Stoford, one of the UK’s leading property developers, has submitted a planning application for the new BBC home in Birmingham at the historic Typhoo Building in Digbeth. The building is already housing several BBC editorial teams, including The Archers, BBC Asian Network, BBC Newsbeat, BBC Radio WM and Midlands Today.
Hoping to move from its current home at The Mailbox to the new 84,001 sq ft custom-built centre in 2025, BBC will also be part of one of Birmingham’s first net zero carbon in construction office buildings. The detailed planning application has been informed by two successful public consultation events and numerous online consultation responses, and represents the first phase of a wider masterplan for the surrounding area.
“The feedback from the public – both those who live or work in Digbeth and the thousands of people we reached via social media who are just interested in the scheme – has been overwhelmingly positive. Birmingham’s residents, visitors, and commuters are genuinely excited at the prospect of the BBC making its home at such a recognisable and prominent building,” said Gerard Ludlow, Director at Stoford.
“Typhoo Wharf is a significant opportunity, which will not only catalyse reinvigoration of the wider area, but will also help to kick start further private and public-sector investment into Digbeth’s built environment and transport connections. Central to our Typhoo scheme is the commitment to conserving the historic building, which dates back to 1929 but has been left empty for decades. The BBC’s new home will be instantly recognisable to everyone who travels into Birmingham on HS2, the tram, or into our existing railway stations,” he added.
The building is on target to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘outstanding’ and an energy performance certificate (EPC) of ‘A’. Stoford is working with The Gooch Estate, Glenn Howells Architects, Turley and several public sector partners to deliver the development and to prepare a comprehensive vision for the wider area, which will be served by multiple public transport connections, including a new tram top, HS2’s Curzon Street terminus, and the existing Birmingham coach and Moor Street railway stations.
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