Currently in the throes of a second and final public consultation, 2 Snowhill Plaza would provide a new marker building for the emerging Snow Hill side of the city.

Rising to 47-storeys and using a lower carbon approach, the scheme would offer 462 build to rent homes with a mixed use plinth offering shared residential amenities as well as a new commercial unit facing onto Snow Hill Queensway.

Activating the street with active frontages, landscaping & seating, a new east-west public route would also be created to allow for walkable access from Snow Hill Queensway to Weaman Street, for the first time in a generation.

Facilities at 2 Snowhill Plaza are expected to facilitate a lobby, bicycle workshop, storage, and co-working spaces; with additional vertical amenities ranging from biodiverse gardens to shared lounges, allowing for private classes and community events.

An opportunity also exists for a south-facing rooftop terrace at the peak of the building, allowing for additional amenities.

A planning application will be submitted in the coming weeks.

Words by Stephen Giles; images from HUB, Metropolitan Workshop

Currently in the throes of a second and final public consultation, 2 Snowhill Plaza would provide a new marker building for the emerging Snow Hill side of the city.

Rising to 47-storeys and using a lower carbon approach, the scheme would offer 462 build to rent homes with a mixed use plinth offering shared residential amenities as well as a new commercial unit facing onto Snow Hill Queensway.

Activating the street with active frontages, landscaping & seating, a new east-west public route would also be created to allow for walkable access from Snow Hill Queensway to Weaman Street, for the first time in a generation.

Facilities at 2 Snowhill Plaza are expected to facilitate a lobby, bicycle workshop, storage, and co-working spaces; with additional vertical amenities ranging from biodiverse gardens to shared lounges, allowing for private classes and community events.

An opportunity also exists for a south-facing rooftop terrace at the peak of the building, allowing for additional amenities.

A planning application will be submitted in the coming weeks.

Words by Stephen Giles; images from HUB, Metropolitan Workshop

GMI Construction Group will develop the industry leading skills centre for next year's intake of construction students through the regeneration of the iconic James Cond print works building on George Street.

Its revitalisation will breathe new life to the historic site while honouring its rich history to deliver essential skills, jobs, and training opportunities, which is expected to support more than 1,200 learners by 2025.

The consistent investment in University College Birmingham and the City demonstrates the commitment of the University in leading the way in delivering high-quality education that meets the needs of the region.

When the project completes in September 2023, the centre will specialise in world class, industry leading courses, including sustainable construction methods and renewable energy.

Be sure to watch the development here with us!

Images from Lucas Architects.

Interested in studying in the areas of construction and engineering? Explore UCB’s range of courses here: Department of Engineering, Computing and Sustainable Construction.

16-18 Princip Street has recently received planning consent to be transformed into a residential community.

With Princip Street gravitating towards residential (see our development map), with sensitively designed new builds sitting side-by-side with gorgeous Birmingham's historic treasures – just look at Javelin Block’s ‘Comet Works’, for instance – this site is primed and ready to get in on the act.

Its façade is occupied by the lovely, grade II* listed F.I.S. Loveday building, and its rear, which backs onto the canal, is made up of a combination of single- and two-storey units.

It will be preserved, refurbished, and sensitively converted along with two of its adjoined rear wings – one of which will be extended – and the other canal-side will be re-roofed with a lightwell.

The site will, as per its original layout back, be opened up.



To facilitate this, central units will be removed to make way for a pair of three-storey townhouses, which will both face onto an intimate central courtyard, and another one facing onto the canal.

All retained buildings will accommodate 6 one to three-bedroom apartments (45.8 – 100.2 sqm), with 5 two & three-bedrooms occupying the townhouses, in sizes of 70.5 to a roomy 102.6 sqm.

Sustainability is firmly embedded into the heart of this small project. The redevelopment promises to improve the site’s thermal performance, along with solar panels, electric panel heaters & hot water cylinders, both with time controls, mechanical ventilation & LED lighting.

