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'Once in a generation' Smithfield scheme in Birmingham takes step forward

2025-09-20 14:42:05 By

What the Birmingham Smithfield development could look like

A 'once in a generation' scheme to transform Birmingham city centre has taken a significant step forward. The city council's planning committee has approved proposals to construct hundreds of homes as part of the huge Smithfield project.

The specific development discussed at the latest planning meeting was a single block of 408 apartments with flexible commercial space, including leisure and wellness facilities and retail units. It will be erected on a plot within the Smithfield masterplan area, which aims to convert the former wholesale markets near the Bullring shopping centre into a new destination featuring residential buildings and cultural spaces.

The vast Smithfield development, whose outline application was approved last year, could also include a park, market, pub/bar, theatre/cinema, retail, office space and more. However, today's planning committee raised concerns about the housing mix and design of the proposed apartment block, which will feature a blend of one, two and three-bedroom flats.

Coun Colin Green expressed his fear that the number of one-bedroom, one-person flats could lead to a "transitory population who don't stick around" and a "lack of community". He said: "I'm conscious the decisions we make today will last for 100 years – this is not a short-term problem," adding, "If we approve this, the mistake to the city will last into the next century."

Coun Martin Brooks expressed his scepticism about the design of the proposed development, stating: "This scheme will last for many years," and "We haven't thought big enough in terms of what we're doing here."

The Birmingham Civic Society has previously voiced similar concerns, particularly criticising the "limited design quality" and a housing unit mix "which does not benefit families". They argued that this "This does not bode well for later elements that will be brought forward,".

However, a council officer reassured the meeting today, stating: "We do consider the scheme aligns with the design code."

Coun Lee Marsham, chair of the planning committee, added that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".

Addressing concerns over the housing mix, a council officer's report published ahead of the meeting stated that the site only formed a proportion of the units proposed to be delivered across Smithfield. It said: "While this plot has a lower proportion of three bed units, it can be supported in this phase of the masterplan given that the plot falls within the northern part of the wider site, where the focus is on commercial and civic uses," The report further explained that "The predominantly residential area of the site is to the south."

The report also highlighted that the proposed apartments would make a "meaningful contribution" towards Birmingham's housing shortfall and help regenerate part of the city centre. The proposed development was approved, subject to conditions, following a vote among the members of the committee.

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Market town mill and warehouse could get 'Gloucester Docks style' revamp

Blueprints are being drawn up to breathe new life into a historic Gloucestershire market town mill and warehouse, currently described as a "sad eyesore". The Borough Flour Mills in Tewkesbury, also known as Healing's Flour Mills, situated on Quay Street by the River Avon, has been showing signs of neglect in recent years. The site boasts a rich milling heritage. Historic England notes that early 13th Century records refer to the location as the town mills. The 1825 town map depicts mill structures on the site. By 1865, Samuel Healing had taken ownership of the mill, transforming it into a steam-powered roller mill. In its heyday in 1892, Healing's Flour Mill was hailed as the country's largest and most technologically advanced flour mill, capable of producing up to 25 sacks of flour per hour. The Archer Daniels Midland Company acquired the site in 2003. In 2017, the then owners, Corbally Group Ltd—a subsidiary of the St Francis Group—put the site up for sale. The complex is now derelict. But Tewkesbury Borough Council leaders have now revealed they are in discussions with the site's proprietors. The site could undergo a transformation akin to that of Gloucester Docks, albeit on a smaller scale. The council envisions the area becoming a destination that draws both tourists and locals. Council Leader Richard Stanley (LD, Cleeve West) said: "That whole waterfront has such a potential to become an asset for the town. Healing's Mill is such an important part of that." "The mill itself has an interesting history and it revived the fortunes of the town when it was originally built. "It has got the potential to help secure the town's future in attracting visitors, if we get this right." During the recent full council meeting held on March 18, when the mill was discussed, Cllr Mike Styzmiack (Independent, Tewkesbury North and Twyning) queried the status of efforts to rejuvenate the site, noting that approximately £17,000 had been spent on safety measures in the past two years. He said: "Healing's Mill has been shut for many years, and despite there being meetings every six weeks with the developers, there's been nothing to show the public regarding any improvement or progress on the site. The only thing people see is the blatant deterioration of the building which has become a sad eyesore to both visitors and residents alike. "When are the public going to be engaged and shown what is planned for the site?" Cllr Stanley said he has had multiple meetings with officers and met with the developers. He said: "There have been discussions around us potentially buying some of the ground floor level of Healing's Mill. "I appreciate from residents' view they haven't seen a change as yet but to reassure you there are changes afoot and there will be things in due course we can share. "That fantastic mill is going to be a huge asset to our town and will be utilised. So I share your ambition." Cllr Stymiack said: "The public are fed up with having to look at such an unloved and yet historic, derelict and unsafe building. But it has great potential to bring jobs, dwellings and business to the town." He queried whether the council would consider compulsory purchase, which Cllr Stanley did not rule out. "I make this sincere commitment about seeing that site brought forward," he said. "I want to see Healing's Mill as a real centre which draws people into the town. There is the opportunity with the new designer outlet village that we are going to have more people visiting on our doorstep."

