Major mixed-use Jewellery Quarter scheme gets green light
Plans for 722 homes, boutique retail, bars, and cafes in the Jewellery Quarter have been approved by Birmingham City Council – and will create hundreds of jobs, say developers.
Great Charles Street, Moda’s second development in the city in its Build to Rent (BTR) platform with funding partner Apache Capital, has been given the green light by Birmingham City Council’s Planning Committee.
Moda Living will now move forward with the redevelopment of Great Charles Street Car Park in the Jewellery Quarter. The site has remained undeveloped for over 70 years and has long been identified by Birmingham City Council as an opportunity for regeneration.
Moda’s proposals are set to deliver a £260m development to create a cohesive residential community consisting of 722 new homes, exclusively for rent, including affordable housing, indoor/outdoor amenity facilities, and new public realm. Ground floor boutique retail, independent café-bars and restaurants, and workspace for small businesses and freelancers are also included – which aim to draw people from the city centre into the Jewellery Quarter.
Residents will have access to a host of on-site amenities with mental and physical health and wellbeing benefits at its heart. Facilities include gyms and wellness zones, green spaces, roof terraces, communal lounges, workspace and superfast broadband – all included within the rental price.
The plans will create around 470 new jobs and deliver £92m in GVA to the West Midlands region. As part of the project, Moda has committed to support 240,000 person hours for locals, from apprenticeships to graduate roles.
The scheme will take the total number of homes being delivered by Moda in the city to more than 1,200, accounting for around 20% of the city centre’s five-year housing supply.
Tony Brooks, managing director at Moda Living, said: “Great Charles Street will be a fantastic asset for Birmingham and we are delighted that Birmingham City Council has now backed our exciting vision. Our team has designed a quality scheme reflecting the site’s location as an area of transition between the Jewellery Quarter and Colmore Business District, respecting its location within the Conservation Area. This decision is the culmination of months of collaboration with planning officers, stakeholders and residents. We are keen to get on site to start delivering this important, sustainable project, create jobs and invest in Birmingham over a long-term horizon.”
Richard Jackson, co-founder and managing director at Apache Capital, added: “With compelling market fundamentals such as the youngest population of any major European city, and a growing number of corporate occupiers calling the city home, we are confident to be funding a second scheme in Birmingham, and anticipate strong demand for both Great Charles Street and The Mercian when they complete.”