With Princip Street embarking on an exciting future, we can’t wait for this site to be brought back to life!

Drone images from Stephen Giles; artist impressions from BPN Architects.

May

June

Photography by Daniel Sturley

July

On the 5th July we attended a special visit to the top of the building for an invited photographers event.

Below are just a selection:

Photography by Daniel Sturley

Photography by Stephen Giles.

Photography by Mat Burling

Photography by Jack Babington

We were also able to get some great photos of the surrounding city with a full post of these here: 

Other photos of the construction from the 5th July:

Photography by Daniel Sturley

17th July 2022

The first crane come down.

Photography by Daniel Sturley

29th July 2022

Photography by Daniel Sturley

6th August 2022

Photography by Daniel Sturley

20th August 2022

Photography by Daniel Sturley

21st August 2022

Photography by Daniel Sturley

27th August 2022

Photography by Daniel Sturley

10th September 2022

Photography by Daniel Sturley

10th September 2022

19th September 2022, from Barr Beacon

Photography by Daniel Sturley

24th September 2022

Photography by Daniel Sturley

24th September 2022

Photography by Daniel Sturley

There are now over 800 photos of the construction of this building and can be seen in reverse date order in the full gallery here: One Centenary Way Full Construction Gallery

An outstanding contemporary urban space, set around four historic buildings: Ice House, Retort House, Toll House & Gate House, the Creative Content Hub will be a place where minds meet, ideas are created and collaborations forged.

With Digbeth in the throes of a second revolution under the stewardship of Oval Real Estate, they’ve partnered with the influential industry body, Create Central, to transform the former Victorian gasworks into a state-of-the-art Google-styled campus for media businesses.

The superhub will bring together a range of diverse businesses with a speciality for content creation, technology, training and development, once again boosting Birmingham's status as a major centre for TV, gaming, digital and film production.

All this follows hot on the heels of the news that the BBC will move to Typhoo Wharf from 2026; MasterChef will settle into the neighbouring Banana warehouse from 2024; animation studios will be opening on Pickford Street; and, of course, there's Digbeth Loc Studios next door to look forward to.

ICE HOUSE ft canopy and Wharfside Yard

RETORT HOUSE:

TOLL HOUSE:

CGIs from Oval Real Estate/BPN; tour images from Stephen Giles.

The Alcester Street site, brought forward by 10M Group, in conjunction with social impact investor Housing Growth Partnership (HGP), will deliver a mixture of 39 one- and two-bedroom apartments, in two buildings of three and six storeys.

Designed to reflect Digbeth's industrial past whilst providing high-end apartments to meet the needs of today's rental market, Fountain Lofts will feature an attractive internal courtyard, and spaces for 42 cycles, with additional amenities in the form of Highgate Park, a short walk away.

As our images show, the six-storey is already looking prominent, and, with a three-storey set to join the club and face onto Cheapside, the development will nestle nicely alongside its historic neighbour, The Fountain Inn, offering it focal point status - and bustling trade - for years to come.

And back on the ground:

All images from Stephen Giles.

Fountain Lofts, CGIs from 10m Group/ Corstorphine+Wright/ Designbcreative.

We've been busy snapping Maker's Yard over the past few months – and it is looking exceptional.

Expanding the city core further outwards, Maker's Yard has been brought forward by Watkin Jones – with Get Living, the UK’s pioneer of large-scale build-to-rent communities, forward funding and operating the project.

Sat adjacent to Smithfield, Maker's will deliver – in addition to the new one-, two- & three-bedroom homes, of which 47 will be made affordable – circa 16,5000K SF of ground floor commercial in builds ranging from five, nine, 10, 11, 13 & 30-storeys.

Amenities will include a 24-hour concierge, wellbeing hub(s), landscaped podiums, spaces for 610 cycles, a gym, and co-working spaces, in addition to a double-height reception & sky lounge.

