Brought forward by CEG on behalf of Dooba Investments II Ltd, hybrid plans (full & outline) were lodged in November '22 to fully redevelop and inject new life into a vital part of the city centre.

The development aims to reinvent and reconnect the site back with the city, through all-electric energy-efficient homes, and unlocking disconnected areas with vibrant new street uses, offering a more aesthetic environment.

Each phase promises an all-electric energy strategy, with minimised energy use and heat loss, air source heat pumps and PV cells.

Plans also include a new public realm, one that will help to green the city core and initiate new ties with the New Street area, Chinese Quarter, Gay Village, and Smithfield.

Should works commence, it is expected that other tired sites will be brought forward in the surrounding areas, further enriching Southside - and the wider city.

PHASE ONE + BEFORE AND AFTER CGIs.

Full detailed plans include a 151m build-to-rent tower of 48 storeys (closest to Bullring), comprising c. 571 new homes. They will be sat above a selection of retail, commercial and leisure uses.

A delivery partner and investors are already on board to deliver these plans.

PHASES TWO & THREE

Full detailed plans for the 48-storey in phase 1 & the outline 44-storey both adhere to the same design code, whereas the 56-storey is seen as a pinnacle and is slightly different. Both builds aim to deliver an additional 1,000-plus homes, catering for every lifestyle.

Phasing is flexible both in order and timing. Interestingly, the 44-storey (SBQ1) is in (early) talks with a prospective delivery partner - designs could change moving forward.

THE EXISTING SITE

In stark contrast to these plans, the existing Ringway Centre is reaching the end of its expected design life. It is widely seen as a relic of the failures of post-war modernism which created a car-dominated dystopia.

It continues to act as a physical blockade between two emerging parts of the city, hindering progress for a comprehensive and fully integrated Southside and New Street.

RETROFITTING

With retrofitting costly, and as a result, unviable, as well as carrying its own carbon footprint, the reality is that the Ringway Centre will never be able to attract and accommodate anything at full capacity again, with occupiers looking elsewhere for their modern-day requirements.

The possibility of upward extensions to the existing site has also been deemed unfeasible as it would not be able to provide a sufficient load-bearing capacity.

HISTORIC ENGLAND

Historic England, acting as the government’s expert advisor on heritage, assessed the existing buildings – in 2016 and 2022 – and deemed the buildings were not of sufficient architectural or historic interest to merit listing. They have since granted its immunity for five years. 

Image from Daniel Sturley; CGIs from Corstorphine+Wright.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram for up to date developments.

Known as Neighbourhood, the 414-home development will be spread across five new buildings – and styles – providing an array of one-, two- & three-bedroom apartments to cater to every lifestyle.

BPN Architects has designed each building to acknowledge its location within an all-important conservation area, as well as facing onto the city fringes.

Builds will start at three storeys within the Jewellery Quarter, before rising up to nine storeys facing onto the city.

Both residents and visitors will be able to take advantage of new public spaces and a bustling mixture of independent bars and eateries.

There will be four commercial units (568 sqm) – three within the publicly accessible courtyard, with the other fronting Newhall Hill – along with a new public realm.

A host of resident amenities include an on-site concierge, private gardens, five roof terraces, lounges, a gym, 320 bicycle spaces, and WFH areas within a double-height winter garden.

Neighbourhood is HBD’s second high-profile Birmingham project, with Setl, also within the Jewellery Quarter, making great progress on Ludgate Hill.

HBD expects work to start on site early next year, with completion sometime in 2026.

Neighbourhood, images from HBD & BPN Architects.

Pension Insurance Corporation plc (“PIC”), a specialist insurer of defined benefit pension funds and Court Collaboration, a leading UK property developer, officially broke ground on the 51-storey One Eastside build-to-rent development in the city yesterday (23 March).

The event, also attended by Birmingham City Council Leader, Councillor Ian Ward, marks a significant milestone for the exciting project which PIC has forward funded with a £200 million investment and which will be one of Birmingham’s first skyscrapers.

One Eastside will comprise 667 high-quality new homes for rent. The development will also feature a top-class co-working space and amenities for residents such as a landscaped garden, cinema room, sky lounge and gym.