City centre retail block sold

A prime retail and leisure building in Birmingham city centre has been sold in a £4 million deal. Temple Buildings, a part grade II-listed property on the corner of New Street and Temple Street, has been acquired from Hortons by a private investor. The complex comprises two adjoining properties, 49-50A New Street and 19-20 Temple Street, which together total 10,055 sq ft. The ground floor units are let to clothing retailer Moss Bros, Ryman stationers, bubble tea café T4 and Everyman Barbers. Email newsletters BusinessLive is your home for business news from across the West Midlands including Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull, Coventry and Staffordshire. Click through here to sign up for our email newsletter and also view the broad range of other bulletins we offer including weekly sector-specific updates. We will also send out 'Breaking News' emails for any stories which must be seen right away. LinkedIn For all the latest stories, views and polls, follow our BusinessLive West Midlands LinkedIn page here. The upper floors of 19-20 Temple Street are let to Vogues Holdings for residential use. Birmingham-based agency MK2 Real Estate sold the building on behalf of Hortons. Director Mark Johnson said: "Despite the economic challenges over the last few years, Birmingham's retail and leisure market has remained resilient, with positive levels of take up and tenant demand. "Temple Buildings sits on the main thoroughfare from Grand Central to the Colmore Business District and the popular bars and restaurants in the area, with high footfall and passing trade as a result." Steve Tommy, head of asset management with Hortons, added: "The disposal of Temple Buildings is part of our ongoing strategy to reinvest in both existing and new projects within the industrial sector."

New £6.5m North Tyneside industrial scheme set for market

Industrial space at a new £6.35m development in North Tyneside is now on the market after being completed by UK Land Estates. Regional property developer and landlord UK Land Estates broke ground on the huge L7 scheme last summer, amid moves to tap into demand for industrial space. The speculative development has created 73,000sqft of hi-spec industrial and distribution space at the North Tyneside site, and forms part of a £35m investment programme across the firm’s regional business space portfolio. Brandon Bailey, projects director at UK Land Estates, said: “With a shortage of vacant, high-quality industrial space across the UK, we do not see L7 as a risk. In fact, we are really looking forward to bringing it to market as we expect a great deal of interest. “It’s one of a number of projects under way that is strengthening our portfolio, but particularly at the Tyne Tunnel Estate, where we are investing £11m in L7, the recent completion of the refurbishment of the former JTF Discount Warehouse building, several smaller C-units and we recently started refurb of another large industrial unit on the site.” Construction of L7 has been led by STP Construction Limited, with the local supply chain including Thompsons of Prudhoe, Philadelphia Structures, CCS Cladding, Mathew Charlton, ME Electrics and Voltz power services, and design partners including Faulkner Browns, Portland Consulting Engineers and Kinetic Engineers. The development has delivered 72,898sq ft of flexible industrial and/or warehousing, including 5,955sq ft of office space, and will be marketed by Knight Frank and Savills. David Gibbs, property director at UK Land Estates, said: “This estate is in a fantastic location, close to the main arterial road network and port services. Proximity to workforce and high density housing makes the building an attractive proposition for both manufacturing or distribution. Delivering quality buildings for business on core estates remains our main focus and we have every confidence the building will be well received. “We’re confident L7 will generate plenty of interest, but it won’t be the only large-scale project on the site and we’re progressing several options to deliver further projects of this size and larger, attracting businesses and creating employment opportunities in North Tyneside.

