Nearly a thousand homes and a new park in Digbeth have been given the go-ahead by Birmingham City Council.
Cole Waterhouse’s £260m Upper Trinity Street will transform more than five acres of industrial land into a cultural, commercial and residential scheme designed by Corstorphine & Wright. Some of the 943 homes will boast roof gardens, others will be live-work space, while a 133-bedroom hotel and 60,000 sq ft of flexible commercial space complete the mix.
At the heart of the scheme is the public realm, designed by Exterior Architecture. The new one-acre Pump House Park has been designed to enhance the neighbouring canal and historic lock-keepers cottage. The public spaces promise to lead visitors through a network of landscaped yards, bustling squares and, intriguingly, “hidden spaces”.
The Manchester-based developer, which is also behind Digbeth’s proposed Skypark, secured the land in 2019. Work is expected to start in summer 2022, once funding is secured. The scheme will be developed over a number of phases, with the first phases completing in 2025.
CEO Damian Flood said: “Our vision for Upper Trinity Street is to create a superb new space for Digbeth which marries the area’s rich industrial history and diverse culture with high-quality, well-designed buildings and spaces for future generations to enjoy.”
He said that the firm had worked closely with the council to refine the designs. “As developers, we take our responsibility to nurture the unique ‘Digbethness’ of the area very seriously,” he said. The project’s cultural lead, Jez Collins, has been working to ensure that the proposals support and protect the area’s heritage and culture.
Council leader Ian Ward said: “UTS has an important role to play in the city’s ongoing renaissance, given its proximity to HS2 and being within the expanded city core.”
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