At the ground-breaking ceremony, Hayley Rees, Managing Director of PIC Capital, and Alex Neale, Managing Director of Court Collaboration, both emphasised their commitment to providing quality, innovative and sustainable BTR schemes in the region, as well as their strong ESG credentials.

One Eastside will create over 300 new jobs, as well as provide opportunities for hundreds of local students. Work placements, on-site courses and experience, will be provided at One Eastside part of Court Collaboration and PIC’s joint commitment to supporting future talent in the city and the next generation of professionals.

Hayley Rees, Managing Director of PIC Capital, at PIC said: “With this, our fourth Build to Rent scheme, PIC is firmly establishing itself as a significant and purposeful investor across the UK’s infrastructure and housing footprint.

“With 667 new apartments being developed here in Birmingham we will be helping to grow a thriving community while contributing positively to the local economy, including creating hundreds of new job opportunities and supporting the training of local students. The development will provide long-term, secure cashflows underpinning our policyholders’ pension payments for many years to come.

“We look forward to our continuing partnership with highly experienced developer, Court Collaboration, on this best-in-class scheme and remain actively engaged on a number of similar opportunities across the UK.”

Alex Neale, Managing Director of Court Collaboration commented: "We are delighted to have broken ground on our truly ambitious and exciting One Eastside development today, and it’s an honour to welcome the Leader of Birmingham City Council, Ian Ward, to help us celebrate. This project is a reflection of our and our council’s commitment to help drive this city forward, creating wonderful, sustainable new places and spaces, and the homes for the next generation. Thanks also to Pension Insurance Corporation and other guests who have joined us today to mark this special occasion.”

One Eastside is targeting a 2026 completion. Keep watching our social media channels for more.

The vacant former John Lewis store, currently being stripped back awaiting its exciting new use, is to become Drum: a workspace and amenity destination catering for up to 2,000 people.

Plans have been given unaminous approval to proceed, with work set to get fully underway later this year, with a 2025 completion penciled in.

Enlivening a key gateway site, built on the principles of connectivity, amenities, and sustainability, the rethink is part of Hammerson’s strategy to reinvigorate its prime urban estates through new diversifying uses – and Drum fits that bill to aplomb.

The building will bring 160K SF & a new type of workspace to the city that meet the requirements for established and start-up businesses post-pandemic.

Designed by Birmingham-born Ken Shuttleworth of Make Architects, all four floors will be transformed to facilitate a sweeping, open, communal entrance that widens as it rises.

This will be topped off by an external rooftop garden lounge, with internal green walls on each level giving the appearance of a garden spilling back down through the building.

Its ground floor will be repurposed to become a vibrant destination; one that complements Grand Central, whilst adding a combined hospitality space with restaurant, bar and food market.

There will be a grocery, gym, wellbeing amenities, and around 19K SF of flexible spaces which could potentially see the introduction of a new cinema, live music venue, theatre, VR, gallery and exhibition space, plus bars and drinking establishments.

The refurbishment will come with higher sustainable construction specs, as well as introducing low/ zero carbon energy production and efficient M&E.

Drum was approved unanimously.

Drum Grand Central, images from Make Architects and Macgregor Smith.

The 1929-built landmark, famous for its production of Typhoo Tea, will become one of Birmingham’s first net zero carbon in construction office buildings, and is on target to achieve a BREEAM ‘outstanding’ rating and an energy performance certificate (EPC) of ‘A’.

To kick start works, part of the building will see partial demolition (below in red) and the full removal of boiler house, in addition to the removal of its existing roof and bridge links.

The building will then be conserved and will house several BBC editorial teams, including The Archers, BBC Newsbeat, BBC Asian Network, BBC Radio WM and Midlands Today.

The BBC will move out of their existing Mailbox home in late 2025, early 2026, when their lease ends, before making the short move into Digbeth.

The move presents a golden opportunity to catalyse on reinvigorating the wider area and kick-starting investment in the area’s built environment and transport connections.

Stoford is working with the landowners, The Gooch Estate, with Glenn Howells Architects, Grant Associates, Turley and several public sector partners to complete the project and to prepare a vision for the wider area over the next decade.

