Posted 1 September 2016 by
Keith OsborneIn recent years, Birmingham has come under pressure from Manchester as England’s second city, but a range of regeneration projects and high-quality new homes is keeping it ahead, with more to follow.
Though it has yet to be fully confirmed, the potential of the High Speed 2 rail link to London and, in a later phase, northwards to Manchester and Leeds will make the West Midlands city more easily reached and supplement the major upgrade that New Street station recently underwent.
Brindleyplace is another scheme that transformed a 17-acre site in central Birmingham from an industrial wasteland to a modern mix of commercial, retail and residential units, alongside a museum, theatre, hotel and the National Sea Life Centre. The famous Bullring shopping centre was also overhauled and is now considered one of the best of its kind in the country.
Demand for new homes in proximity to all these up-to-date facilities is strong, and one look at the Birmingham property market indicates the mix of new build properties available now and in the near future.
This is set to continue, so targets for more new homes in and around the city are high. Recently, Labour leadership candidate Owen Smith announced a proposal to build more than 25,000 new homes in the West Midlands every year if he made it to power, part of 300,000 he believes necessary across the country as a whole annually.
The Resolution Foundation think tank had also recently reported a significant drop in homeownership in the region over the past ten years or so, from 70.5% in 2005 to 59.3% now. Smith would introduce new measures to allow local authorities to borrow money for major housebuilding projects to bring significant numbers of affordable homes alongside those provided for the private homeownership market.
New homes currently for sale in Birmingham:
Right in the heart of the city centre, just ten minutes’ or so from Moor Street and New Street stations, in the newly released Divine Collection at St Anne’s Court from ESRG Developments/Property Frontiers. This collection of 30 apartments are complemented by a residents-only roof terrace and makes an ideal choice for owner-occupiers looking for a central location, or buy-to-let investors looking for an area with strong tenant demand.
Midlands-based housebuilder Mar City Homes is offering its most central new properties at Compass Court in Hall Green, under five miles from the Bullring and with a starting price of £129,995. Buyers have a choice of two-bedroom apartments alongside two- to four-bedroom houses in this cul de sac development, set in landscaped gardens.
Crest Nicholson’s Park Central regeneration has won many awards, including a Gold WhatHouse? Award for Best Starter Home Scheme in 2014. A new phase of one- and two-bedroom apartments is coming soon, called Lexington Quarter, with appeal to first-time buyers and others who need a home just a mile from central Birmingham.
In Edgbaston, a sought-after district close to the city centre, Persimmon Homes is building homes with two to five bedrooms at Avery Fields. Priced from £189,995, these properties are close to good schools, local amenities and transport links and initiatives such as Help to Buy, Part Exchange and Home Change offer a range of ways the housebuilder can assist buyers.
Close by is Taylor Wimpey’s Highfield Gardens II, with an array of property types available from £249,995. The University of Birmingham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital are both close by, providing a good rental market for investors, and amenities in easy reach include Warwickshire County Cricket Club, Priory Tennis Club, Edgbaston Golf Club and the Botanical Gardens.
Coming soon to the appealing area of Bournville is Knightlow Park, a Redrow Homes development which will feature the company’s Heritage Collection homes, combining traditional architecture with contemporary interiors. Prices are still to be announced for this collection of houses, five miles from the city centre.
Also in Bournville is The Franklin, a development being marketed by Knight Frank. Already 90% sold, there are few properties left here, but one still for sale is a penthouse at £355,120. Open-plan living and a high specification are found here, and residents have access to an exclusive lounge and to a private gym.
Knight Frank is also marketing Galbraith House, where one-bedroom apartments start from £175,000. Also available are two-bedroom units and a three-bedroom penthouse with 2,500 sq ft of accommodation. This development will be launched on 21 September, where buyers can find out more about the quality interiors and local amenities at this centrally located development.