Build-to-rent scheme gets the green light for 550 homes

Goodstone Living has secured planning permission for its first build-to-rent scheme, for the development of 550 homes.

The four acre site in Digbeth, received backing from Birmingham City Council for six residential buildings arranged around over an acre of private gardens.

It will also feature 22,000 sq ft of shared internal amenity space consisting of a concierge, fully equipped gym, co-working office space, private dining rooms and rooftop terraces.

Macquarie’s Goodstone Living says as part of its ambition to create ‘bigger and better homes’, the development will provide ‘generously sized’ one, two and three-bedroom apartments which exceed the minimum size standards required by Birmingham City Council. 

It also says its focused on delivering its decarbonisation strategy for this project, through reducing the embodied carbon during construction by more than 30% using off-site volumetric modular construction and reducing operational carbon by more than 50% by implementing the latest heating and enhanced building fabric technologies.

Social value initiatives such as offering commercial space at 50% discounted rent are also being offered.

The design and procurement of the scheme is currently underway with construction expected to commence in Q1 2023. 

Martin Bellinger, Principal at Goodstone Living said: “Birmingham’s BTR market is hugely competitive, which puts the onus on developers and investors to keep raising the bar of what renters can expect.

“Our Birmingham scheme is an excellent illustration of that in action, with the city’s largest private garden, low site coverage, and an unwavering focus on how we can create, foster and enhance local communities through thoughtful design and investment.”
 
“Birmingham is the UK’s second largest city by population, and with a growing cohort of residents coming to the city there is a clear need to deliver high quality purpose-built and professionally managed rental accommodation.”