Plans unveiled for new £100m Digbeth scheme

A former ironworks site in Birmingham city centre could be transformed into a new £100 million mixed-use development. Hartwell, the automotive and property development company, has unveiled its proposals for the old Phoenix ironworks off Digbeth High Street which will be led by 240 new residential units. Called Phoenix Yard, the designs also include 260,000 sq ft of media and educational space, commercial floorspace, retail units, public realm and landscaping. The brownfield plot, which covers 2.8 acres and sits next to the new Eastside tram extension connected to the HS2 station, is bordered by Coventry Street, Oxford Street and Meriden Street. Email newsletters BusinessLive is your home for business news from across the West Midlands including Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull, Coventry and Staffordshire. Click through here to sign up for our email newsletter and also view the broad range of other bulletins we offer including weekly sector-specific updates. We will also send out 'Breaking News' emails for any stories which must be seen right away. LinkedIn For all the latest stories, views and polls, follow our BusinessLive West Midlands LinkedIn page here. Hartwell said Phoenix Yard could create around 200 construction jobs and has the potential to deliver more than 500 full-time equivalent jobs. Architecture practice Allford Hall Monaghan Morris has designed the scheme which Hartwell said paid homage to the land’s industrial history as Phoenix ironworks. The application site is now occupied by a children’s nursery and was home to South & City College and more recently Birmingham City University’s STEAMhouse innovation facility before it moved to a new development in Belmont Row. Hartwell, which owns the land, was founded in 1919 and also previously ran a garage there. A public consultation has now been opened into the proposals which runs until the end of March ahead of a planning application being submitted to Birmingham City Council. The project would join a long list of new developments currently in the pipeline for the Digbeth area including the Beorma Quarter opposite Selfridges and the neighbouring Stone Yard and Tower Leaf schemes, also off High Street. Elsewhere in the district, the BBC is revamping the former Typhoo factory to create a new home for its West Midlands teams currently based in the Mailbox and the Smithfield project will revamp the old Wholesale Markets site near the Bullring. Joanne Churchill, group property manager of Hartwell, said: "We are delighted to unveil our vision to transform an under-utilised brownfield site to deliver Phoenix Yard. "Through unlocking the potential of this site, our plans promise to positively contribute to the area’s ongoing transformation into a thriving and vibrant part of Birmingham, delivering an exciting range of new opportunities and living space for the future. "In recent years, Digbeth has benefitted from significant investment and is recognised by Birmingham City Council as a key growth area. This scheme has been designed with this investment and the wider ambitions for Birmingham in mind. "The potential delivery of media and educational space will support the continuing growth of BBC Midlands HQ and its ecosystem following its multimillion-pound investment into the area. "Similarly, new homes will complement the site’s location in Digbeth’s creative centre. "This will be supported by excellent connectivity, which is enhanced by nearby major transport investments including HS2’s Curzon Street Station and the Metro Eastside Extension. "We look forward to receiving comments on the proposals from local residents and businesses, with feedback set to help inform our final planning application."

