First occupants of £260m Digbeth scheme revealed
The first occupants of Cole Waterhouse’s £260m Upper Trinity Street (UTS) cultural, commercial and residential scheme in Digbeth have been announced.
The world’s first national Museum of Youth Culture will take 6,500 sq ft, fronting onto a new public park, in phase two which is set to open in Autumn 2025.
The museum will also host a permanent exhibition of the Birmingham Music Archive (BMA).
Digbeth-based Pat Benson Boxing Academy will also move to 7,900 sq ft of space in phase one of UTS, due to complete in Spring 2024.
Paddy Benson, the club’s CEO, said: “The club started in Small Heath at the end of the roaring 20s, training both national champions and local fighters, until my grandfather Paddy took it over 40 years ago and moved it to Digbeth. We’ve been here on Adderley Street since then and it was imperative for us to stay in the heart of the community we support.
“We considered several places in the local area but UTS definitely provides us with the best location, space and benefits which will help us build a sustainable future for the club.”
Cole Waterhouse CEO Damian Flood said: “We’ve been in discussions with all parties and Birmingham City Council since early 2020 so have really been able to understand their requirements and ensure we can offer them the most appropriate space to deliver these superb, world-class facilities for the city. Under our Section 106 agreement we have been able to offer greatly reduced, affordable rental levels which will enable the PBBA to continue its amazing work with young people from superb new premises right in the heart of the community it has been supporting for almost a century.
“Signing the Museum of Youth Culture will really put UTS on the map as a major international destination for music, culture and art which are key drivers for regeneration. Digbeth is identified as one of Birmingham’s primary growth quarters and UTS has an important role to play as the city starts to Build Back Better, we are really excited to welcome these anchor tenants to UTS.”