This vision (below) includes the delivery of up to 800K SF of new residential, office and hospitality accommodation directly around the BBC and the adjoining canal basin.

THE VISION

PARTNERS: Stoford, Benacre 2022 LLP (The Gooch Estate)
ARCHITECTS: Glenn Howells Architects, Grant Associates
QS, PM: Arcadis
PRINCIPAL DESIGNER: Anstey Home
CIVIL & STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: BWB
M&E, SUSTAINABILITY: ESC
CONTRACTOR: TBC
AIR QUALITY, TRANSPORT: BWB
FIRE CONSULTANT: Jensen Hughes
AGENT: Savills & Wallis Real Estate
PLANNING CONSULTANT: Turley
PLANNING APPLICATION NUMBER: 2022/08628/PA

Typhoo Wharf, images from Glenn Howells Architects & BBC.

Enlivening the key gateway site, built on the principles of connectivity, amenities, and sustainability, the rethink is part of Hammerson’s strategy to reinvigorate its prime urban estates through new diversyfying uses while maximising the reuse of embodied carbon.

Drum will bring 160K SF & a new type of workspace to the city that meet the requirements for established and start-up businesses post-pandemic.

Designed by Birmingham-born Ken Shuttleworth of Make Architects, all four floors will be transformed to facilitate a sweeping, open, communal entrance that widens as it rises.

This will lead to a newly created rooftop garden lounge and workplace garden, with internal green walls on each level giving the appearance of a garden spilling back down through the building.

Its ground floor will also be repurposed to become an amenity destination – one that complements Grand Central, whilst adding a combined hospitality space with restaurant, bar and food market.

Plans will also see a grocery, gym, wellbeing amenities, and around 19K SF of flexible spaces which could see the introduction of a cinema, live music venue, theatre, VR, gallery and exhibition space, plus bars and drinking establishments.

The proposal refurbishes the building with higher sustainable construction specifications, introducing low/zero carbon energy production and efficient M&E.

Subject to consent, work is expected to begin later in the year, with completion set for 2025.

Drum Grand Central, images from Make Architects and Macgregor Smith.

Back after plans for a 26 storey were knocked back in April 2022 on heritage impact grounds, Fusion Students now have the go-ahead to proceed with the site.

Derelict for too long, plans will see four new linked blocks of eight, 10 & 11 floors, with the tallest rising to 17 storeys.

Intriguingly, Fusion has appealed last year’s refusal and that will go to a public inquiry on 28 March 2023, running for four days. A decision is due 24 May 2024.

THE HERE AND NOW: 17 STOREYS.

The site will accommodate three- and four-bedroom clusters, along with a variety of studios, social studios, twodios, and one-bedroom apartments.

Students will be welcomed by a double-height reception area leading into a two-floored amenity space, occupied by a basketball half-court, a gym suite and open plan everyday space.

In addition to a 24-hour concierge, lounges, dining rooms, auditorium/cinema, karoake TV room, and a games room, a mezzanine level will facilitate study and communal areas.

A 347sqm landscaped central courtyard with a strong connection to nature will serve as a high-quality new external space that will provide an extension to the outstanding indoor social spaces.

Connected to a prominent cycle highway, covered cycle spaces for 162 will be allocated, with the potential for 80 more.

Fusion Students, images from Corstorphine+Wright.

Positioning Birmingham at the forefront of the green revolution, Curzon Wharf has been the process of seven years of consultation with the City Council, public, and a team of regeneration and built environment specialists.

Woodbourne Group is proposing outline planning permission for four new buildings comprising:

• up to 130K of office R&D and life science floorspace over nine floors;
• up to 732 purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) within a 41-storey;
• and up to 620 homes in two builds of 14 and 53-storeys (172m; 564ft).

The 53-storey Build to Rent skyscraper would deliver up to 498 new homes, while the 14-storey would accommodate 122 units.

Luxury and leading student and Build to Rent operators for the buildings have already been secured, according to Woodbourne.

Full planning is also proposed for partial demolition of a listed canal-side wall to open up the site. This would allow for improved walking and cycling routes around the site, and the creation of a new £2.49M public realm.

All of this would be complemented by over 3K SF of retail and over 15K SF of leisure opportunities, on a site that will be just an eight-minute walk to the forthcoming HS2 Curzon Street station.

