Vistry Group, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, has exchanged contracts with Homes England to regenerate the former City Hospital site on Dudley Road, Birmingham.
The major scheme in the heart of the city has outline planning permission for 750 homes, including the sensitive conversion of the historic infirmary frontage into apartments, with up to 8,000 sq ft of commercial and community space.
35% of the homes will be offered in affordable tenures, with the remainder delivered as a mix of open market sale, additional affordable housing, and homes for private rent (PRS), in line with Vistry’s partner delivery model. Vistry will be bringing forward a detailed planning application later this year, with Birmingham City Hospital due to relocate its operational facilities to the Midland Metropolitan Hospital, less than one mile away in Smethwick, when the lease on the site expires in November 2025.
Phil McHugh, Managing Director of Vistry North West Midlands, said: “This major regeneration scheme will transform a challenging brownfield site into 750 high-quality, mixed tenure homes and new commercial uses. We share the government’s ambition to deliver new homes at scale and pace, and by working closely with Homes England and Birmingham City Council we can create a vibrant, sustainable new community that will not only meet the housing needs of the area, but will bring both regeneration and valuable investment into the city.”
Mike Goulding, Development Director at Homes England, said: “This key milestone will enable the development of 750 new homes on a brownfield site in Birmingham. The new homes will be mixed tenure and over a third will be affordable, giving more people the opportunity of a warm, safe home in a fantastic location.
“This collaborative effort with Birmingham City Council and Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust is a prime example of how we work with stakeholders to create thriving communities and provide affordable homes where they’re needed most.”
Cllr Jayne Francis, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness at Birmingham City Council, said: “At Birmingham City Council, we are really excited about this amazing project being brought forward by Homes England, as not only will the scheme deliver a huge number of family homes within a sustainable location but will also look to provide many of these in an affordable form, helping to tackle the need for more homes within the city.
“The approval will further regenerate existing areas of public open space in the area as well as improving existing infrastructure, whilst also delivering a high-quality public park and other areas of public open space, for current and future residents to enjoy long into the future.
“This is a truly transformative development for this part of city and will build on other successful developments within the Greater Icknield area.”