Complementing all of this will be a new public square that will connect the city centre with the emerging Rea Valley Urban Quarter, with fluid access to the commercial spaces that will further boost the area. Looking good!

JULY TO AUGUST:

MAKER'S YARD:

Drone images from Stephen Giles; original CGIs from Glenn Howells.

Left standing on site is a historic ornate gateway, which is now being carefully dismantled brick-by-brick before it'll be stored away and reinstalled at a later date.

Once the site is cleared, a major build-to-rent (BTR) development will be built from Select Property Group's Affinity Living brand, offering 266 new homes.

A series of linked buildings of six to 23-storeys will be built around a reactivated canal side to cater to the demands of the Birmingham rental market.

Offering large, contemporary living spaces, with new hybrid ways of living and working, Lancaster Wharf will feature floor-to-ceiling windows and fully integrated high-spec kitchens, in addition to a multitude of amenities.

These include a state-of-the-art gymnasium, an internal and external sixth-floor terrace area, basement cycle storage, co-working spaces, residents and TV lounge, and a spacious waterfront garden courtyard.

With a contractor already appointed be sure to watch our socials (Twitter & Instagram) for more updates on this project. 

Drone images from Stephen Giles; CGIs from Select Property Group.

Birmingham’s own Glenn Howells Architects is working on a transformative masterplan (IYB map) that could see over 10 acres of underutilised land, around Typhoo Wharf in Digbeth, developed to house the BBC, along with new residential, offices, and hospitality uses.

The first phase will include the revival of the historic Typhoo Tea factory into a net-zero BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ broadcast centre for BBC Birmingham, who has agreed to move into the building, along with BBC Asian Network, BBC Newsbeat, as well as Midlands Today and BBC WM, in 2026.

Looking further afield – five to 10 years – there is a comprehensive vision in place to regenerate the wider site, including the creation of a new canal side quarter centred around the unique and historic canal network, delivering a ‘green and healthy, walkable / cyclable city’, complemented by new residential, offices, and commercial uses.

All of this is to be integrated into the area’s transport infrastructure, including the Midland Metro tram, which will have a stop next to the site and will provide fluid connectivity to the forthcoming HS2 Curzon Street station – set to get underway in February 2023.

Other developing cultural and economic infrastructure just outside the confines of Typhoo Wharf include Stephen Knight’s Loc Studios, BBC’s new MasterChef studio, the Creative Content Hub, animation studios, and Birmingham Midland Academy – all a stone’s throw away.

A public consultation is in its early stages – but it is now live for your consideration. It will run until Thursday 22 September 2022 and should Birmingham City Council give it the go ahead, construction is expected to start on site in spring 2023, ready for occupation by the BBC in 2026.

Typhoo Wharf, images from Glenn Howells Architects & BBC.

Photography by Stephen Giles.

The 'butterfly effect' cladding briefly made an appearance, before being stripped off in its entirety a few days later..

Photography by Daniel Sturley.

There are now over 300+ photos of Cortland's construction, which can be viewed here. And then there's Birmingham's first ever map of developments, which can be viewed here.

Setting the ball rolling for the wider area, Camp Hill Gardens will see six new buildings ranging from three to 26 storeys, creating a brand new community of 550 build-to-rent (BTR) apartments and townhouses.

Incorporating wellbeing, innovation, and sustainability, the placemaking project from Goodstone Living, the UK BTR arm of Macquarie Asset Management, will be set around a one-acre landscaped garden, the largest private garden in the city.

A fine selection of studios, one- and three-bedroom apartments, and four-bedroom townhouses, will be provided, in addition to 22,000K SF of dedicated commercial spaces that will further nurture Digbeth's live-work-play ethos.

This will contain areas for restaurants, cafés, boutiques, start-ups and independent retail; local companies will also benefit from 50% rental discounts.

The site, once occupied by Sulzer before they relocated to Birmingham Business Park, has already been demolished and works are ongoing to make the site construction ready, which is anticipated to begin soon now that permission has been granted.

