Court Collaboration is continuing to forge ahead with its Build to Rent scheme at the New Garden Square site in Edgbaston – following planning approval by Birmingham City Council earlier this year. Court Collaboration entered into a Long Lease Agreement with Calthorpe Estates to acquire the approved residential element of the New Garden Square masterplan. Despite the effects of Covid-19, Court Collaboration has now reached the final stages of its planning approval for 392 Build to Rent apartments.
“Despite these difficult times and the challenges that everybody is facing, we’re delighted to be pressing ahead with our final phases of residential planning for New Garden Square.
“Our thanks go to Tony Haran of CBRE and Adrian Willet of Highgate Land and Development for all their hard work in helping to progress this scheme. It’s going to be such a fantastic addition to the city, and we couldn’t be prouder to be involved.”
Alex Neale, Managing Director, Court Collaboration
The £93m scheme will be Court Collaboration’s third Build to Rent project in the region and will be a key aspect of the wider New Garden Square masterplan, being developed by Calthorpe Estates and U+I. Highgate Land and Development – jointly with CBRE – acted as the development land agents for the landmark site, and the scheme design was created by Glancy Nicholls Architects. Following recent permissions, Court Collaboration is now looking to secure the final stage of planning approval from Birmingham City Council.
The Build to Rent scheme will include 392 Build to Rent homes across three separate blocks, with a mix of one, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Amenities include a gym, lounges, visitor suites, a concierge service, private communal gardens and around 10% secure basement parking spaces. There will also be attractive stone facades reflecting the materials of the surrounding Calthorpe Estate.
The overall New Garden Square project will see the transformation of the outdated 1960/1970’s commercial estate into a vibrant 10.7-acre mixed-use destination. Calthorpe Estates has begun works to clear the site, with the demolition of 123 and 127 Hagley Road buildings now underway.
“This is yet another huge milestone in realising our New Garden Square vision within the Edgbaston commercial centre of the Calthorpe Estate. Court Collaboration’s early proposals struck us as most closely meeting our ambitions for a high quality and long-lasting regeneration of this historic site, and they have proven to be an excellent partner for our residential ambitions for New Garden Square.
“These final detailed reserved matters design proposals submitted are simply tremendous, and a credit to the Court Collaboration team, Birmingham City Planner’s input, and exactly the development masterplan launch we envisioned.”
Ralph Minott, Director of Development, Calthorpe Estates
Once complete, New Garden Square will also include up to 618,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation, ancillary bars, restaurants, hotel and convenience retail. The scheme will be set around a 130m x 30m wide public realm garden square – formed from an eclectic series of gardens and mature trees, but it will retain the existing Grade II listed buildings fronting Hagley Road.
The site will benefit from the Metro extension from Birmingham city centre, with the Edgbaston Village terminus stop directly opposite the scheme in front of 54 Hagley Road. The new SPRINT network will also follow the Metro’s arrival and continue along Hagley Road to Halesowen and Dudley – in advance of the arrival of HS2.