Warrington building to be transformed into digital hub

Good progress is being made on the transformation of a building on one of Warrington's busiest roads into a digital enterprise hub. A report being presented to the council's cabinet for its Monday meeting includes an update on the project at St James Business Centre, located on Wilderspool Causeway. The quarter three review of non-treasury investments says the business centre will house Warrington's first digital enterprise hub, with work well underway to renovate and upgrade the building to suit this new economy sector. It stated: "The new roof is already in place along with restrooms and remodelled interiors. The entrance to the building will be changed to have more presence on Wilderspool Causeway, which will also benefit from a new café." The report added: "This new workspace will provide an excellent environment for digital businesses to collaborate and grow, and has already been the subject of interest from several established businesses in this sector."

Contractor takes new office space

A building and civil engineering contractor has agreed a new office deal in Solihull. Dublin-based PJ Hegarty has taken 2,309 sq ft of space in a newly refurbished office block on the Quartz Point business park to bolster its network of sites across the UK and Ireland. The construction firm has an annual turnover in excess of £500m and employs more than 450 people. Email newsletters BusinessLive is your home for business news from across the West Midlands including Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull, Coventry and Staffordshire. Click through here to sign up for our email newsletter and also view the broad range of other bulletins we offer including weekly sector-specific updates. We will also send out 'Breaking News' emails for any stories which must be seen right away. LinkedIn For all the latest stories, views and polls, follow our BusinessLive West Midlands LinkedIn page here. Contracts manager Sean Homer said: "Having established a reputation for being strategically positioned to serve our clients' needs, we see our new office at Quartz Point as an important next step towards further growth of our project portfolio in the UK." Tim Bromley-Martin, asset management director at landlord Colmore Capital, added: "PJ Hegarty is exactly the type of business we envisaged attracting to Quartz Park when we first brought the office units to market at the back of last year. "The business is on an upward trajectory and sees a quality office presence in the Midlands as being key to accelerating that growth even further." PJ Hegarty joins other recent lease deals on the park, in Stonebridge Road, including adoption agency Adoption Is 4 U.

Plymouth University grads help design new business school with 'mini Wall Street'

A group of University of Plymouth graduates has helped design a new business school with a 'mini Wall Street'. The £14.5m Fitzroy Building has office and teaching facilities, and houses the university's in-house entrepreneur support service The Cube. With input from key stakeholders, improvements were largely facilitated by graduates from the very faculty that the building will now support – Arts, Humanities and Business. Shelley Oliver, originally from Falmouth and currently living in Exeter, took the helm in the architectural design of the Fitzroy Building. The recently promoted Associate Architect said: "There were many hours of work creating technical drawings and fine tuning the design alongside the other key design team members, to make sure we had a building that adhered to the current regulations and could actually be constructed on site. There were a few setbacks with uncovering unforeseen elements during the demolition stage, least not the hidden air raid shelter right under where the extension was meant to go. "I had an amazing experience studying at Plymouth on a highly-rated architecture course, and it was a real full circle moment to come back as a qualified architect and see everything again. I've been in touch with the course about sharing my experience with current students, and it's brilliant to pay it forward." Pam Frost, the Capital Projects Manager from the University of Plymouth who led the project, was involved from the start. "[I was involved] at the beginning, with the vacation of the old Fitzroy building – during which I managed the installation of the first in Nikon Microscope lab in Europe," she said. "I also had to consider the people and equipment expected to come over from Cookworthy, the previous home of the business school." Rachel Goodsell, Head of Operations in the University's Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business, has worked with the school for around 15 years and is also a proud alumni who graduated with an MA in Personnel and Development. Her job was to make sure the new building met the needs of staff and students, and she said it was "fantastic" seeing the project come to life. "The highlight is when you have an amazing end product after being involved in the project for years and being able to show off what a great refurbished facility it is," she said. Dr Ben Siu, Lecturer in Marketing and Associate Head of School for Marketing and Admissions, played a pivotal role in ensuring student feedback was integral to the building's design. After completing his undergraduate degree in Marketing at the same university, he pursued a master's degree and then a PhD. Dr David Adkins, Associate Head of Postgraduate Programmes within the Business School, also contributed to the project's steering group and shared insights from his experiences. He completed his BSc (Hons) in Maritime Business and pursued a PhD before taking up a teaching role. He added: "I remember studying and then teaching in the old Cookworthy and Fitzroy buildings, before being based at another remote campus near the Barbican. I've had so many more serendipitous meetings now that we're based in the heart of the campus and the building has such a positive feel to it. "Business feeds into every other discipline in life, so it'll be great to meet even more staff and students across the campus and have some great collaborations take place."