“Birmingham is now at a turning point and our generation has the opportunity to transform the city into one of the most sustainable and leading cities in the world. The support received by Curzon Wharf is a reflection of that. It has taken us years of hard work to get here, and I hope the committee supports these unique proposals.

“This isn’t just another development, it’s a manifesto that will position Birmingham as the UK’s leading smart and sustainable city – as demonstrated by the highly successful eco-friendly delivery of the Commonwealth Games – helping to pave the way for the country’s Green Revolution. 

“It will act as a catalyst for the wider transformation of the Eastside area where a number of masterplans have been earmarked which otherwise would not be possible. It signposts Birmingham’s route to delivering transformational change to the city, promoting social, cultural and economic exchange in a truly transformative urban neighbourhood.”

Tani Dulay, Chief Executive, Woodbourne Group

Curzon Wharf, images from Woodbourne Group

The Elevate Property Group development, designed by K4, and being built by Bespoke, is delightfully taking shape, as our images demonstrate.

The formation of a dynamic new community on a once quiet, tired street will see 85 one to three-bedroom homes created through interconnected new builds and the conversion of the site’s historical gem, Gunsmith House, into chic new homes.

Many residents will benefit from having access to their own private balconies, while a landscaped courtyard ‘oasis’ garden will be available for all. The development will also offer gated car parking for seven vehicles, EV charging bays, and spaces for 85 bicycles.

Capping off the development will be a unique new 3m artwork sculpture overlooking the rapidly changing area, similar to that of Assay Lofts, another exemplary development from Elevate.

Photos by Stephen Giles; CGIs from Elevate PG.

You can follow the project here with us, as well as on Twitter, and on Instagram

JQ Rise is a four-, eight-, and 24-storey development on Summer Hill Road, a primary thoroughfare into Birmingham city centre – and the project is progressing well onsite, as our drone images show.

The development, a perfect location for young professionals, couples, and students, will accommodate up to 226 1-3 bed apartments and a penthouse duplex.

JQ Rise comes in three elements: a 4-storey to Goodman Street; a 24-storey tower to the corner of Goodman Street, with a recessed duplex penthouse at its peak, plus an 8-storey shoulder fronting Summer Hill Road.

There will also be a spacious external courtyard, minimal spaces for vehicles, and in order to promote sustainable modes of transportation, there will be 226 bicycle places made available for residents.

JQ Rise is a development from Prosperity, designed by K4 and executed by CBP.

Drone images by Stephen Giles; Ground floor and CGIs from Prosperity Wealth.

Showhill Wharf Full Construction Photo Gallery

Berkeley Group's Snow Hill Wharf is complete.

420 (1-3 bed) new homes, 24-hour concierge, gym, sauna, steam room, cinema and lounges galore.

Quality!

Here is a selection of the over 200 photos of the construction of this project:

April 2019

October 2019

December 2019

February 2020

Macrh 2020

May 2020

June 2020

July 2020

August 2020

December 2020

Photography above by Stephen Giles

February 2021

April 2021

July 2021

Photography by Daniel Sturley

October 2021

Photography by Stephen Giles

September 2021

November 2021

February 2022

October 2022

Photography by Daniel Sturley

January 2023

Photography by Jonathan Bostock

There are 0ver 200 photos in Full Construction Photo Gallery for this site:

Showhill Wharf Full Construction Photo Gallery

Brought forward by Claremont Land and New Homes, Summer Hill House is to be sympathetically converted & rear new builds built to deliver 40 one-, two- & three-bedroom apartments & townhouses, along with two commercial units.

The grand old site on Summer Hill Terrace comprises two near-Victorian era properties that were built as children’s homes in the early 20th century.

Its historical aesthetic will be maintained before being carefully maximised through its conversion & the introduction of dormers to its roof slope.

Unsympathetic modern rear extensions will be removed to improve circulation before being remodelled with new 3 & 4-storey rear wings to each building; a 2-storey to the rear eastern boundary, and a detached 4-storey to accommodate 4 spacious townhouses.

A 2-storey side infill extension, designed as a coach house, will also be built and will house the two Class E commercial units. Once complete, Summer Hill House will also offer four affordable 'First Homes' at 30% discount

You can follow the development here with us.