Camp Hill Gardens, images from Darling Associates.

EPIC (GP Temple Row) Ltd, which owns the site, as well as neighbouring buildings at 63-65 & 67-71 Temple Row, as well as 125 Colmore Row, wishes to rejuvenate the plot to offer high quality sustainable office floorspace in the city.

The existing three-storey building (below) is made up of a mid-19th century Temple Street façade, which will be preserved, as well as a lower quality mid-20th century re-building behind the façade.

The latter would be demolished and replaced with a new six-storey building behind the façade to deliver a gross internal area of approximately 13,000K SF.

This would deliver basement amenities - cycle store, shower facilities, etc - a ground floor commercial unit, with five storeys of speculative office accommodation above.

This fabric-led approach will see a reduction in energy demand to meet carbon reduction targets, with M&E system improvements, high-performance thermal insulation, solar control, air source heat pumps, and MVHR.

A statement on behalf of the applicant said: "It is clear the proposed development falls wholly in accordance with local and national policy and the benefits of the proposed development would significantly and demonstrably outweigh any harm.

"The application is supported by a full suite of technical assessments which demonstrate that the proposals represent an efficient and effective use of an existing brownfield site and there are no significant constraints, either at local or national level, which would restrict the development of the site in the manner proposed."

Images from OMI Architects; Google Street Maps; and Samuel Lines: an 1821 painting.

As part of a radical net-zero upgrade, 2 Brindley is to be revitalised with a new single-storey, glazed rooftop extension, adding an additional 14,500K SF of office floorspace to the building.

Two new rooftop terraces will be formulated for tenants, while the facade to the ground, first, sixth & seventh floors will be overhauled and upgraded.

The ground level will also be dramatically improved, with all ramps, stairs, and balustrading set to be replaced with an uncluttered new entrance, lobby, and reception area. Within, generous facilities will include a unique wellness suite, fitness studio, changing areas, screening room, and a secure cycle hub for 128.

In order to achieve net-zero carbon, all M&E will be replaced with an all-electric energy-efficient system, with 80% of the structure remaining in place, ultimately cutting the scheme's embodied carbon by over 50 per cent, compared to a brand new-build office building.

2 Brindley, images from 5plus Architects.

Six buildings ranging from three to 26 storeys will deliver a brand new community of 550 build-to-rent (BTR) apartments and townhouses as part of Camp Hill Gardens.

Incorporating wellbeing, innovation, and sustainability, the placemaking project from Goodstone Living, the UK BTR arm of Macquarie Asset Management, will be set around a one-acre landscaped garden, the largest private garden in the city.

The new community will present a fine selection of studios, one- and three-bedroom apartments, and four-bedroom townhouses, in addition to 22,000K SF of dedicated commercial spaces, further nurturing Digbeth's live-work-play ethos.

This will contain areas for restaurants, cafés, boutiques, start-ups and independent retail; local companies will also be eligible for 50% rental discounts.

The site, which was once occupied by Sulzer before they relocated to Birmingham Business Park, has already been demolished and works are ongoing to make the site construction ready, which is anticipated to begin as soon as permission is given. 

Camp Hill Gardens, images from Darling Associates.

Looking good!! Drone images from Stephen Giles.

The 1904-built grade II* listed building will be fully and unequivocally restored by Irish developer Oakmount and sister leisure company Creative Cedar and will be operated by another of Oakmount's sister companies, Press Up Hospitality.

Known as ‘The Dean’ – a UK first – the building will see a viability-boosting three-storey glazed roof extension to house another UK first: a flagship Sophie’s restaurant and bar, with two terraces affording panoramic views across the city.

The hotel-led destination will also see a full restoration of its Central Hall auditorium into a grand 1,500 capacity event venue, guaranteed to become one of the city's premier destinations, as well as offering basement and ground-level commercial and business units.

