Forum leads the way for Smithfield regeneration
THE first new development in the regeneration of the Smithfield district of Birmingham city centre has been launched.
Cllr John Clancy, leader of Birmingham City Council, visited the site of The Forum residential scheme, accompanied by Cllr Peter Griffiths, cabinet member for housing and homes.
The £50m scheme, being developed by Rockspring Property Investment Managers, is set to deliver 334 new private rental sector (PRS) apartments.
During their visit, the councillors performed a concrete pour to mark the latest phase of construction work on the project, which is Birmingham’s first specifically designed PRS development.
The building phase will see the formation of the main concrete frame and floors above ground level following completion of the structural groundworks.
The Forum, situated in Pershore Street, is being built on the site of the former Silver Blades ice rink, and within the 14-hectare Birmingham Smithfield perimeter.
The £500m Smithfield masterplan is one of the council’s prime regeneration schemes.
It will regenerate the historic markets quarter and plans include 300,000m² of leisure, retail, hotel and cultural space and 2,000 new homes set around a new public space – Festival Square. There will be a public park plus a new base for the indoor, retail and rag markets, to include a food hub.
Cllr Clancy said: “The Forum is a significant development: not only does it kick-start the development of Birmingham Smithfield, it delivers much needed new homes to the city.
“There’s a housing crisis in this country and Birmingham is no exception. We need more affordable homes, we need more social housing and we need to give people hope.
“With 3,000 new jobs and 2,000 new homes Birmingham Smithfield puts people right at the heart of an exciting project that will in turn transform lives.”
Rockspring has already committed to Birmingham with its £60m landmark office tower development on the site of the former NatWest Tower, situated on the corner of Newhall Street and Colmore Row.
The London-based fund acquired The Forum (formerly The Beacon) from developer Linkcity in May this year.
Paul Hampton, partner at Rockspring, said: “Forming part of the Birmingham Smithfield regeneration area, this is an exciting project for us and is very much in line with our strategic focus on rapidly improving residential sub markets within dynamic cities that are experiencing high levels of urbanisation and growth.”
In another first for Birmingham, Rockspring has appointed multi-family specialist, Atlas Residential to manage the residences. Headquartered in Chicago and with an office in London, the firm operates more than 75,000 apartments in Texas and Florida.
In addition to the 334 – five studio, 262 one-bed and 67 two-bed – apartments, The Forum will feature a residents’ only gym, car park and landscaped gardens. The scheme is set to complete in mid-2018.
Bouygues UK, parent of the now-absorbed Thomas Vale, is the main contractor for the development; Linkcity (formerly known as Bouygues Development) has been retained as development manager; the architects are Costorphine + Wright.
Nicolas Guérin, managing director of Linkcity, said: “We look forward to working with Rockspring and our sister company Bouygues UK to deliver this vibrant project while also looking at further opportunities in the area.
“With a vast amount of regeneration underway, new transport infrastructure such as HS2 in the pipeline and major employers coming to Birmingham, these are exciting times for Britain’s second city.”
Pictured at the concrete pour are, from left: Nicolas Guerin, managing director, Linkcity UK, Michael Pryer, partner – fund management, Rockspring PIM, Cllr Peter Griffiths, cabinet member for housing and homes, Birmingham City Council, Craig Tatton, managing director, Bouygues UK North & Midlands, Cllr John Clancy, leader of Birmingham City Council and Edmund Craston, managing director, Rockspring PIM.
