Acquisition of National Express site paves way for major regeneration scheme
Developer HUB has acquired a major development site in Birmingham from National Express to bring forward a large-scale mixed-use regeneration scheme.
The six acre site in Digbeth, which is currently home to a National Express bus garage, borders the Grand Union Canal at the Bordesley Canal Junction and lies within the Digbeth regeneration area, which is emerging as Birmingham’s leading creative and cultural quarter.
The site will continue to house the bus garage until National Express identifies a new site.
Over the medium-term, HUB will bring forward plans for a large-sale mixed use scheme, comprising creative workspace, residential, leisure and retail uses.
The scheme will be HUB’s first outside London and the South East.
The site will be connected to central Birmingham via a new Metrolink Station, providing fast links into Birmingham New Street Station and the new HS2 station at Curzon Street.
Tim Barlow, chief operating officer, HUB, said: “Digbeth is an historic neighbourhood with a long industrial heritage that is now fast emerging as Birmingham’s creative hub. We are really excited to have acquired this site, which has huge potential for a new mixed-use canal side development that will help continue to drive Digbeth’s evolution. We will now be working closely with National Express, Birmingham council, the local community and other stakeholders as we develop our plans for the site.”
Adam Cook, UK property director at National Express, said: “We are excited to work with HUB on the wider regeneration of Digbeth. The city is changing fast. This development opportunity allows us to explore a relocation to more suitable locations where we can deploy the technology needed to run a modern transport operation.”