These will feature several public bars, eateries, and leisure brands, such as the members-only 'The Dalton' club and cocktail bar, a 'Creative Cedar' gym, meeting rooms, and a classic barber's.

Class!

The Dean Birmingham, images from TODD Architects. 

Long lost to demolition during the mid-20th century when the site once housed dense back-to-backs and terraced housing, the site will re-establish new frontages to both Upper Gough Street and Chapmans Passage for the first time in a generation.

Recognising the emergence of new projects in the area, the I-shaped Corstorphine & Wright design will be spread over five to seven storeys and will be formed around two landscaped courtyards.

Accommodating a wide range of lifestyles, the project includes a hearty array of one- and two-bedroom apartments, together with 5 two-bedroom duplex townhouses - eleven have been assigned affordable, with 25% available as 'First Homes'.

Complementing the living spaces will be a fifth-floor roof terrace offering both exercise spaces & views across the city, spaces for 56 cycles, and private balconies to select apartments.

Brought forward by Upper Gough Street Ltd (Rainier Developments), the development also includes a new pedestrianised thoroughfare to Chapmans Passage, which will go a long way to sewing together the fabric of the street to (ultimately) provide fluid access to the historic Peace Gardens.

Chapmans Yard, images from Corstorphine&Wright.

As our drone images show, Enterprise Wharf is looking absolutely magnificent as we enter the closing stages of development – with the prominent external red panels now being installed.

Offering 120,000K SF of high-quality commercial space over ten floors, the £30m building is a brand-new addition to Birmingham Innovation Campus, the UK’s largest dedicated digital tech campus, home to over 170 businesses. But there's so much more.

The building, brought forward by Bruntwood SciTech, and designed by Associated Architects, will be embedded with the latest cutting-edge new technologies, such as ‘Internet of Things’ sensors, which will act as a ‘central nervous system’ for the building to provide its energy use data.

Businesses will be able to harness this data to optimise their heating, lighting, and air quality, helping to reduce emissions, and operational costs while improving occupants' wellbeing.

A whole lot of work is also happening around the periphery of the site, with the planting of new trees rejuvenating the canalside and amenity. Other facilities will include 5G coverage, a large open-plan reception, collaborative spaces, showers, breakout areas, and a roof terrace.

Drone images from Stephen Giles.

Enterprise Wharf CGIs from Bruntwood SciTech.

We took to the skies recently to snap the latest progress of Setl, where construction is well underway on the delivery of two residential buildings.

The site will see a new part 6-12 storey to Ludgate Hill & Newhall Street, with a striking tile-clad three-storey cushioned canalside.

102 one- and two-bedroom apartments will be formed, together with two public commercial units that will add to the already thriving commercial street scene on Ludgate Hill.

All of this will be complemented by a rooftop garden on the sixth floor, with workspaces, lounges, a state-of-the-art gymnasium, and an internal courtyard space.

The £32m project is HBD's first foray into Birmingham and, with Jeweller Quarter trendsetters BPN designing the scheme, Setl - when it completes in 2024 - will be externally finished in a dark red & light red orange brick, with bespoke glazed terracotta & decorative detailing, paying homage to Birmingham's architectural past.

Cornwall House for Ready Player One (Image from Metrogogo, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons).

Drone photography from Stephen Giles; CGIs from HBD.

Follow the development HERE with us!

Prosperity Developments are bringing forward plans to rejuvenate this area of the city.

Spread across two parcels of land, the development has been designed by Glancy Nicholls Architects.

Having bounced onto the scene back in 2021, the proposal went back to the drawing board and has now been refined in recent weeks to consider the other emerging schemes in the area - namely Birmingham Smithfield, and Warner Fields.

THESE ARE THE CHANGES PROPOSED (GREEN):

Plot 1: Significant improvements have been made to Bradford Street.

The new design now features a classic perimeter block of buildings ranging from 7 right up to 11-storeys at prominent corners. The perimeter extends to Bradford Street, across Rea Street, Cheapside, and back towards Bradford Street.

