During the recession, many upcoming development projects ground to a halt as banks and investors were reluctant to pump money into commercial schemes. Fortunately, economic growth has provided a kick-start to long-stalled projects – one of which is the Battery Park redevelopment in Selly Oak, Birmingham.
The site, which has lain derelict for 30 years and has a history of landfill use, will soon be transformed into a thriving mixed use retail led complex, with much of the non-retail commercial space being used as a centre for life sciences research.
Facilitated by Birmingham City Council, this new campus will work in association with the nearby Queen Elizabeth Hospital and University of Birmingham, and is expected to cement the West Midlands’ city’s status as a centre for academic excellence.
P.J. Carey was last week confirmed as the site contractor, and was pleased to announce that initial works on the first phase of the site will begin later this week. In association with the joint venture between Sainsbury’s and Land Securities, known as the Harvest Partnership, the firm will work towards a completion date of autumn 2017.
The Harvest Partnership’s role in the scheme will be to deliver the retail and leisure element, which will be anchored by a large Sainsbury’s store. In addition, there will be a number of other retail units, along with cafes, restaurants and student housing facilities for those studying on the Life Sciences Campus.
Portfolio development manager for Sainsbury’s, Michael Adenmosun, said; “We are delighted to announce a contractor for the Selly Oak development and a date for starting works at the site.
“This has been a long time coming but we have reached a key milestone and can finally begin remediation works.
“The site will be completely regenerated to restore Selly Oak’s status as a leading district centre, offering quality retail choice and leading the way in medical research.”
Although the scheme was finally granted planning consent in November 2013, the Harvest Partnership faced some issues due to its commitment to regenerating the derelict Lapal Canal which remains a key feature of the site. In fact, the partnership was only able to obtain planning permission after pledging a £767,000 sum in order to enable regeneration works on the body of water.
Birmingham City Council leader, Sir Albert Bore (pictured), believes that this project, once completed, will prove to be a valuable asset both for Selly Oak and for the wider regional area.
He says; “The Life Sciences Campus will not only create a leading edge hub in this important growth sector, it will continue the place making and regeneration of Selly Oak and Edgbaston.
“Early interest in the site is promising to outstrip the available space, and we are already considering additional sites in south Birmingham – a fantastic boost for the local and regional economy.”
