MIPIM 2011: Science Park seeks JV partner for £35m office project

THE hunt for a joint venture partner to deliver a £35m commercial property complex in Birmingham will begin this week.

Birmingham Science Park Aston is unveiling its plans and timeframe to appoint the partner for the ‘Digital Plaza’ project at the MIPIM property conference in Cannes.

Subject to planning permission, the plaza proposals will see four new office buildings, aimed specifically at start-up hi-tech companies, developed next to the park’s existing Faraday Wharf complex.

The four proposed buildings will provide a total gross area of more than 117,000 sq ft with two 17,534 sq ft buildings and two other units of 46,069 sq ft and 36,134 sq ft respectively.

Cllr Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham City Council which wholly owns BSPA, said: “We will be using the conference as a platform to initiate conversations with national and international developers, contractors, investors and consultants.

“We then anticipate that formal proceedings to begin the selection process will commence, with a view to work potentially starting on site by late 2012 or early 2013.”

Business Birmingham logoBSPA chief executive Dr David Hardman added: “Many of our initiatives and partnerships do not rely on us developing new buildings, but we need to respond to our tenants’ needs.

“In order to remain competitive, we must create buildings which are specifically designed for companies in the hi-tech and digital gaming sectors and for the digitally savvy founders of these ventures.”

Dr Hardman, Cllr Whitby and managing director of Cisco London 2012 Neil Crockett will deliver a presentation about Digital Plaza today in Cannes.

Click through to see a round-up of all our MIPIM 2011 coverage

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close