Developer acquires Priory House as eighth development in Birmingham

Elevate Property Group has bought the former Birmingham forensic science laboratories in Southside and says it will start work immediately to create 79 luxury apartments.

The Birmingham-based developer has purchased Priory House from Rainier Developments and plans to repurpose the building in the style of its Concord House development on Holloway Head.

Priory House is a landmark building in the Southside district of Birmingham and the 77,000 sq ft, seven storey building, which was constructed in the 1950s, was home to the Forensic Science Service for more than 40 years before it closed in 2011.

Steve Dodd, managing director of Elevate Property Group, said: “We are excited to be developing Priory House to premium residential living space.

“This is a prominent building which we have had our eye on for some time. Rainier Developments originally beat us to it when they purchased the property from the Gooch Estate in January 2020.

“We always had intentions of acquiring this magnificent building and are now delighted to have fulfilled our objective.”

Birmingham architects D5 have been appointed and work on the site is set to start “imminently” with a scheduled completion in the second quarter of 2022.

The announcement comes as Elevate approaches completion on a number of projects including Victoria Point in Ashford, Trent Bridge Quays in Nottingham, Princes Gate in Solihull and Cliveland Street and Sheldon Court in Birmingham.

Dodd added: “The success of our current projects, and the fact they are all close to being sold out, has paved the way for a number of land acquisitions and we look forward to a productive 2021-22.”