Humber property firm Clark Weightman snapped up by national group Sanderson Weatherall

A Hull property consultancy has been snapped up by national business Sanderson Weatherall to expand its regional presence. Clark Weightman, Hessle-based chartered surveyors and commercial property consultants, has become the 11th UK office for its new owners and it will maintain its name to trade as Clark Weightman, part of Sanderson Weatherall. The acquisition has been made to bolsters Sanderson Weatherall's presence in the Humber, East Yorkshire, and northern Lincolnshire regions, including the key port locations of Hull and Grimsby. The move also expands the firm's service offering to clients across various sectors. The Clark Weightman founders all previously worked for a regional firm before establishing the business, which has over 25 years of experience in the regional property market, with expertise in agency, business rates, property management, lease consultancy, valuation, healthcare, dispute resolution and public sector consultancy. David Rastrick, COO at Sanderson Weatherall said: “We are delighted to welcome Clark Weightman to the Sanderson Weatherall family. This acquisition aligns perfectly with our vision to further solidify our position as a leading SME in the property industry, with a strong local and regional presence. “Sanderson Weatherall, a certified B Corp, has established high standards for environmental and social impact, and a robust approach to governance. This has made the firm an attractive partnership option when you also consider the benefits that come from economies of scale for smaller companies concerned about the increasing financial burden and mandatory requirements, which continue to be introduced and implemented by Government and regulatory bodies.” Andrew Clark, director at Clark Weightman, added: “We recognise the growth opportunities in our region and are excited to join forces with Sanderson Weatherall, a highly regarded and well-established firm with national reach. This partnership will allow us to leverage their B Corp status and other accreditations, enabling us to offer our clients a broader range of services and expertise. It will also create exciting new professional development opportunities for our employees. “There will be no change in our personnel with myself, Simon Weightman and Carl Bradley joining as partners and other staff members continuing in their existing roles.” Mr Bradley added: “This is an exciting time for me and the Clark Weightman team. We have enjoyed a good working relationship with Sanderson Weatherall over recent years on a number of successful joint agency instructions and look forward to building that relationship in the future now that we have joined forces and become part of their business. I am sure our clients will share that excitement and will benefit from our expert local market knowledge whilst being part of a larger national consultancy.” Mr Weightman added: “This is the result of 12 months of active positive discussions which has resulted in the merger of our two firms. I’ve known some of the Partners of Sanderson Weatherall for many years, having graduated with Dan Hardy and Andrew Ellis back in 1989. I can’t wait to introduce my current and future clients to our wider range of services that this national consultancy can provide.”

