Approval given to Smithfield Lofts

Smithfield Lofts is to reinvigorate a rundown site with a dynamic 687-home neighbourhood, with plans approved yesterday (September 28).

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Smithfield Lofts is to reinvigorate a rundown site with a dynamic new 687-home neighbourhood, along with vital green infrastructure.

Spread across two plots, a vibrant urban community will be woven into the city’s prospering cultural quarter, containing 274 one, 405 two & 8 three-bedroom curated apartments, including 103 affordable units (First Homes & affordable rent).

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Designed to pay homage to its historic context with red brick and terracotta, with a fusion of modern-day decorative panels, buildings will range from seven to 11 storeys on Cheapside and Bradford Street, before rising up to 23 storeys on Moseley Street.

Smithfield Lofts will also incorporate street-level frontages including colourful new spaces for commercial independents, dining, and Digbeth’s creative industries.

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Great emphasis will be placed on amenities, as well as green infrastructure, with new public realm corridors, gardens, a 24-hour concierge, community rooftops, balconies, cinema & TV lounge areas, workspaces, fitness studio & spaces for 638 bicycles.

Four non-designated heritage assets will make way for the scheme, with other less-attractive buildings and several hard-surfaced car parking areas also making way.

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Smithfield Lofts, images from Prosperity & GNA. Existing: Google Maps

Pressworks, Digbeth Reimagined

Pressworks, a proposed residential reinvention of a site in Digbeth, has been comprehensively refined to take into account the emerging schemes coming forward in the area.

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Prosperity Developments are bringing forward plans to rejuvenate this area of the city.

Spread across two parcels of land, the development has been designed by Glancy Nicholls Architects.

Having bounced onto the scene back in 2021, the proposal went back to the drawing board and has now been refined in recent weeks to consider the other emerging schemes in the area - namely Birmingham Smithfield, and Warner Fields.

THESE ARE THE CHANGES PROPOSED (GREEN):

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Plot 1: Significant improvements have been made to Bradford Street.

The new design now features a classic perimeter block of buildings ranging from 7 right up to 11-storeys at prominent corners. The perimeter extends to Bradford Street, across Rea Street, Cheapside, and back towards Bradford Street.

The designs have also been significantly improved to take more cues from neighbouring heritage assets.

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The old proposal v the new one:

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Plot 2: This is where we will see an increase in height, which will be dissected by a newly created green linear link and a green space that looks out towards Smithfield.

Previous plans for Pressworks saw a 21-storey to Bradford Street - which, of course, has now been refined. The height has now been transferred to Moseley Street - and will reach 23-storeys.

Why? Other emerging schemes in the area, namely Warner Fields, will incorporate a landmark 30-storey directly adjacent Pressworks. For that reason, the 23-storey has been positioned to sit subservient to the 30-storey, but to also sit in line with the planned 'scraper at Smithfield.

Therefore, an emerging cluster is earmarked for the ever-changing area, all of which will face onto a new public green link and sit in front of Smithfield. Good forward thinking!

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Like the CGIs? Let us know in the comments.

Pressworks Birmingham, images from Glancy Nicholls Architects.