Birmingham City Council (BCC) and Sterling Property Ventures (SPV) have entered into a joint venture partnership for the delivery of up to 500,000 sq ft of office accommodation and other complimentary mixed uses on the Great Charles Street site in Birmingham’s core business district.
The scheme, which will be known as Great Charles Square, fronts the A38 inner ring road, adjacent to Snowhill Station between St Philips Cathedral and St Paul’s Church and forms a major part of the City’s Enterprise Zone.
The JV will kick start the long-awaited redevelopment of this prime, two acre site, adding a new dimension to the city core. The proposals currently comprise c. 500,000 sq ft of commercial space and associated retail and amenity uses, set in high quality public realm. An outline planning application for the phased development will be submitted later this year which will also propose improved transport and pedestrian links.
James Howarth, Sterling PV, said: “This proposed development will compliment other major Sterling projects currently under way in the city centre and the partnership with the City Council demonstrates our continued commitment to Birmingham. Subject to planning, the scheme is immediately deliverable and alongside other Enterprise Zone initiatives such as New Street Gateway, the Metro extension and Library of Birmingham, we hope to make a significant contribution to the growth plans outlined in both the Big City Plan and Enterprise Zone proposals.
“The development of Great Charles Square will create hundreds of jobs through the construction phase but the lasting legacy of the partnership with BCC will be the creation of high quality space and built environment which will accommodate over 2,500 new jobs.
“The supply of high quality office accommodation in the city continues to diminish so the creation of new stock which can be delivered without significant infrastructure works – and which we can to bring to the market at a competitive rental level – will be excellent news for occupiers and investors alike; while proximity to Snowhill Station makes Great Charles Square a very attractive proposition.”
The first phase of redevelopment will comprise a new 500 space multi-storey car park, adjacent to the new access to Snowhill Station and that will also link with the new Metro line to New Street. This will replace the existing surface car park and act as a catalyst for the development of BREEAM excellent office buildings and a mixture of complimentary uses.
Architect PRC Group is appointed on the scheme and is working on proposals which will be presented as part of the planning consultation process.
Cllr Tahir Ali, cabinet member for development, jobs and skills at Birmingham City Council, said: “Development on this site is long awaited and the confirmation of the JV partnership is an exciting step forward in the lifecycle of this project. It also demonstrates the tangible effect that the city’s enterprise zones are having to stimulate development and economic growth for Birmingham.”