Build-to-rent developer Dandara has lodged plans for 3,000 homes in Birmingham’s Digbeth, in its most ambitious scheme to date.
Dandara’s Warners Fields will see the area to the south west of the former Smithfield Market developed, bound by Moseley Street, Barford Street, Lombard Street and Alcester Street, around the River Rea.
The developer has filed a hybrid planning application, including 1,351 BTR homes from Dandara Living. Buildings will mainly be between six and 10 storeys, with the tallest at 29 storeys to the north of the site.
The first phase will also include the Henry Bradford Centre, with commercial space for start-ups and SMEs, and the Apollo building, offering a cycle hub and EV charging. The Apollo building also has potential to be converted to residential, once HS2 Curzon Street Station and the Eastside metro extension are completed.
The plans have been designed by Glenn Howells, advised by planning consultants Turley.
Glenn Howells said the scheme “has the opportunity to create a new quarter for Birmingham that reveals and celebrates the river that was such an important part of the city’s history but until now has been hidden”.
A number of developers have plans for BTR in Digbeth, including Court Collaboration’s 51-storey One Eastside, upcoming plans from Cordia Blackswan, and Edmond de Rothschild REIM’s Kent Street Baths. Developer Oval Real Estate is also working with Homes England and the Gooch Estate to deliver a 4.3m sq ft masterplan, including 1,850 homes.
However, Dandara’s scheme would be the largest BTR community in the city to date. Dandara already has success in Birmingham, having built one of the first BTR schemes, Aston Place at Arena Central, which was subsequently sold to German investor ECE.
Ed Tynan, director at the Dandara Group, added: “This submission marks a major milestone for Dandara, and we can’t wait to get started creating a new neighbourhood that will transform this part of the city and be treasured for generations to come.”
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