Approval for the BBC's Move Into Digbeth

Proposals for the BBC's new home at Typhoo Wharf in Digbeth, which will house several of the organisation's editorial teams, has been unaminously approved!

The building will now become an 84K SF, custom-built broadcast centre.

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC4.jpg" />

The 1929-built landmark, famous for its production of Typhoo Tea, will become one of Birmingham’s first net zero carbon in construction office buildings, and is on target to achieve a BREEAM ‘outstanding’ rating and an energy performance certificate (EPC) of ‘A’.

To kick start works, part of the building will see partial demolition (below in red) and the full removal of boiler house, in addition to the removal of its existing roof and bridge links.

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20DEMO.jpg" />

The building will then be conserved and will house several BBC editorial teams, including The Archers, BBC Newsbeat, BBC Asian Network, BBC Radio WM and Midlands Today.

The BBC will move out of their existing Mailbox home in late 2025, early 2026, when their lease ends, before making the short move into Digbeth.

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC1.jpg" />

The move presents a golden opportunity to catalyse on reinvigorating the wider area and kick-starting investment in the area’s built environment and transport connections.

Stoford is working with the landowners, The Gooch Estate, with Glenn Howells Architects, Grant Associates, Turley and several public sector partners to complete the project and to prepare a vision for the wider area over the next decade.

This vision (below) includes the delivery of up to 800K SF of new residential, office and hospitality accommodation directly around the BBC and the adjoining canal basin.

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20Birmingham%20Digbeth%20(3).jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC2.jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC3.jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20Birmingham%20b.jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20Birmingham%20c.jpg" />

THE VISION

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20Birmingham%20wider%20site%20plan.jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/masterplan(1).jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20Birmingham%20Digbeth.jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20Birmingham%20Digbeth%20(2).jpg" />

PARTNERS: Stoford, Benacre 2022 LLP (The Gooch Estate)
ARCHITECTS: Glenn Howells Architects, Grant Associates
QS, PM: Arcadis
PRINCIPAL DESIGNER: Anstey Home
CIVIL & STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: BWB
M&E, SUSTAINABILITY: ESC
CONTRACTOR: TBC
AIR QUALITY, TRANSPORT: BWB
FIRE CONSULTANT: Jensen Hughes
AGENT: Savills & Wallis Real Estate
PLANNING CONSULTANT: Turley
PLANNING APPLICATION NUMBER: 2022/08628/PA

Typhoo Wharf, images from Glenn Howells Architects & BBC.

Plans in for BBC Birmingham's move to the Typhoo Building

A planning application for the BBC's relocation into Typhoo Wharf has arrived.

The building will become an 84K SF, custom-built broadcast centre, positively reinvigorating Digbeth.

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC4.jpg" />

The BBC will move out from its current home at The Mailbox into a custom-built 84K SF broadcast centre in 2026.

The 1929-built landmark, famous for its production of Typhoo Tea, will become one of Birmingham’s first net zero carbon in construction office buildings. It is on target to achieve a BREEAM ‘outstanding’ rating and an energy performance certificate (EPC) of ‘A’.

The building will be conserved and will house several BBC editorial teams, including The Archers, BBC Newsbeat, BBC Asian Network, BBC Radio WM and Midlands Today. 

The move presents a golden opportunity to catalyse on reinvigorating the wider area and kick-starting investment in Digbeth’s built environment and transport connections.

DEMOLITION:

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20DEMO.jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC1.jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20Birmingham%20Digbeth%20(3).jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC2.jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC3.jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20Birmingham%20b.jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20Birmingham%20c.jpg" />

Over the next decade, there are also plans to deliver up to 800K SF of new residential, office and hospitality accommodation around the new BBC site.

The wider scheme will see more than 10 acres of land around Typhoo Wharf and the adjoining canal basin transformed into a new mixed-use neighbourhood, including public spaces.

Grant Associates is designing the new landscape and urban realm, which will create a new canalside quarter, and the new public square will be delivered in time for the first BBC staff to arrive in 2026.

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20Birmingham%20wider%20site%20plan.jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/masterplan(1).jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20Birmingham%20Digbeth.jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20Birmingham%20Digbeth%20(2).jpg" />

PARTNERS: Stoford, Benacre 2022 LLP (The Gooch Estate)
ARCHITECTS: Glenn Howells Architects, Grant Associates
QS, PM: Arcadis
PRINCIPAL DESIGNER: Anstey Home
CIVIL & STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: BWB
M&E, SUSTAINABILITY: ESC
CONTRACTOR: ISG
AIR QUALITY, TRANSPORT: BWB
FIRE CONSULTANT: Jensen Hughes
AGENT: Savills & Wallis Real Estate
PLANNING CONSULTANT: Turley
PLANNING APPLICATION NUMBER: 2022/08628/PA

Typhoo Wharf, images from Glenn Howells Architects & BBC.

Typhoo Wharf - BBC Birmingham & The Wider Site

A public consultation is now live for the future of Typhoo Wharf and its wider site.

The historic Typhoo Tea Factory is set to become home to BBC Birmingham in 2026, with the wider site potentially seeing up to 800K SF of new residential, offices, and hospitality uses.

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/bbc%20Birmingham.jpg" />

Birmingham’s own Glenn Howells Architects is working on a transformative masterplan (IYB map) that could see over 10 acres of underutilised land, around Typhoo Wharf in Digbeth, developed to house the BBC, along with new residential, offices, and hospitality uses.

The first phase will include the revival of the historic Typhoo Tea factory into a net-zero BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ broadcast centre for BBC Birmingham, who has agreed to move into the building, along with BBC Asian Network, BBC Newsbeat, as well as Midlands Today and BBC WM, in 2026.

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/wider02.jpg" />

Looking further afield – five to 10 years – there is a comprehensive vision in place to regenerate the wider site, including the creation of a new canal side quarter centred around the unique and historic canal network, delivering a ‘green and healthy, walkable / cyclable city’, complemented by new residential, offices, and commercial uses.

All of this is to be integrated into the area’s transport infrastructure, including the Midland Metro tram, which will have a stop next to the site and will provide fluid connectivity to the forthcoming HS2 Curzon Street station – set to get underway in February 2023.

Other developing cultural and economic infrastructure just outside the confines of Typhoo Wharf include Stephen Knight’s Loc Studios, BBC’s new MasterChef studio, the Creative Content Hub, animation studios, and Birmingham Midland Academy – all a stone’s throw away.

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20Birmingham%20Digbeth.jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20Birmingham%20Digbeth%20(3).jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20Birmingham%20Digbeth%20(1).jpg" />

dndimg dndsrc="https://www.freetimepays.com/uploadedfiles/BBC%20Birmingham%20Digbeth%20(2).jpg" />

A public consultation is in its early stages – but it is now live for your consideration. It will run until Thursday 22 September 2022 and should Birmingham City Council give it the go ahead, construction is expected to start on site in spring 2023, ready for occupation by the BBC in 2026.

Typhoo Wharf, images from Glenn Howells Architects & BBC.