Design statement reveals full scope of New Garden Square redevelopment
Further details have emerged of plans to transform a 10-acre site on a main route into Birmingham city centre into a £300m mixed-use scheme.
U+I, the mixed-use property regeneration specialist, and Calthorpe Estates plan to redevelop the outdated commercial site.
A planning application has been submitted to clear the site and demolish all structures and buildings, except those with listed status or with directly attached extensions.
The commercial-led mixed-use redevelopment will provide up to 56,500m² of office space, up to 2,400m² of retail use, a hotel of up to 100 bedrooms, up to 400 new residential apartments units, up to 900 new car parking spaces with the creation of a new multi-storey car park and other car parking areas, alterations to the site access arrangements for Hagley Road and Duchess Road, and strategic landscaping.
The vision for New Garden Square is to transform what has been an insular development since architect John Madin’s 1958 masterplan for the wider Calthorpe Estate.
The plan is to create a high quality, vibrant and accessible new destination in the commercial heart of Edgbaston. New Garden Square is envisioned as a major development of mixed-use set around significantly planned high quality public realm from an eclectic series of gardens and mature trees.
The final brief called for an office-led development providing up to 56,500m2 of Grade A office space with sufficient parking to support an edge of city centre destination. The parking offer has to reflect the need to attract occupiers, for example, those from the Life Sciences sector, which demand a higher level of parking compared to traditional city centre occupiers.
Other potential occupiers could include technology, media and telecoms.
In order to create a vibrant mixed-use development and begin to establish the roots of a new community, a number of residential units and ground floor retail ancillary retail offers were considered. Other uses included a hotel, should the market demand, and this would be in lieu of some office floorspace.
The application site is a previously developed commercial estate covering 9.49 acres. It is bounded by Hagley Road to the south, while the northern boundary abuts Duchess Road and Beaufort Road. The eastern boundary is formed by Cobalt Square, a 17-storey office block, and the rear of two-storey listed commercial properties on Francis Road. The site adjoins the Grade II listed Plough and Harrow pub to the west.
The site comprises a number of existing office buildings, many of which are currently vacant or partially occupied. these range in height from two/three storeys to the 18-storey Edgbaston House. The site includes several Grade II listed buildings along its frontage to Hagley Road. However, the proposals at this stage do not require any listed building consent.
The other buildings are more modern, dating from the 1960s and 70s. The development of these buildings was driven by market forces of the time and the need to offer long-term tenancies. There is also car parking provision, including a multi-decked facility adjacent to Edgbaston House with space for 893 vehicles.
During a public consultation on the proposal there was widespread support for the redevelopment proposals and many believed it would have a positive impact on the surrounding area. Everyone who commented also supported plans for the new public garden square at the heart of the scheme.
The Design and Access Statement from Glenn Howell Architects submitted as part of the application states: “The vision for New Garden Square is bold, and will offer the chance to retain the best of what is on the site already alongside high quality new buildings and public space.”
It said the key opportunities were to improve the connectivity and accessibility of the site, retain the natural assets and heritage properties, transform a struggling commercial site, create a new public open space and introduce a variety of new uses with a mix of commercial, retail, leisure and residential.
The extension of the Midland Metro to Five Ways (a stop is set for outside 54 Hagley Road, opposite the development site) is also seen as a key benefit which would encourage people to use the site.
The new bus rapid transit route from Quinton to the city centre is also under progress, with a stop being considered for New Garden Square.
