Topping out milestone reached at Digbeth brownfield site

St Joseph’s Glasswater Locks project has ‘topped out’ in Birmingham’s Learning Quarter.

Once completed, Glasswater Locks will feature 762 homes and 20,000 sq ft of commercial space, surrounded by podium gardens, biodiverse landscaping, and new pedestrian and cycling routes.

The project is turning a three-acre brownfield site along the Digbeth Branch Canal into a waterside community and will offer a mix of homes, amenities, shops, and high-quality public spaces.

The topping-out ceremony marked the completion of the first structural frames, with attendees including representatives from St Joseph (part of the Berkeley Group), Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Development Corporation, Birmingham University, and The Skills Centre.

A local jobs and skills initiative, involving St Joseph, The Skills Centre, Birmingham City Council, and West Midlands Combined Authority, is underway to provide training, apprenticeships, work experience, and pre-employment support.

So far, 122 individuals have received accredited training, and 51 residents have secured paid employment, with more opportunities to come.

St Joseph is also partnering with local charities such as St Basils, My BnK, and The Change Foundation to support youth engagement programs.

Piers Clanford, chairman of St Joseph, said: “I am proud of the employment and skills achievement, which to date has supported 122 people with accredited training and 51 local people into paid employment. Special thanks to our partners, The Skills Centre, Birmingham City Council, the West Midlands Combined Authority, MPRB Structures and our supply chain. The project is breathing new life into this brownfield site and this ceremony has marked another exciting milestone. We’re looking forward to seeing residents call Glasswater Locks their home from next year.”