Neighbourhood is a transformative new development in a prime location at the gateway to Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter.
Once a car dealership operated by Sytner, HBD is redeveloping this prominent site, creating 414 beautifully designed and highly sustainable one-, two- and three- bedroom apartments and two-bedroom duplexes for rent.
The story so far
HBD secured planning for Neighbourhood in summer 2023 following an extensive period of consultation to showcase its plans for transforming the space. The proposals embraced this site’s exceptional place in local history as home to the firm of John Hardman and Company who, through their collaboration with the renowned architect Augustine Pugin, became a world-famous producer of stained glass and ornamental metal work. The legacy of their work lives on today in a host of buildings in cities around the world, including London where their work still features on the incredible stained-glass windows and external railings of the House of Commons.
Modern designs
Now as it embarks on the site’s future, HBD has drafted in the support of BPN Architects, a studio renowned for its commitment to preserving and embracing local heritage. Together the pair have evolved a vision for five mid-rise apartment buildings on a superb 2.6-acre plot.
Their vision is that Neighbourhood will be a best in class, highly sustainable Build to Rent development, marking the gateway to the Jewellery Quarter. Its 414 apartments comprise of one- (50%), two- (45%) and three- (5%) bedroom options, built around a new landscaped public garden which is accessible to all.
Green spaces in the Jewellery Quarter are few and far between so the gardens planned at Neighbourhood are a key feature. The public garden, designed by Landscape Architecture, a team focused on creating highly sustainable places, helps set the building apart.
Notably, the apartments and buildings themselves all feature nods to the history so present here. HBD has incorporated many references to the site’s rich heritage – be that the factory-style roofs or jewel-like colour and material palettes feature throughout the scheme.
And of course, no neighbourhood is complete without shops, food outlets and places to visit, so on the ground floor will be 6,100 sq ft of commercial space from where local independent businesses can operate. There will also be 9,600sq ft of amenity space including a residents’ gym, working from home areas, double height winter garden, three roof terraces, a parcel storeroom, as well as on-site management offices.
A highly sustainable Neighbourhood
Neighbourhood will be a highly sustainable residential scheme, designed to meet climate change targets.
Neighbourhood is a car-free development with a focus on maximising external amenity and open space. In keeping with the scheme’s highly sustainable credentials, there will be secure storage for 320 bicycles and, despite being a highly connected site already, there will be additional links to the city’s public transportation network, the extensive canal network, pathways and public transport system.
The scheme will include Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR), 100% LED low energy lighting, electrical panel heaters, and air source heat pumps for electric water heaters. HBD are applying a high-performance fabric specification and best practice in thermal bridging and air tightness to reduce heat loss and wasted energy. During construction, the approach is to use renewable, recycled, pre-used or surplus built assets, products and materials.