The designs have also been significantly improved to take more cues from neighbouring heritage assets.

The old proposal v the new one:

Plot 2: This is where we will see an increase in height, which will be dissected by a newly created green linear link and a green space that looks out towards Smithfield.

Previous plans for Pressworks saw a 21-storey to Bradford Street - which, of course, has now been refined. The height has now been transferred to Moseley Street - and will reach 23-storeys.

Why? Other emerging schemes in the area, namely Warner Fields, will incorporate a landmark 30-storey directly adjacent Pressworks. For that reason, the 23-storey has been positioned to sit subservient to the 30-storey, but to also sit in line with the planned 'scraper at Smithfield.

Therefore, an emerging cluster is earmarked for the ever-changing area, all of which will face onto a new public green link and sit in front of Smithfield. Good forward thinking!

Like the CGIs? Let us know in the comments.

Pressworks Birmingham, images from Glancy Nicholls Architects.

Early morning arrival.

Waiting outside.

In we go!

South Central tower, well under construction on Bristol Street, Essex Street.

The historic Rotunda.

Cranes Reflected in the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

One Centenary Square (HSBC UK), the Hyatt Regency Hotel, The Mercian, and the core of Cortland Broad Street.

The Library of Birmingham.

Looking Over Centenary Square.

'Cheese'.

On the Top Floor.

The Dome of the Council House.

Exchange Square, Phase 2, is flying up!

Orion House and Beetham Tower

And down we go! 

Photography by Daniel Sturley

Photography by Stephen Giles

Photography by Mat Burling

Photography by Jack Babington

There are now nearly 800 photos of the construction of this building and can be seen in reverse date order in the full gallery here:

Full Construction Feature Project and Photo Gallery

Once home to Furnaces & Machinery, until their demise in 2019, the Alcester Street site will deliver 39 one- and two-bedroom apartments, in two buildings of three to six storeys.

The Corstorphine & Wright designed scheme, red-bricked and offering a symbolic nod to Digbeth's industrial heritage, will offer high-end apartments to match the demands of today's rental market.

Six storeys to Alcester Street and three storeys to Cheapside, the new builds will nestle alongside its historic neighbour, The Fountain Inn, offering it focal point status - and bustling trade - for years to come.

Both builds will reanimate their respective streets and will be set around an attractive and intimate internal courtyard space - as seen below. Watch our socials for more on Fountain Lofts!

Construction images from Stephen Giles; CGIs from 10m Group.

Located on Hanley Street and Lower Loveday Street, The Crown Works is a 203-apartment scheme entirely for rent (View the site map HERE)

Led by Europa Capital and White Ink Architects, the new placemaking community will reinforce the area through a contemporary, contextual design offering an enhanced interpretation of the area.

With groundworks ramping up on site and a crane due any time now, The Crown Works will be arranged in four blocks of four to eight storeys, with each one, two & three-bedroom apartment designed to a high specification, across 138K SF of space.

With renters in Birmingham wanting good quality living spaces and amenities aplenty, The Crown Works offers that in abundance.

There will be up to 5,900K SF of attractive facilities on offer, with all apartments set around a raised courtyard, with concierge services, shared gardens, terraces, dining and meeting rooms, a state-of-the-art gymnasium, as well as co-working areas for those WFH, all on offer.

Two public ground floor commercial units, totalling 3,700K SF, will also bring additional vitality to the area. The Crown Works is scheduled for a circa. April 2024 completion.

June 30:

May:

Drone images by Stephen Giles; CGIs from Europa Capital/White Ink Architects.

MAY

Cortland Broad Street from a little over a mile away at Soho Loop:

Photography from Stephen Giles.

JUNE

Photography from Daniel Sturley.

There are now over 200 photos of the construction of this building and can be seen in reverse date order in the full gallery here: The Square, Broad Street - Full Construction Photo Gallery