IN PICTURES and VIDEO: No need to crane your neck for this spectacular view
The tallest crane in the West Midlands is offering some spectacular night-time views across Birmingham's cityscape.
The tower crane is currently sitting on top of the NatWest Tower, on Colmore Row. The building is being demolished to make way for a new 30-storey building that will be the tallest office block outside of London.
In the meantime the 330 ft tall crane, supplied to the project by Radius NFT, has an unparalleled view across Birmingham and to the countryside beyond.
The the crane itself is now part of the cityscape after undergoing a festive makeover.
More than 9,000 flashing lights have been installed along the 118ft long front jib and 50ft of the crane.
The crane was erected over three days and two nights in September, to aid with the demolition of the redundant office building and make way for Rockspring and Sterling's £60m 103 Colmore Row office tower.
Three highly skilled aerial technicians from Northampton-based Radius spent six-and-a-half hours installing more than 800ft of LED lights, weighing more than 50kg, along the jib and counter-jib.
At 346 ft high, with the apex at 807ft above sea level, 103 Colmore Row will be the tallest office building under construction in the UK outside London.
In addition to 211,000 sq ft of office space over 19 floors, the landmark development will include a 8,000 sq ft restaurant with a 3,250 sq ft 'lantern' space at the top of the building.
Eric Linden, European director at Rockspring, said: "We are planning to illuminate the lantern space at the top of the new building. The Christmas lights are a taste of what this could be like – they can be seen from miles away."
James Howarth, managing director of Sterling, said: "I can't think of a better way to celebrate the start of our construction programme and the holiday season. Season's Greetings Birmingham."
The dazzling multi-coloured display will continue daily over the Christmas and New Year period.