Summer Hill House, images from D5 Architects.

Washwood Heath Depot is where HS2 trains will be maintained, serviced and stored when not in use.

The 30-acre site will be transformed into the nerve centre of the new High Speed railway line, creating 550 jobs in the process.

Three buildings will be built: a Maintenance Building depot, a Network Integrated Control Centre [NICC], and a cleaners’ and drivers’ [C&D] building – each incorporating solar panels, sustainable drainage, renewable energy & low carbon materials.

All three buildings have been designed to allow maximum accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists, with dedicated routes connecting with Birmingham’s future transport network.

A contractor will be announced in autumn 2023.

Maintenance Building depot:

Network Integrated Control Centre [NICC]:

Cleaners’ and Drivers’ [C&D] building:

In non HS2-related news, the wider underutilised site will continue its rich history of providing industrial employment with Aviva set to bring forward four new units – that application, which has been approved, can be viewed here.

Washwood Heath depot, CGIs from HS2's Engineering Delivery Partnership [EDP].

Enlivening the key gateway site, built on the principles of connectivity, amenities, and sustainability, the rethink reflects Hammerson’s strategy to reinvigorate its estate through new diversyfying uses while maximising the reuse of embodied carbon.

Bringing a new type of workspace to the city that meet the requirements for established and start-up businesses post-pandemic, all four floors will be transformed to facilitate a sweeping, open, communal entrance that widens as it rises.

This will also lead to a rooftop garden lounge and workplace garden, with internal green walls on each level giving the appearance of a garden spilling back down through the building.

Ground floor will become a 40K SF amenity destination with a combined hospitality space including a restaurant, bar and food market. Plans will also see a grocery, gym, wellbeing amenities, and flexible event spaces (eg: VR; live music; gallery space; exhibitions, etc.).

Subject to receiving planning consent, work is expected to begin later in the year, with the potential for completion sometime in 2025.

Drum Grand Central, images from Make Architects and Macgregor Smith.

Here are the exciting plans for Birmingham Smithfield Phase 1, a once-in-a-lifetime £1.9b redevelopment from a Birmingham City Council & Lendlease Joint Venture.

Hybrid plans submitted in early December have now landed (in January!) and contain full detailed planning for Phase 1 and outline plans for future phases. These detailed plans include:

NEW MARKETS (Plots 5ABC) from David Kohn Architects and Eastside Projects

Bringing together the current Indoor and Rag Markets, this destination market will offer 13,301 sqm of spaces for live performances and events, day and night, along with places to eat, drink & socialise within the new dining hall and a landscaped rooftop garden overlooking Festival Square.

Located to the northern most point, the markets will provide maximum visibility for the new market areas from the commercial and retail heart of the city around the Bullring and St Martin’s Church.

The £100m investment will see first phase improvements to Villa Park and to the wider community, with works starting in late 2023 before completing by the end of 2025.

Driven by spectator demand, Villa Park will accommodate approximately 7,400 new seats to a brand-new North Stand, which will wrap into a hospitality-enhanced Trinity Stand.

Bringing capacity up to 50,065, there is scope to uplift Villa Park even further through refurbishments to the Holte End and Doug Ellis stands in the future.

Outside, ‘Villa Live’ will become a standalone multi-use entertainment, community, and retail destination that promises all-year round events for the local community.

It will house the club shop, food and drink outlets, plus areas dedicated to showcasing the club’s proud heritage and history.

The venue will accommodate between 200 and 2,000 people and will host everything from match day meet ups, televised away games, cultural gigs and festivals, student nights, e-gaming, and corporate and exhibition nights.

7,000sqm of public realm improvements will also be made to the Witton Lane entrance around the North Stand, providing a safe and vibrant space accessible for all.

The redevelopment also opens the door for improvements in terms of transport links to both Witton and Aston train stations, with more space for pedestrians and cars.

Tantalisingly, when it completes in 2025, Villa Park would also be eligible to host major national and international tournament games, including the UK and Ireland’s bid to host Euro 2028.

Aston Villa expansion, images from Aston Villa.

