Plans for 722 new Build to Rent homes – alongside boutique retail, bars, and cafes in the Jewellery Quarter have been approved by Birmingham City Council. The Great Charles Street site – formerly known as the ‘bomb site’ – will see the redevelopment of its two acre land, which has remained undeveloped for over 70 years. The site has long been identified by Birmingham City Council as an opportunity for regeneration.
The scheme will be Moda Living’s second development in the city in its Build to Rent platform with funding partner Apache Capital. The £260m proposal includes 722 new homes including affordable housing, indoor and outdoor amenities and new public realm. There will also be ground floor boutique retail, independent café-bars and restaurants, and workspace for small businesses and freelancers – which aims to draw people from the city centre into the Jewellery Quarter.
“Great Charles Street will be a fantastic asset for Birmingham, and we are delighted that Birmingham City Council has now backed our exciting vision. Our team has designed a quality scheme reflecting the site’s location as an area of transition between the Jewellery Quarter and Colmore Business District, respecting its location within the Conservation Area.
“This decision is the culmination of months of collaboration with planning officers, stakeholders and residents. We are keen to get on site to start delivering this important, sustainable project, create jobs and invest in Birmingham over a long-term horizon.”
Tony Brooks, Managing Director, Moda Living
With a focus on health and wellbeing in an inclusive Moda community, residents will have access to a host of on-site amenities with mental and physical health and wellbeing benefits at its heart. Facilities include gyms and wellness zones, green spaces, roof terraces, communal lounges, workspace and superfast broadband.
Now approved, the plans will create around 470 new jobs and deliver £92m in GVA to the West Midlands region. As part of the project, Moda has committed to support 240,000 person hours for locals, from apprenticeships to graduate roles.
The scheme will take the total number of homes being delivered by Moda in the city to more than 1,200, accounting for c. 20% of the city centre’s five-year housing supply.
“Moda aims to be one of the highest quality rental brands in the UK, and a professional landlord that cares about its residents. We have a track record of adding value to communities and delivering a housing product that locals want. Going through a pandemic has driven us to think harder about how we want to live in a post-Covid world and inspired us to evolve our brand accordingly.”
Tony Brooks, Managing Director, Moda Living
With the approval of Great Charles Street, Birmingham will be the only city in the UK to host two of Moda’s ‘Next Generation Neighbourhoods’.
Moda and Apache’s first development – The Mercian – is making great progress. It’s the city’s tallest residential tower under construction, and was subject to Goldman Sachs’ first ever UK Build to Rent development loan.
Working in partnership with contractor John Sisk & Son on The Mercian, Moda has delivered on one of its ESG promises – to create hundreds of new jobs. With support from the WMCA, a bespoke Training Hub has been implemented on site. The Hub has supported 140 employment opportunities specifically for local people – including seven apprenticeships by offering construction training and a guaranteed job interview after completing a 20-day course.
The wide range of roles have been taken by people experiencing long-term unemployment, redundancy, or having recently left the care system, education or British Army. Local employees at The Mercian have completed more than 80,000 hours of work. By the end of the construction, John Sisk & Sons estimate that at least 240,000 person hours will have been undertaken.
“With compelling market fundamentals such as the youngest population of any major European city, and a growing number of corporate occupiers calling the city home, we are confident to be funding a second scheme in Birmingham, and anticipate strong demand for both Great Charles Street and The Mercian when they complete.”
Richard Jackson, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Apache Capital
