Partners barge ahead on multi-million Birmingham canal regeneration
THE regeneration of part of Birmingham’s old canal network has moved a stage forward with the formation of a new development partnership.
Places for People and Urban Splash, together with Birmingham City Council and charity the Canal & River Trust, have formed Icknield Port Loop LLP – the vehicle which will deliver the redevelopment of the 43-acre brownfield site on the fringe of the city centre.
The formation of the LLP concludes the pre-development legal process; all agreements have now been signed, paving the way for the construction of 1,150 new homes.
The scheme (below) will also open up a little-used and inaccessible corner of the city’s canal network creating 1.5km of new towpath, new moorings, waterbus stops and space for historic boats.
Cllr John Clancy, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “This is a strategically important site for our city which plays a key part in our growth agenda and our objective to deliver houses for Birmingham people.
“We are excited to see the formal partnership for Icknield Port Loop in place and look forward to collectively delivering a fantastic, family-focused, sustainable neighbourhood for Birmingham.”
Mary Parsons, group director at Places for People, said: “Since 2013, we have worked in joint venture with Urban Splash on a number of projects, fusing our combined strength in designing and delivering great places.
“Icknield Port Loop will be no exception and together we look forward to working with Birmingham Council and Canal & River Trust to create a truly memorable development and a vibrant waterfront neighbourhood.”
Urban Splash director Nathan Cornish, who oversaw the company’s redevelopment of Birmingham’s Rotunda and Fort Dunlop buildings, said with the legal process concluded, the scheme could now move forward.
“It’s great to be back in Birmingham with fantastic partners; together we will create a new quarter within the city,” he said.
A part of the legal agreement will also see some areas of the site offered to other developers.
James Lazarus, head of property development at the Canal & River Trust, said the scheme was a great example of the public and private sectors working together to deliver much-needed regeneration to the city.
“This important canal-side site will become one of the UK’s best examples of a waterfront community,” he said.
“Birmingham is Britain’s unofficial ‘canal capital’ and has pioneered waterside regeneration for decades. We’re delighted to be playing such a key role in this next phase of the city’s canal revolution.”
Icknield Port Loop sits within the area covered by the Greater Icknield Masterplan, part of the draft Birmingham Development Plan, which contains provision for 3,000 new homes and 1,000 new jobs by 2031. As part of the LLP agreement Urban Splash and Places for People will provide development management services for the scheme.
