development plans, as a £500m (US$841m, €630m) Paradise Circus mixed-use scheme was recently pushed forward as a contractor was hired to begin enabling work.

Elsewhere, one developer has looked to cash in on the strong leisure potential in the city by selling its Five Ways Leisure Park site for £35m (US$59m, €44m).