1,207 state-of-the-art student accommodation would be delivered across two new build blocks: a ‘Canalside Block’ of 34 storeys and a ‘Courtyard Block’ at 14 storeys​.

Both buildings would be framed by new public open space and active frontages, reinvigorating an underutilised section of the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.

Cambrian Hall (below), an existing UCB student accommodation building constructed in the 1970s that no longer meets the aspirations of today's student market, is in line to be demolished.

Transformational change is ongoing in the area, with Paradise Birmingham and the 49-storey Octagon under construction, and the 46-storey Ora - next door - set to start soon.

A full planning application will be submitted in due course. In the meantime, the public consultation runs until Wednesday 14^th June.

Get your views in!

Images from University College Birmingham & the IYB Development Map.

Piling works is underway across the site, with Bespoke Construction tasked with the job of building out the six building, 278-home development​.

A two-phased affair, the Investin PLC development will deliver an initial 145 one & two-bedroom apartments in Phase I, across three new builds of four, six & 15-storeys. 

Phase II will deliver the three remaining buildings of five and six storeys. 

Residents will have access to a gymnasium and cinema, spacious lounges, co-working areas, a roof terrace, and a podium courtyard, all of which will set the standard for the city's burgeoning rental sector.

VIRTUAL REALITY TOUR LINK HERE.

Boulevard @ Southside, drone images from Stephen Giles; CGIs from Investin & Connells.

View the site on our development map HERE.

S&K Buildings, a vastly underutilised site, is to be reanimated and remodelled with an attractive build to rent community containing 484 new homes.

EDR Demolition are now onsite demolishing the majority of the site (plan below), deemed in very poor state of disrepair, with the exception of the S&K building fronting Bradford Street.

Once cleared, six new builds of up to 10 storeys will be erected, each one set around internal courtyards, with the transformative scheme also bringing the River Rea into the mix with a fluid publicly accessible canal-side walkway, with terraces, cafes and restaurants.

The visually aesthetic S&K building is to be retained, converted and upwardly extended with a new two-storey extension.

The site will ultimately offer an attractive selection of one-, two- & three-bedroom apartments (c48 affordable), and spacious duplexes to cater to every lifestyle.

Yellow denotes retained, with demolition in red.

Drone images from Stephen Giles; CGIs (Riba 1-4) from Future High Street Living Ltd & Corstorphine & Wright.

Maker's Yard is located adjacent to Smithfield and the visionary Rea Valley Urban Quarter, which will be transformed into a truly sustainable and desirable neighbourhood in the coming years.

The six-build project (5-30 storeys) will accommodate a selection of one-, two- & three-bedroom apartments – 47 affordable – along with substantial street-facing commercial, new pedestrian routes, and a whole host of amenities to boost the living experience.

These include a series of connected green spaces for communal and private use, including a centrally located 'village square' that will serve as a community Hub to house a gym and yoga studio, a range of lounges and flexible workspace.

This will be reinforced by a vibrant, high quality landscape inspired by the site's industrial heritage.

There will also be a 24-hour concierge, large double height reception areas, podium gardens and a sky lounge.

Maker's Yard is Watkin Jones' largest build to rent development to date – with Get Living, the UK’s pioneer of large-scale BTR communities, forward funding and operating the site once it completes in 2025.

Images from Stephen Giles; CGIs from Watkin Jones, Howells & Stride Treglown.

For more on this and more: this is the city's first and only Interactive Development Map.

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The former Queen’s Hospital site on Bath Row is to be reimagined with 728 student beds and 189 Build-to-Rent apartments​.

The gated site, housing 1990s student stock that no longer meets the aspirations of today's market, will be demolished and opened up to make way for contemporary new builds – a 31-storey (100.8m), two 10-storeys, and two seven-storeys – each designed with a commonality but with subtle differences giving each its own identity.

With an emphasis on wellbeing and movement, each building will be set around two retained Grade II listed properties which face out onto Bath Row.

The 1873-built Western block (below) will be revived and transformed into a brand-new community hub with café, gym, workspace, and cycle storage. 1840-built Eastern block (second below) will accommodate 52 post-grad studios.

There will be four new courtyards and terraced gardens, offering fab new spaces for BBQs, games, and seating. Three of these will back onto the canal: two for PBSA, with one for BTR.​

The other will form a new community garden and social space, located directly to the centre of the site.

With spill out envisaged around the two heritage assets, an enhanced public realm to Bath Row will offer fluid routes into this vibrant central setting, allowing residents space to lounge, eat, and socialise.

You can follow this development here with us, as well as view it on Birmingham's first and only Interactive Development Map. You can also follow us on Twitter and on Instagram.

Plans are being brought forward via a McLaren Property and Aventicum partnership, with designs from Chapman Taylor and Churchman Thornhill Finch.

Images from Chapman Taylor, Turley, and Wellcome Collection Gallery.

