Our high hopes

Sep 14 2007 By Jon Griffin, Birmingham Mail

THE £95 million VerTiPlex theme park in the sky will leave the London Eye in the shade - delivering a "world-class" leisure project to Birmingham, VIPs were told.

VTP200, at 200 metres high, will be one and a half times the size of the London Eye on the South Bank of the Thames, and over twice the height of Big Ben's clock tower.

The tower will be a "truly world-class attraction" in the heart of Birmingham, visitors to a presentation at Bank restaurant heard yesterday.

Richard Pawley, operations director of developers Pettifer Estates, said: "This is totally unique, a world first. It will be a landmark for the city of Birmingham and a gateway to Eastside.

"It will be the fifth-tallest building in the UK, with 1,175 steps."

Mr Pawley, a theme park veteran who previously worked at Drayton Manor Park, revealed he came up with the idea for VTP200 from the movies.

"I got my inspiration from watching blockbuster movies, like Towering Inferno, Top Gun and the Bond films," he said.

Project director Charles Pettifer said: "We will have a landmark which is unique, which will transform the skyline of Birmingham."

He added: "This would be a real coup for Birmingham - it is the most exciting project that I have ever been involved in.

"In tourism terms alone, the scheme could inject £20 million into the Birmingham economy."

Guests at the presentation said they were bowled over by the plans.

City council leader Coun Mike Whitby said: "I am so pleased that Pettifer Estates have chosen the city of Birmingham to deliver the tallest observation tower in the UK."

John Lamb, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry press and PR manager, said: "I am delighted that local business will be delivering this development - if planning permission is granted - and that local suppliers are being used."

Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Perry Barr, said: "I think that this is a fantastic develpopment and investment for Eastside. It is something that we have needed for years and will kick-start the whole of the regeneration of that area."

Derek Inman, chief executive of Birmingham Foundation, said: "It's great. It will help the renaissance of Eastside and put the whole area on the map."