Planning News
Solihull HBG Properties is to develop 170,000 sq ft of office space at the Aspire site close to J4 on the M42. The first phase of the development, which will start in February 2008, will comprise two buildings of 24,000 sq ft and 39,000 sq ft and is expected to be available in spring 2009. HBG Properties acquired the 29-acre site from Morley Fund Management. As part of the deal 17 acres of the site will be made available to Solihull Council for the development of a country park. Birmingham Developer Chord Deeley has been give the green light to commence a £160m mixed-use scheme in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. City planners gave the thumbs up to scheme, called St Georges, which is set to create a new living and working quarter with 700 new homes, offices, two hotels – the first in the Jewellery Quarter – a new multi-storey car park and retail and leisure space. More than 750 jobs will be created on the site. The scheme is one of the biggest regeneration sites in Birmingham. The 2.75 ha (6.8-acre site), bounded by Icknield Street, Camden Street and Carver Street and incorporating Pope Street and Moreton Street, will create a prominent new gateway at the Icknield Street entrance to the Jewellery Quarter. The accommodation planned for the site includes: 695 apartments (the majority with car parking), affordable homes, eight live/work spaces, 8,689 sq m (93,500 sq ft) of offices, 1,145 sq m (12,320 sq ft)		of bars and restaurants, 2,274 sq m (24,470 sq ft) of retail, plus a 237 space multi-storey car park. A £15m Ramada Encore hotel is to be built on the corner of Icknield Street and Pope Street. The proposed boutique-style budget hotel will include 151 bedrooms. A second budget hotel, comprising 100 bedrooms, is also planned for the site. Chord Deeley has selected the Alfred McAlpine/New World Leisure joint venture to develop and operate the hotels. Birmingham agents Wright Silverwood have been appointed to market the retail and leisure space. Leamington Deeley Properties is proposing to create 20 new units on a 2.75 acre site that was formerly home to Al Ko Kober and Elizabeth the Chef, creating up to 150 jobs in a £7m investment. The units, which will be available to buy freehold as well as for rent, will offer 1,800 sq ft up to 20,000 sq ft of space suitable for industrial, office and warehouse uses. The new 50,000 sq ft development - the Shires Business Park – is set to attract interest from local, expanding businesses but may also encourage inward investment into the town. The scheme will be marketed by local agents Wareing and Co along with CBRE based in Birmingham.