Land deal to complete university’s exit from Perry Barr
Birmingham City University (BCU) has sold the remaining part of its City North Campus for £6.1m in a deal that will complete its exit from the Perry Barr part of the city.
It is part of a £260m programme to move all teaching and learning to two campuses, City Centre and City South, at Eastside and Edgbaston respectively.
The latest deal has sold its remaining 14.5 acres site on Aldridge Road, Perry Barr, to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
BCU previously sold part of this campus to Tauheedul Education Trust in 2014 and Perry Beeches Academy Trust in 2015, before the schools group became mired in financial and governance issues.
The HCA deal will allow the university to remain at its City North Campus until late 2018, when its School of Education and Social Work will relocate to a £41m development currently under construction at the University’s City South Campus in Edgbaston.
Birmingham City University’s education and life sciences building at City South Campus
Prof Graham Upton, vice-chancellor of Birmingham City University, said: “The sale further confirms our determination to leave a powerful legacy for the local community who have been nothing but supportive of us during our time at Perry Barr.
“We know that Birmingham’s population is growing faster than homes are being built, so our land will help the government address this problem, while creating new jobs and strengthening the Perry Barr community in the process.”
The Homes and Communities Agency, working with Birmingham City Council and Birmingham City University, will now draw up a planning application for the site.
Karl Tupling, HCA’s general manager for the Midlands, said: “Aldridge Road is a significant development opportunity and an excellent example of the HCA’s work to increase house building.”
Carl Potter, senior director at GVA, who advised on the deal alongside Savills, added: “This is a tremendous outcome for the site.
“The site represents a tremendous opportunity for redevelopment of a residential-focused scheme able to provide much-needed housing within the area.”
