Work Begins On Birmingham BBC Studios At Former Tea Factory
Work has begun at the former Typhoo Tea factory in Birmingham to create new purpose-built broadcast studios for the BBC. Insider Media reports that the developers plan to retain the shell of the historic building, while the interior will provide the West Midlands with state of the art broadcasting facilities, to be known as the Tea Factory.
The factory was first built in the Art Deco style between 1929 and the 1960s, having been originally designed by Harry W Weedon. The site is in the heart of the industrial area of the city, close to the canal basin and within walking distance of the city centre. Once an area of decline, it is part of a wider regeneration and will have close links with the HS2 station.
The Typhoo Tea Factory closed down in 1978 when it relocated to Cheshire and the Wirral, resulting in hundreds of job losses. The building has remained largely unused since then. A 1960s extension will be removed and the rest of the building will be refashioned around an internal ‘street’ on the route of a former canal inlet.
The architects claim that it will be Birmingham’s first net zero building, with a state of the art roof design that will collect rainwater, generate solar power, and manage solar gain. Around the site, improvements will be made to the public realm, and further commercial, cultural, and residential facilities will be developed to create a vibrant new neighbourhood.
Gerard Ludlow, Stoford director, said: “After months of planning and preparing the site, it’s exciting to start work on revitalising this historic building and, in time, working with our partner The Gooch Estate, we will bring forward a much larger mixed-use scheme known as Typhoo Wharf which sits around the wider area adjacent to the Bordesley Street landmark.
“With our strategic partners, we have created an exciting blueprint that will provide a stunning home for the BBC, which will be the corporation’s most sustainable and flexible centre yet. Over the next three years, as work progresses, anyone visiting Digbeth will be able to see the scheme unfolding.”
Neil Dobson, director, real estate, at Aviva Investors, said: “As one of the largest investors in UK real estate, we are really pleased to contribute towards the development of this scheme, revitalising an area of underutilised land in the city and with the potential to add significant social value to the local economy through job creation and local business opportunities.”
“We look forward to working with our partners in bringing the project to life as an enviable flagship site, whilst reflecting our focus on high-quality, sustainable and low carbon real estate.”
The development is due to be completed in 2026, and it will be the base for several prominent BBC productions, including The Archers, BBC Newsbeat, Midlands Today, and BBC Asian Network.
Tim Davie, BBC director-general, added: “This is a significant step, not just for the BBC, but for invigorating the wider creative industries in the Midlands. We are transforming The Tea Factory into a world-class state of the art production facility which will benefit the region for generations to come.”
“Digbeth will deliver world-class programmes, be a centre for excellence and bring investment and new opportunities to one of the most vibrant parts of the country.”
Elsewhere in Birmingham, permission has been granted for the construction of a series of residential towers that will provide up to 2,000 new homes. The Smallbrook Queensway area is close to the city centre, prominently situated near to the Bull Ring Shopping Centre and New Street Station.
James Shimwell, head of residential development at CEG, said: “We are delighted the planning committee has once again supported our proposal to transform the Smallbrook Queensway Buildings for the benefit of the whole city centre.”
“Work will begin as soon as possible to clear the site and deliver the new homes and public spaces that Birmingham so desperately needs. We are grateful to BCC’s officers, members of the planning committee, and the local business community for their thoughtful consideration of this vital scheme.”
The new development will consist of a built-to-rent 48-storey tower, plus commercial use on the lower levels. Further residential buildings will be constructed alongside enhancements to the public realm.
If you are looking for a padstone calculator, please visit our website today.
Trackback from your site.