The proposed development will bring 220 bedrooms to two underutilised plots, adding to the existing 156 beds across the wider project, which will cater to the growing demand for high-quality, modern living spaces in the city.

Two new builds of 6-7 and 8-14 storeys (45m) will be built on existing vacant plots, delivering four different types of studio accommodation, along with energy and water efficient appliances, air source heat pumps and rooftop photovoltaics.

An 8-14 storey comprising 133 beds will be built to the corner of Hanley Street & Cliveland Street [here], with a 6-7 storey, delivering an additional 87 bedrooms, adjacent [here].

With the needs of students in mind, each unit will feature high-spec amenities, ample storage space, high-speed internet, and en-suite bathrooms, complemented by indoor and outdoor amenity spaces, including study areas, cycle spaces, and a gym.

Each build has been meticulously designed to complement the existing and emerging context, in both its red-brick materiality and massing.

After completing Phase I at 37 Hanley Street, in 2021, with Phase II at 41 Hanley Street currently well advanced for a further 108 bedspaces, Volume teamed up with Hortus Investments to deliver on the wider Volume Works project.

Founded in 2019 by members of the prominent Horton family, Hortus will finance the final phase and are perhaps best known in recent times for bringing The Grand Hotel on Colmore Row back into use.

“The student accommodation sector is changing rapidly, and today’s students expect a better level of product and service than ever before. At Volume.Property, we’ve been pioneering new ways of enhancing the student experience, and that’s been evident in our results.” - Anthony Laville, CEO of Volume.Property.

The application is now under review and, if approved, construction is expected to begin later this year with a scheduled completion for the start of the 2025/26 academic year.

Images from Volume Property, Corstorphine+Wright & the IYB Development Map.

It positions Birmingham as the UK’s leading smart and sustainable city, and one that fully complements the forthcoming ‘Our Future City: 2040 Birmingham' masterplan – due to launch in the coming weeks​.

A process of over seven years of consultation with the Council, public, and a team of regeneration and built environment specialists, Curzon Wharf has secured outline approval for four new buildings. They include:

• up to 130K of Life Science floorspace over nine floors;
• up to 732 PBSA within Watt Tower (41 storey);
• up to 122 residential units within Galton Skytree (14 storey); 
• up to 498 BTR units with Boulton Tower (53-storey, 172m);
• and 3K SF of retail & over 15K SF of vibrant leisure across the site.

Full planning approval was also given for the partial removal of a listed canal wall, which enables the site to move forward with upgraded walking & cycle routes, as well as the delivery of a £2.49M public realm - the latter will now be secured via a S106 legal agreement.

With outline planning now secured, a Reserved Matters application providing more in-depth information for each building (accommodation numbers, layouts, etc.) will need to be submitted.

Following a three-phase strategy, together with a strict design code, all buildings will be highly energy-efficient and powered by renewable energy sources, but would also be capable of operating more traditionally.

Luxury and leading student and Build to Rent (BTR) operators for these buildings have already been secured, according to Woodbourne.

COSTS: The basic costs have been laid bare: CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) will cost £2.1M (paid on the 41-storey/ equivalent to 9% affordable housing); public realm upgrades will cost in the region of £2.5M (equivalent to 11%); and Net Zero Carbon (NZC) could cost a whopping £11M.

Should the public realm improvements cost less than £2.5M, then the difference will be provided to the Council to be spent on off-site affordable housing.

Incorporating affordable dwellings into the site has materialised, despite the huge costs. It has impacted on viability, but has stopped short of scuppering it. Woodbourne has agreed on 5% (31) – up from 3% – with a deal also in place for 51% of the homes to be two and three-bedrooms.

A mechanism will also be put in place for an increase in affordable homes should Woodbourne deviate away from NZC.

Curzon Wharf was approved unanimously.

Be sure to follow this project and speak with us on Twitter and on our Instagram.

“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 + Associated Architects.

Woodbourne Group is seeking outline consent for the demolition of the above site, to be replaced with four new net zero carbon (NZC) buildings comprising:

• up to 130K of Life Science floorspace over nine floors;
• up to 732 PBSA within Watt Tower (41 storey);
• up to 122 residential units within Galton Skytree (14 storey); 
• up to 498 BTR units with Boulton Tower (53-storey, 172m);
• and 3K SF of retail & over 15K SF of vibrant leisure opportunities across the site.

Full detailed planning is also sought for the partial demolition of a listed canal wall, enabling the site to undergo walking and cycling route improvements, as well as the delivery of a new £2.49M public realm - the latter will be secured via a S106 legal agreement.

With a three-phase strategy in place, together with a strict design code, all builds are to be built to be highly energy efficient and powered by renewable energy sources, but would of course also be capable of operating more traditionally using non-renewable energy.

Luxury and leading student and Build to Rent (BTR) operators for the buildings have already been secured, says Woodbourne.

