The site is a prominent and strategically important location with frontages onto Digbeth High Street, Meriden Street, Oxford Street and Coventry Street, which are key entry points through to Digbeth and Birmingham city centre.
For several years the site, which is owned by Hartwell Plc, served as an important part of the automotive group’s portfolio of garages. However, while still operating as a garage it has become clear that this location is now outdated and no longer fit for purpose, offering minimal community benefit and unfulfilling of its potential to be a major hub in the Digbeth area.
The potential of this city centre location is well established. It sits within an area that has been identified for major development and growth by Birmingham City Council as part of the Curzon Street Masterplan and Central East area of the Our Future City: Central Birmingham Framework 2045.
Indeed, Central East is recognised as “continuing to grow and provide a vast range of opportunities for investment in businesses, and commercial and residential development.”
This potential is already being realised, with plans approved for the £1.9bn Smithfield regeneration masterplan in June 2024, and work progressing on the BBC’s new Birmingham HQ, the Tea Factory, near to the site and expected to open in 2027.
Our mixed-use proposals present an opportunity to contribute to this ambition by maximising the potential of a brownfield site to deliver an exciting new neighbourhood community in the heart of the Digbeth area.
We are keen to hear the views of the local community on the proposals. If you would like to leave your feedback, please use the Have Your Say form to provide your comments...