Developer names shortlist to design £1.5bn city-centre project

Lendlease has revealed a list of practices in the running to design a new urban quarter at the heart of the £1.5bn Birmingham Smithfield regeneration.

Lendlease were named in January as Birmingham City Council’s development partner to transform the 17-hectare Smithfield site in the city centre, which was once the home of the city’s wholesale markets.

They have been tasked to lead the creation of an urban quarter that includes a new home for the city’s historic Bull Ring retail markets, a leisure and cultural offer, public square, integrated public transport and more than 2,000 homes with a public park and community facilities.

Following an international competition, five teams have been selected to take the scheme forward, including London’s 5th Studio.

Competition organisers, Colander, said they had received “an impressive array of 75 entries for this competition, from across the world” including the UK, Australia, France, Netherlands, Scandinavia, Singapore, Spain and the US.

The other shortlistees are: ACME and b720 Fermín Vázquez arquitectos, David Kohn Architects, Moreau Kusunoki Architects Publica.

The development of Birmingham Smithfield is part of the city’s Big City Plan, launched in 2010, which sets out a 25-year vision to grow the city centre by more than 25%. It is expected to take 15 years to build.

There will now be an initial site visit and briefing meeting for the shortlistees, including a design and delivery discussions with individual teams on 25 July 2019.

Stage 2 interviews with the Jury Panel will take place on 27 September 2019.