More details on each building, accommodation, layouts, etc., will come via a Reserved Matters application should planning consent be achieved on Thursday.

What we do know is that at least 51% of the residential units to be built is required to have two or three-bedrooms, with the affordability offering now up to 5% (31 homes).

A mechanism will be put in place for an increase in affordable provision should Woodbourne not move forward with NZC in any of the phases.

This increase particularly impacts Curzon Wharf's viability. Why? CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) will cost c.£2.1M, to be paid on the PBSA element (equivalent to 9% affordable housing); public realm improvements will cost £2.5m (equivalent to 11%); and implementing Net Zero Carbon (NZC) will cost around a cool £11M.

Should the public realm improvements cost less than £2.5M, then the difference will be provided to the Council to be spent on off-site affordable housing. Much more to come here!

“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 + Associated Architects.

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The project, fully funded by PRECap VII S.à r.l. (PGIM Real Estate), one of the world’s largest funds, will see the creation of two environmentally friendly and interlinked new builds of 15 and 46 storeys (31 affordable).

With McAullife Group set to remove large portions of the car park, and a well-known contractor in the frame to build out the entire project, Brindley Drive will deliver a new community comprising 581 (255) one- and (336) two-bedroom apartments (1-4 persons).

Both builds will be connected via a shared, centralised landscaped podium, and will benefit from solar, smart metering and a range of energy efficiency measures, as well as a double fire escape strategy with sprinkler systems to each residence.

The 46-storey will offer 432 homes across 44-storeys, with amenities – club lounges, cinema room, flexible social spaces – on split levels at floors 44 & 45.

The 15-storey ‘Garden Mansion Block’ will provide a further 149 units across 14-storeys, with the added benefit of a 15th-floor amenity space.

At lower levels, there will be even more facilities, including a reception/concierge, lounge, gym, co-working spaces, and 590 cycles across three storage rooms.

Provision for 100 vehicle spaces will be re-provided under a lease agreement and will be made available for tenants of Baskerville House only. The car park will be below the courtyard (No.4 below) and will be accessed via Brindley Drive.

Materiality: Designed to relate to its immediate context, level one upwards on the tower will consist of an aluminium frame, with glass reinforced concrete (GRC) at its base along.

The ‘Garden Mansion Block’ is conventional and will be finished in a red/orange textured Birmingham brick, with a glazed brick base, GRC, and bespoke artwork at street level.

Brindley Drive, images from Court Collaboration & CallisonRTKL.

Israel-based Ashtrom Properties acquired the building from Aviva Investors UK, for a reported £39.5M, in September 2021.

At the time the building was 60% unoccupied with rents averaging at £24 per square foot with a capital value of just over £200 per square foot.

Ashtrom plans to reinvent the building to create a world leading workspace that meets and exceeds the needs of modern occupiers.

The plan is to “recycle and extend” rather than to replace, enabling the construction of a sustainable low/zero carbon structure.

Incorporating a new high-performance façade throughout, the existing seven storey along Bull Street will be extended by four floors and refurbished, offering enhanced office floorspace and a large attractive rooftop amenity space with tiered corner terraces.

The main building will also be extended to its side, rear and peak, taking it up to 22 floors – a slight decrease from original plans.

All car parking spaces will be removed from the basement and all existing rooftop services moved down there, along with cycles, storage, showers and changing rooms.

At street level two new entrances will adorn Colmore Row and Bull Street. Within, Colmore Gate will offer new meeting rooms, co-working spaces, booths, a lounge and an auditorium.

The existing pedestrian thoroughfare will, rather controversially, be stopped up and rerouted around the building, whilst a commercial unit will be formed to the corner of Colmore Row and Bull Street.

A pre-application consultation is now underway ahead of a former planning submission. Website: www.colmoregate.com

Colmore Gate, images from Ashtrom Properties, Buckley Gray Yeoman, Tony Hisgett & Daniel Sturley.

Crown Works, on Hanley Street, is Mitsubishi Estate’s (Europa Capital) forward-funding build to rent debut in Birmingham.

Close to both the Central Business District and to Snow Hill station and tram stop, Crown Works will soon offer:

• 203 high-spec one- to three-bedroom apartments & penthouses;
• Four new buildings of 4-8 storeys (138K SF);
• 5.9K SF of high-quality amenities;
• Contemporary design offering an enhanced interpretation of the GQ.

With works progressing, homes will be set around a raised courtyard, with facilities including a concierge, two gardens, terraces, dining and meeting rooms, a gym, and WFH areas.

These will no doubt prove attractive to prospective renters looking for a new home so close to work.

Complementing the scheme and adding an outward touch to provide additional vitality to the area will be two flexible commercial units, totalling 3.7K SF.

Crown Works is slated for completion in 2024. Watch this space for more.

Drone photography from Stephen Giles; CGIs from White Ink Architects.

Images from Stephen Giles.

Be sure to follow South Central HERE with us.

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.

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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].