Masterplan unveiled for ‘world-class’ tech and innovation hub

Proposals for a new world-class innovation cluster have been unveiled by Bruntwood SciTech, with hopes of “supercharging” Birmingham’s growth.

The masterplan for the cluster – named Birmingham Innovation Quarter (B-IQ), has been created in partnership with Aston University and Birmingham City Council, with a formal JV vehicle expected to be established between the three parties.

The development site stretches across 20-hectares around Aston University, existing property assets and sites owned by the University and Birmingham City Council, such as the former Aston Science Park, and Bruntwood SciTech’s Innovation Birmingham campus.

It aims to build upon the 120 businesses already established at Innovation Birmingham, to cement B-IQ as an internationally renowned tech and health innovation hub. 

A local team, consisting of Arcadis and Howells has been commissioned to work with the three partners on the spatial framework for the masterplan.
 
The ambition plans for B-IQ, consist of a mix of strategic development, covering commercial office space for the science and tech sector, residential (both private and student), hospitality and a number of new teaching and research facilities.

Announcing the plans on behalf of Bruntwood SciTech, Rob Valentine, Birmingham Director, said: “We’re deeply passionate about the future of Birmingham and the role and potential scale the city has in driving the growth of the UK’s science and tech industries.

“Our history of creating, expanding and investing in innovation districts for the long-term, as we’re already demonstrating at Innovation Birmingham and Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, means we’re uniquely placed to support the ambitions of the city and its leadership, and the significant economic opportunity presented by the development of B-IQ. 
 
“We believe the spatial framework we’ve developed represents a watershed moment for the city”.

Today’s announcement forms part of Bruntwood SciTech’s pledge at last summer’s Commonwealth Games, with Executive Chair and CEO Chris Oglesby committing to invest £1bn in the region over the next decade.
 
In the past five years, Bruntwood SciTech – a joint venture partnership between Bruntwood and Legal & General – has already committed more than £30m of investment into Innovation Birmingham.

The developer is also working in a 10-year, £210m partnership with the University of Birmingham to deliver Birmingham Health Innovation Campus (BHIC), the first phase of which is due to open later this year, and is set to become a world-leading life sciences hub.
 
Birmingham City Council leader, Cllr Ian Ward said: “Our city has a proud history of invention, research and development and the Birmingham Innovation Quarter will build on that tradition, becoming a space where globally-recognised innovation, the brightest talent and most exciting businesses and cultural institutions come together.
 
“This is an exciting new chapter as Birmingham strives to be a leading international city. It will generate significant investment, attracting the world’s brightest talent, while also creating opportunities in some of the city’s most deprived wards.”
 
Professor Aleks Subic, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University, said: “B-IQ represents an innovation ecosystem that will co-locate industry, business, entrepreneurs and start-up founders together with staff and students from academia, bringing digital cutting-edge research into a range of sectors – most critically the health tech sector.

“It will become the catalyst for foreign investment, for business transformation, and for skills, and in turn will create socio-economic impact across the region”.