Green light for phase two of office-to-resi scheme

Planners have approved phase two of a major redevelopment which has transformed a landmark office building into 250 apartments.

Urban Village Group has been granted detailed planning consent by Birmingham City Council to develop two new buildings, comprising 105 apartments plus commercial space at its Equipoint development in Yardley, Birmingham.

Equipoint – previously a major 12-storey office building just off the A45 Coventry Road – has been converted into 250 one and two-bedroom apartments available for sale and the private rented sector.

Work on the £40m first phase was completed earlier this year and is 92% occupied already.

Phase two, on a brownfield site in a highly sustainable location, will comprise two buildings and include a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments, with large on-site parking and a range of communal facilities. Many are expected to be let to key workers.

Block A will be entirely residential with three large communal roof terraces. Block B will offer apartments plus around 229 sq m of commercial space. Facilities will include a cycle store, lifts and parking.

Urban Village Group chief executive Nick Sellman said: “We are excited to get started on phase two at Equipoint, continuing the transformation we have delivered of one of our home city’s major landmark office buildings into a fantastic development of high quality homes.

“Phase two will take it to another level and provide a further 105 high quality homes with first class facilities. The scale of this development clearly illustrates our ambitions to become a major force in the private rented sector. Now that we have gained planning consent we are looking forward to work beginning on site soon.”