Edgbaston’s thriving healthcare community will be boosted by the construction of a new £8 million medical hub, after Calthorpe Estates’ proposal for a new standalone 30,000 sq. ft. landmark building at 30 Highfield Road was given the green light by Birmingham City Council.
Designed by Birmingham-based Glenn Howells Architects – and representing the third major project on the Calthorpe Estate for the renowned practice – the building features in-filled solid masonry panels and glazing to create a dramatic and contemporary medical centre within the heart of Edgbaston Village and Edgbaston Medical Quarter (EMQ).
The self-contained three-storey building will incorporate bright, modern and flexible open plan space for medical treatment, consultancy, research and administrative uses, while also maintaining privacy for the end user. An additional basement level is proposed to accommodate larger medical instruments, while allowing the building to remain relatively small.
The building is to be constructed on the site of an under-used car park to the rear of the former Birmingham Medical Institute headquarters and will also incorporate on-site car parking.
Ralph Minott, Director of Development at Calthorpe Estates, explained the significance of the development: “Edgbaston Medical Quarter’s reputation for world-class medical, healthcare and life sciences continues to go from strength-to-strength. As such, demand is growing for modern, flexible medical space which complements the established traditional medical properties and is located in the commercial heart of the Estate. Here, users and visitors have the benefit of a range of leisure and lifestyle amenities within Edgbaston Village, coupled with good transport links.
“Calthorpe Estates is working closely with potential occupiers who are looking at new opportunities for medical services within this unrivalled medical quarter; and the planned high quality space at 30 Highfield Road directly responds to the demands of today’s medical and healthcare providers.
“We are delighted to have secured planning consent for this important new facility just a matter of weeks after we announced the arrival of Care Fertility to EMQ; while at Pebble Mill, the Birmingham Dental Hospital and School of Dentistry is now operational and work is expected to get underway on the approved new private hospital and Bupa Care facility in the next few months.
“When you add to these landmark projects, the many diverse medical, healthcare and life sciences businesses and specialists we have welcomed to the Estate since the beginning of the year, it is clear to see there is a great deal of momentum around EMQ and the unique opportunities it presents.”
Glenn Howells, Director at Glenn Howells Architects, said: “We are delighted to be involved in the creation of this landmark facility which will provide a flexible state-of-art clinic. Edgbaston benefits from a rich architectural history and a diversity of mixed-uses within the 1,600 acre Calthorpe Estate. 30 Highfield Road is uniquely set amongst 150 year old historic buildings in the heart of Edgbaston Medical Quarter and Edgbaston Village.”