5 BIG building projects set to transform Birmingham

With Birmingham set to have one of its biggest ever years in 2022, the face of the city is constantly changing.

From housing estates to HS2 to the Commonwealth Games, barely a week seems to go by without another development being given the green light.

Here, we look at some of the biggest developments set to take place in Birmingham over the coming years, and what impact they will have on the city.

Smithfield

One of the largest projects ever undertaken in the city centre, the council and Lendlease this year finalised a £1.9 billion scheme which will include 3,000 houses, a new home for the historic Bull Ring Markets, shops, a hotel and a new public square.

Agreement was first reached between the council and Lendlease on the scheme back in 2019 and, with a potential 8,000 jobs set to be created, the Smithfield development looks set to have a huge impact on the city centre.

A full planning application is currently being worked on for the development and is set to go before the planning committee in 2022.

Digbeth development

One of the most ambitious projects being undertaken over the next 15 years, the council recently gave outline permission for a vast new development in Digbeth that would leave the area unrecognisable to most, with more than 59 buildings set to be demolished.

Apartments, nightclubs, student accommodation and even a ‘sky park’ have been included in the plans, which could be completed by 2035 if all goes according to plan.

Work is set to get underway on the development next year, though the main demolition and construction work required to complete the ambitious project is not expected to begin for a number of years, with several businesses required to vacate buildings before they can be demolished.

Alexander Stadium/ Perry Barr development

While the ‘Athletes Village’ will no longer be used to house athletes for next summer’s Commonwealth Games, £500 million is still set to be poured into the area over the coming years creating as many as 5,000 new homes.

Planned improvements to the area include the introduction of a new Sprint bus service and improvements to Perry Barr rail station, as well as the transformation of the Alexander Stadium into a venue fit to host both the opening and closing ceremonies for the Games.

2022 will undoubtedly be the biggest year in the history of the stadium, with the eyes of the world fixed on Perry Barr for the opening ceremony on July 28.

100 Broad Street

Set to become the city’s tallest building when finally complete, developers of 100 Broad Street say it will become ‘the pinnacle high rise in the emerging Broad Street cluster of tall buildings.’

The scheme comprises 500 high end luxury apartments complete with a rooftop bar and restaurant.

Work on the building was originally slated to begin as early as 2021, though it is now thought that work will begin next year with a final completion date of 2024.

Stratford Road Mosque

Images have shown plans for a new seven-storey mosque at the junction of Highgate Road and Stratford Road, intended to accommodate up to 2,500 worshippers.

The development is also set to include a community centre, school, residential flats and shop units, with the double-height prayer hall set to be 640 square metres in area.

It is not yet known when work will begin/be completed on the development, though preliminary work could begin as early as 2022.

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