Plans for 145 new homes in Old Trafford to replace warehouse and bakery

Plans for the construction of 145 homes on the site of a former wholesale warehouse and bakery in Old Trafford are likely to be approved at Trafford's planning committee meeting on Thursday. The proposed development, which will replace buildings previously occupied by trader Valitus Ltd and the Jesse Oldfield Bakery, includes a residential-led mixed-use scheme, community space, car parking, and landscaping. The project, proposed by YC Property Group Ltd, will be situated on a three-acre brownfield site on Brixham Road and will comprise 123 apartments and 22 terraced houses, with 40% designated as affordable housing. Additional features include a corner shop at the junction of Brixham Road and Ayres Road, 'local areas of play', and a series of interconnected communal gardens. Private amenity spaces will be provided through gardens, terraces, and balconies. Vehicle access to the site will be from both Ayres Road and Brixham Road, with courtyard parking available. The apartments will be distributed across four separate blocks fronting onto Ayres Road and Brixham Road, while four rows of terraced housing are planned for the south-western part of the site. A report by Trafford planning officers, who have extensively consulted with the applicant, recommends approval of the plans. The application has encountered opposition, with 10 letters of objection submitted by local groups including the Old Trafford Amateur Gardeners' Society (OTAGS) representing Seymour Grove Allotments and Orchard 49. The objectors have raised concerns about the potential construction impacts, such as dust generation affecting plant cultivation, possible food contamination, and soil damage. Some are calling for restrictions on construction hours to avoid noise pollution at evenings and weekends and have specified that any beehive relocation should occur only in winter, with compensation provided for any property damages incurred. One objection highlighted the importance of allotments, stating: "Allotments must be protected and cherished. They are of huge value to the local community and positive for physical and mental wellbeing." The planning report advises the committee to approve the project on the condition that the developer contributes £318,562 towards off-site affordable housing, £29,926 for open space provision, £219,936 for secondary education in the area, and pays £15,000 for a traffic regulation order review. The report argues that "The delivery of 145 new homes – including 40% affordable – on a sustainable brownfield site which would contribute significantly towards the delivery of housing within the borough would be of benefit. "This is of considerable importance, given the aspiration of both the council and the Government to significantly boost housing delivery. Substantial weight is attached to this benefit."

Property agency opens new Birmingham office

A commercial building, project and sustainability consultancy has opened a Birmingham office in response to demand for its services in the region. This is the first Midlands office for Jones Hargreaves and is led by associate partners Jack Birchall and Harry McDermott who have relocated to the city from the firm's London operation. They will work with a range of investors, owners and occupiers across industrial, retail and office portfolios from their new home in Somerset House, Temple Street. Mr Birchall has extensive experience in the commercial sector including dilapidations, tenant alterations and technical due diligence, having worked at Jones Hargreaves for three years. Email newsletters BusinessLive is your home for business news from across the West Midlands including Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull, Coventry and Staffordshire. Click through here to sign up for our email newsletter and also view the broad range of other bulletins we offer including weekly sector-specific updates. We will also send out 'Breaking News' emails for any stories which must be seen right away. LinkedIn For all the latest stories, views and polls, follow our BusinessLive West Midlands LinkedIn page here. Mr McDermott is an experienced building surveyor across all commercial property sectors, primarily focusing on technical due diligence, dilapidations, planned preventative maintenance and contract administration instructions. The new Birmingham office is opening in direct response to client demand, with ongoing instructions in the region from Indurent and Adapt Real Estate. It is also working with Gilbanks on the £2 million fitout of a new 20,000 sq ft serviced office space at Five St Phillips in the Colmore Business District. The new Birmingham base joins its portfolio of offices in Manchester, Leeds, London, Bristol, Glasgow and Cardiff and the firm now employs 40 staff. Mr Birchall said: "It's a privilege to have the opportunity to open our new Birmingham office and dive into the Midlands' thriving commercial property sector. "The city itself has seen a lot of growth in recent years and it's exciting to be part of that. "I was keen to relocate to Birmingham as it's a great city with so much to offer and this was the perfect time for me both professionally and personally. "This opportunity highlights the culture of the business and the trust in the team." Mr McDermott added: "Jack and I are very excited to be leading Jones Hargreaves' new office in the UK's second city. "We have a strong existing client base in and around Birmingham and across the Midlands and we're looking forward to building on that." Partner Matt Williams said: "This is our seventh office opening and aligns with our business expansion strategy to meet ever-increasing client demand for our commercial building consultancy and ESG services across the UK, particularly in the Midlands. "I'd like to extend my congratulations to Jack and Harry who I have no doubt will make a fantastic impression within the Midlands' burgeoning commercial property sector.