Oval Real Estate plans 47-acre Birmingham regen

Oval Real Estate is planning a mixed-use regeneration in Birmingham’s Digbeth, seeking to redevelop up to 47 acres of land. It has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment for up to 3.8m sq ft of residential and commercial-led development, comprising new and existing buildings. Initial plans also include retail, food and leisure and hotel uses. The development will focus on land to the north of High Street Deritend. Oval has appointed Studio Egret West as architects, with Turley leading on planning. Oval currently owns around 1m sq ft of existing buildings in Digbeth around the Custard Factory. The Gooch Estate and Homes England also own significant amounts of land in the area. The site currently contains 20 locally listed non-designated heritage assets. Development will retain these and will re-use the concrete and brick from the demolition of other buildings. The Duddeston Viaduct will be retained and enhanced with new public realm. The new buildings will be built close to the River Rea and typical building height will be three to eight storeys, with a maximum height of 14 storeys. Oval intends to submit a hybrid planning application in late 2019, hoping to achieve consent in 2020 with infrastructure and construction to begin that same year. The regeneration is expected to span 10-15 years. Oval Real Estate co-founder and managing director James Craig said: “This is the first part of the long road towards the reactivation of Digbeth as an industrious area for both working and living. We are in the middle of a stakeholder consultation and will look to be submitting a planning application during 2020. “Digbeth is known as the creative quarter of Birmingham and we are working with people in the area to continue to make this area flourish and be a home for that creative talent.” To send feedback, e-mail emma.rosser@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmmaARosser or @estatesgazette