A BOLD NEW BRAND & IDENTITY

CBRE Investment Management has recently announced the completion of exterior work at X10 Brindleyplace, revealing a brand new back to frame £40m transformation.

The investment combines 8 and 10 Brindleyplace to form a new net zero office and commercial environment, one that comes with large open office floors and full height windows. 

Once fully complete in Q1 2023, X10 will offer 210K SF of prime grade A office floorspace, an all-electric system powered by green energy, and one of the city’s largest floorplates, at more than 27K SF.

The façade, redesigned to have the least impact on the environment, now includes new thermal insulation, with all contemporary bricks on X10 locally sourced bricks from a sustainable quarry.

Within, X10 boasts a lavish new double-height reception space and a roastery and a coffee shop.

Adding to the vibrancy is a new public realm, lounges, conference facilities, studios, co-working areas, meeting rooms, podcast facilities, showers and drying rooms, a fitness studio, six new roof terraces, and a public Turtle Bay restaurant.

PROJECT TEAM:

The Pressworks is a stunner firmly in full flow.

Nestled on Northwood Street, just off St Paul’s Square, the historic site is being brought back to life with 48 apartments and a mews house.

Steeped in history and dating back to the 1800s, the site was formerly occupied by a Pressworks. The Grade II* listed building that still stands from that area is now being restored and converted into centrepiece homes.

Blending old world with new, contemporary new builds will flank the listed building and will be set around a quaint landscaped courtyard.

The Pressworks will also deliver a unique new duplex mews house to the site’s rear.

In another subtle nod to history, the site's former press will be displayed as a new design feature within the site's courtyard.

DECEMBER 14 -

MARCH: The Grade II* listed building in question:

Construction images from Stephen Giles; CGIs from Northwood Street Ltd.

Drone images from Stephen Giles; below: Daniel Sturley; CGIs: Glancy Nicholls Architects.

View the site map here.

All blocks are nearing completion and will soon be enveloped by a red Stofix exterior facade, which is in the process of being installed by Caxton Facades and will last roughly 18 months.

All windows are also well advanced, with full installation scheduled for Q2/3 2023, followed by the installation of 582 Juliet balconies.

Completing in 2024, KSB will benefit from healthy cycling and amenity provisions, as well as three flexible commercial units: two to Gooch Street North, and one to the corner of Kent Street.

While the tower and adjoining buildings will have their own concierge and co-working spaces, the heart of the site will feature a three-storey community hub & courtyard space offering informal areas to relax, exercise studios, dining & event spaces, and quaint rooftop garden access.

Residents will have access to a semi-basement for 86 vehicles plus dedicated EV charging points.

Phase 2 (current triangular plot) is closing in on being acquired and will finish off the KSB jigsaw beautifully. It has early stage approval for 98 market dwellings over eight storeys.

Some of the CGIs below are in the process of being updated (brick colour, et all), but their form remains the same.

Drone images from Stephen Giles. CGIs from Glenn Howells Architects.

View the site map HERE

8th October

29th October

Photography by Daniel Sturley

October 30th

Photography by Stephen Giles

5th November

9th November

12th November

23rd November

25th November

26th November

Photography by Daniel Sturley

There are nearly 300 photos of the construction of this building in the Octagon Full Construction Photo Gallery

The BBC will move out from its current home at The Mailbox into a custom-built 84K SF broadcast centre in 2026.

The 1929-built landmark, famous for its production of Typhoo Tea, will become one of Birmingham’s first net zero carbon in construction office buildings. It is on target to achieve a BREEAM ‘outstanding’ rating and an energy performance certificate (EPC) of ‘A’.

The building will be conserved and will house several BBC editorial teams, including The Archers, BBC Newsbeat, BBC Asian Network, BBC Radio WM and Midlands Today. 

The move presents a golden opportunity to catalyse on reinvigorating the wider area and kick-starting investment in Digbeth’s built environment and transport connections.

DEMOLITION:

Over the next decade, there are also plans to deliver up to 800K SF of new residential, office and hospitality accommodation around the new BBC site.

The wider scheme will see more than 10 acres of land around Typhoo Wharf and the adjoining canal basin transformed into a new mixed-use neighbourhood, including public spaces.

