Up to 800 new homes have been approved for a derelict 12-acre property alongside the old BCN Main Line canal in Birmingham, England.
A joint venture comprising London-based developers Apsley House Capital and Galliard Homes have teamed up with investor Claremont Property Group to acquire the Soho Loop site.
Soho Loop sits next to Icknield Port Loop, another major regeneration planned for this part of Birmingham as part of the Greater Icknield Masterplan. The overall vision is for 3,000 new homes and 1,000 new jobs.
Apsley’s director Robin Norstrom said: “We are really excited about the Soho Loop development. It is going to transform what is a neglected and derelict area of Birmingham into a canalside quarter of high-quality homes with character in a green pocket. It has the added attraction of being just a few minutes’ walk or cycle from all that Birmingham has to offer in terms of entertainment and employment.”
He added: “It is an ambitious project which will deliver well-managed, good-quality housing. We see it as an innovative response to today’s changing needs in accommodation. We also believe it could assist with the retention of graduates and key workers in Birmingham while supporting the inward investment decisions of key employers in the region. We have identified Birmingham as a key city in Europe for further investment.”
The Greater Icknield Masterplan sets out clear proposals for Greater Icknield to enable the delivery of transformational change in this significant area of north-west Birmingham. It provides detailed guidance for the area building upon the proposed strategic housing allocation within the emerging Birmingham Development Plan.
The aim is to ensure that Greater Icknield becomes known as an exemplar sustainable neighbourhood and a destination of choice for families wishing to live within Birmingham. This will be achieved by providing the conditions for sustainable growth, where new communities are integrated with existing, ensuring high quality open spaces and public realm, and improving connectivity. Its proposals complement those of the Big City Plan.
There are over 60 hectares of new development opportunities within the Greater Icknield area, making it the largest brownfield housing led redevelopment proposal within Birmingham. With the potential to provide approximately 3000 new homes and 1000 new jobs the area will make a
substantial contribution to helping the City meet the needs of its growing population.
New developments will benefit from the attractive canal and waterside frontages within the area and will achieve high standards of sustainability offering low cost, low carbon energy to future residents and businesses. The Council is committed to working with the local community, businesses and partners to achieve collective goals in ways which maximise the impact of this area locally and on the wider City.
Artists’ rendering courtesy of Claremont Property Group.