Images unveiled of new £260m planned “cultural” development space for Digbeth

Images have been unveiled of a new £260m planned development for the heart of Digbeth in Birmingham.

New concept renderings have been released of plans for a multi-million pound mixed-use scheme to be located in Upper Trinity Street in Digbeth.

The Cole Waterhouse’s project will see the existing industrial land transformed into a cultural, commercial and residential scheme with 943 new homes, some with live-work space and roof gardens.

Also included in the plan is a 133-bedroom hotel, 60,000 square feet of flexible commercial space and car parking.

The company is also committing space to large areas of public realm including a new public park and a network of landscaped yards, squares and hidden spaces.

Community and council consultation

Over the summer, the team has been working closely with Birmingham City Council and other stakeholders following a public consultation programme and the submission of a full planning application which was made in April.

Updated plans have now been submitted which include design enhancements to some residential blocks to create a more distinctive character which is influenced by the current and past industrial uses of the site.

According to the developers, additional landscaping and the inclusion of a new “parklet” have been included to create more outdoor space while in the scheme’s ground floor, live-work units will have street facades of large opening glazed doors recessed behind sliding perforated metal shutters and entry doors which will offer glimpses into the work spaces beyond.

Additionally, the final permanent artwork to the hotel may involve a collaboration with a public artist and will be featured throughout the 2.07 hectare site.

Protecting history and heritage

The re-development of the historic site – which borders Adderley Street and the proposed Skypark on Duddeston Viaduct – will retain the lock keepers cottage, pump house and canal and the development team is working closely with the Canal and Rivers Trust to enhance and protect the site’s unique Victorian engineering history.

Cole Waterhouse’s vision for Upper Trinity Street is a response to the High Speed 2 (HS2) and emerging Digbeth Masterplans which form part of the wider evolution of Digbeth and will complement other development proposals in the area.

Commenting on the updated plans, Damian Flood, chief executive of Cole Waterhouse said: “We listened carefully to the feedback from the consultation programme and have subsequently made some enhancements to the scheme design which we wanted to show with these new images.

“We have been in close contact with the existing businesses in the area to accommodate their requirements in the new scheme and their feedback and support has been overwhelmingly positive.”

He added: “With close proximity to Birmingham city centre and planned improvements to transport infrastructure, including the new West Midlands Metro line and HS2 Curzon Street station, Upper Trinity Street will create a great community for hundreds to live and work and we are committed to protecting the area’s unique ‘Digbethness’ which is further reflected in our design amends.”