Grant Associates is designing the new landscape and urban realm, which will create a new canalside quarter, and the new public square will be delivered in time for the first BBC staff to arrive in 2026.

PARTNERS: Stoford, Benacre 2022 LLP (The Gooch Estate)
ARCHITECTS: Glenn Howells Architects, Grant Associates
QS, PM: Arcadis
PRINCIPAL DESIGNER: Anstey Home
CIVIL & STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: BWB
M&E, SUSTAINABILITY: ESC
CONTRACTOR: ISG
AIR QUALITY, TRANSPORT: BWB
FIRE CONSULTANT: Jensen Hughes
AGENT: Savills & Wallis Real Estate
PLANNING CONSULTANT: Turley
PLANNING APPLICATION NUMBER: 2022/08628/PA

Typhoo Wharf, images from Glenn Howells Architects & BBC.

Brought forward by CEG on behalf of Dooba Investments II Ltd, hybrid plans have been lodged (full & outline) that will see the site fully redeveloped to breathe new life into a vital part of Birmingham city centre.

A modernist favourite, the tired buildings however are widely seen as a physical barrier between two vibrant parts of the ever-evolving city.

SBQ aims to fully reinvent and reconnect itself with the city by delivering the demand for new city centre 1-3 bed apartments and unlocking existing disconnected areas with the provision of new vibrant ground-level uses.

A comprehensive public realm strategy will also be implemented, helping to green the city's core and enhance ties with the nearby Chinese Quarter, Gay Village, the emerging Smithfield district, and unlock development sites next door.

THE PLANS:

Phase 1 (closest to Bullring): Full plans include a 48-storey building accommodating 571 Build to Rent (BTR) apartments, sat above an eclectic array of lower-level retail, commercial, and leisure uses.

Subsequent phases: Two further buildings of 44 (SBQ1) & 56-storeys (SBQ2) are also earmarked, coupled with demolition works, and are being brought forward under outline plans. Both will accommodate well over 1000 new homes, complemented by high quality commercial & leisure uses.

An all-electric affair that will incorporate renewable sources to achieve high standards of energy efficiency, SBQ will undoubtedly act as a catalyst for future development and investment in the area, providing a more aesthetic environment.

Words by Stephen Giles; all images are the property of Corstorphine+Wright.

2014 image from Mac McCreery.

49-51 Holloway Head had stood derelict for over 25 long years.

In the last decade – at least – the site, which had become a target for vandalism, had threatened to be developed, but any optimism soon vanished when the site kept being sold on.

In 2019, Invesco Real Estate took a punt on the area – and Holloway Head is now rising!

We will see four new buildings: two in phase 1; and two in phase 2.

The re-energised site will deliver a new community of up to 485 homes (PRS), in buildings ranging from 10 to 16 storeys, complemented by a host of amenities and a 3,600K SF commercial unit, bringing more vitality to an ever-changing area.

Residents will benefit from landscaped courtyards, lounges, co-working areas, dining spaces, a gymnasium, and roof terraces.

Phase 1 is in full flow and progressing nicely – and is well on course for a 2024 completion.

Phase 2, expected to commence in late 2024/ early 2025, will then see the relocation of the Girl Guides HQ from their current Trefoil House building on Blucher Street, into the new building, enabling the final two buildings to be completed by Winvic.

Words & pictures by Stephen Giles; CGIs from Corstorphine+Wright. 

With a clear aspiration for a necklace of well-designed talls extending from Belgrave Middleway up to Holloway Head island, South Central will become the first of many.

Designed with a curved tram-inspired terracotta façade, South Central will offer an eclectic selection of one to three-bedroom apartments to cater to every need, including eight First Homes & Low-Cost Home Ownership units.

Residents will benefit from an array of amenities, including a Bristol Street-facing commercial unit, a lobby lounge, a concierge, a multi-media community room, co-working areas, and secure storage for up to 76 bicycles.

The crowning feature, however, will be its sky garden; a rooftop space that will offer up a cozy space for the likes of an outdoor cinema, to socialise, exercise, or just simply a place to take in the ever-changing views - which, from these images alone, will be pretty stunning!

Drone photography from Stephen Giles (TW); CGIs from Glancy Nicholls Architects.