Oval Real Estate has worked up plans for 1,850 homes and 2.2m sq ft of commercial space to be developed over the next 15 years in Birmingham’s Digbeth.
It is proposing a mixed-use scheme with residential, office space, cultural space and public realm with an end value of £1bn.
The regeneration specialist will redevelop 42 acres of land between the HS2 Curzon Street station and High Street Deritend.
It has spent the past 18 months developing plans with masterplanners and architects at Studio Egret West, Glenn Howells Architects and Bryant Priest Newman, Turley planners and Birmingham City Council.
Oval already owns 1m sq ft of commercial space and has been acquiring parcels and working with other landowners. The Gooch Estate and Homes England also own significant amounts of land in the area.
The hybrid application will propose a phased approach, with initial development starting with an extension to the Custard Factory to provide new office space and homes.
A new office cluster called Wild Works will comprise four buildings rising to eight storeys, with office, communal incubator space and a restaurant. It has been designed for local creative professionals and Oval has initiated discussions with businesses to take space.
The application also includes detailed plans for a rooftop extension for a 40-home scheme dubbed Custard Factory Living. These will be the first homes to be delivered in the regeneration and will incorporate ground-floor retail and a cafe fronting the River Rea and new bridge.
The wider masterplan will retain heritage assets and enhance the Duddeston Viaduct with new public realm, as well as arts and cultural spaces, connecting to the city centre.
It follows an environmental impact assessment for up to 3.8m sq ft of development last year.
The developer has lodged an application that Birmingham City Council will process and validate in the coming weeks and expects a planning committee decision by the end of the summer.
Oval founder James Craig said: “Oval’s long-term vision is to continue the revitalisation of this incredible post- industrial neighbourhood, growing an independent, individual and industrious community for Birmingham.
“In doing so we hope to develop exemplar buildings that embrace the history of the area as well as the potential of the future, offering new models of working and living.”
Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward added: “It is vitally important that the investment we generate through the arrival of HS2 at Curzon Street supports our thriving creative industry in Digbeth.”
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