Birmingham Mailbox, former Brindleyplace director Alan Chatham’s new company, has signed up Crosby Homes to kickstart the development of its 76,014 sq m (818,235 sq ft) sorting office site with a 12,077 sq m (130,000 sq ft) residential scheme.
Crosby, which also developed the successful Symphony Court housing scheme next to Brindleyplace, is acquiring some 3,530 sq m (38,000 sq ft) of existing space in the sorting office and taking an additional 10,497 sq m (113,000 sq ft) in air rights.
The sorting office site scheme – now rebranded as Mailbox – is also on a shortlist for a call centre operation of up to 6,503 sq m (70,000 sq ft) for insurance company Direct Line.
On the back of the deal with Crosby, Chatham will submit a detailed planning application next week for the rest of the sorting office site. The application will propose up to 27,870 sq m (300,000 sq ft) of offices,around 18,580 sq m (200,000 sq ft) of A1/A3 retail and leisure uses, a 200-bed hotel and up to 1,000 car parking spaces.
Two months ago, Chatham and former Grimley partner Mark Billingham set up Birmingham Mailbox to create what they dubbed “son of Brindleyplace” – a mixed-use scheme on the 1.62ha (4 acre) sorting office site which borders Corporation Street in the city centre. The development is being funded by Royal Bank of Scotland.
Mailbox has appointed Knight Frank as letting agent on the hotel and residential units. GVA Grimley and Weatherall Green & Smith are marketing the offices. Hillier Parker, Davis Coffer and DTZ Debenham Thorpe are joint agents on the shops and licensed leisure facilities.
EGi News 05/06/98
