Alan Chatham, currently a director of Brindleyplace and the man behind the £4m purchase of the the Post Office’s 76,016 sq m (818,235 sq ft) sorting office in Birmingham city centre, says his new company is looking for further development sites in the Midlands.
Chatham told EGi that his, as yet un-named, development company is planning a mixed-use development on the site of the sorting office along the lines of Argent’s scheme off Broad Street. It will feature leisure, residential and office uses. Ruling out a Multiplex operation he suggests a hotel could anchor the scheme.
He also said: “We are looking for a couple of similar sites and we are interested in large projects. Anything we do is likely to be between the south and the north midlands.”
Redevelopment of the sorting office is subject to planning permission but the city council has identified the area as suitable for office, retail, leisure and hotel development. A planning application is anticipated next month.
The Royal Bank of Scotland is funding the purchase of the sorting office . Royal Mail will continue to occupy the sorting office until buildings at Newtown and Brindleyplace are ready for it.
Mark Billingham is leaving Grimley in Birmingham to set up the new company with Chatham.
EGi News 26/03/98
