First glimpse of vision for major Martineau Galleries regeneration project

Hammerson, which owns and manages Bullring & Grand Central, has today set out its vision for the regeneration of Martineau Galleries in Birmingham City Centre.

The scheme will is set to deliver a signature gateway to Birmingham from the proposed Curzon Street terminal, part of the proposed HS2, and high-quality public realm, including a new public square and boulevard.

Proposals for the 7.5-acre site include up to 1,300 homes and 1.4m sq ft of workspace that will offer opportunities for a range of businesses, as well as a new city centre hotel, restaurants and cafes.

Following the current public consultation, Hammerson intends to submit an outline planning application to Birmingham City Council later this year, with the aim of starting works in 2022.

“Martineau Galleries will be a new, vibrant neighbourhood in the centre of Birmingham, where we are already a long term investor, with the Bullring Estate remaining one of the UK’s most successful destinations for both brands and consumers,” said Robin Dobson, Development Director at Hammerson. “Hammerson has a strong track record of creating great destinations, not just in Birmingham but across Europe, and we look forward to finalising our masterplan, ahead of submission later this year.”

It is the first major scheme to be brought forward as part of its City Quarters concept, which will create vibrant mixed-use neighbourhoods “beyond pure retail to curate and deliver homes, workspace, leisure, cultural and educational space”.

The scheme will deliver a new neighbourhood that extends the High Street, and embraces key future connections, including train, tram and bus networks and the proposed Curzon Street station and metro extension, creating a natural flow through the city.

The site currently includes The Square Shopping Centre, King’s Parade and Dale End (High Street) car park and its redevelopment is designed to continue “Birmingham’s ambition for growth and further strengthen the city’s position as one of the leading centres for business, leisure and living in the UK”.

Hammerson expects approximately 350 full-time construction jobs will be created per year over the life of the demolition and construction phases of the project.

Once completed, the development will provide around 8,000 new full-time jobs on site, across the office-space, restaurants, and cafes.