Knight Frank sells £16m development opportunity in West Midlands

The site, which has a gross development value (GDV) of £16 million has been acquired by WB Property Group Limited, who will deliver the scheme on behalf of Citizen Housing, a leading housing association in the West Midlands.

The site benefits from planning permission for 52 residential units comprising 10 townhouses and 42 apartments with associated car, cycle and motorcycle parking.

Steve Wilkes, Construction Director at WB Property Group, said: “This is one of the most exciting schemes we’ve been involved with to date. It sets a new standard for affordable housing - the architecture, the sustainability, the placemaking, it’s all exceptional.

“We’re incredibly proud to be working with Citizen Housing and delivering what we believe will become the benchmark for sustainable regeneration and brownfield development in Birmingham.

“We look forward to bringing this ambitious and socially impactful scheme to life, and ultimately creating much-needed high quality, affordable homes for families in the region. Our thanks go to all the partners involved in making this happen, including Knight Frank and Calthorpe Estate.”

Work is expected to start on site soon, with a programme duration of approximately two years.

The site occupies a prime position on Hagley Road, providing excellent access to local amenities in both Edgbaston and Harborne. Birmingham city centre lies just three miles to the east, while the Hagley Road corridor offers direct connectivity to the M5 motorway, ensuring strong regional links.

Will Jordan, Head of Birmingham Residential Development at Knight Frank, said: "This sale demonstrates the continued strength of the Birmingham residential development market, particularly for sites with planning permission already in place, which helps to accelerate delivery timescales. The scheme's mix of townhouses and apartments, combined with its excellent connectivity to both the city centre and the M5, made it highly attractive to developers.

"With the upcoming SPRINT transport route and proximity to major employment hubs including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Colmore business district, this scheme is well-positioned to meet strong demand for quality homes in Edgbaston."

Ralph Minott, Master planning and Development Director at Calthorpe Estate said: “This is an exciting milestone for a prominent site on Hagley Road, marking over a decade in bringing this prime Edgbaston opportunity forward. 

“From the early guidance of Birmingham City Council planning on scale for much-needed new homes, Calthorpe Estate commissioned architects Bond Bryan, who working closely with Knight Frank on specification and mix, developed a well ordered and impressive design, which was applauded at planning committee when returning unanimous planning approval in November 2024, importantly including onsite affordable homes. 

“Knight Frank led the marketing to secure a buyer with the capability and ambition to deliver a high-quality scheme, concluding terms for sale to Citizen Housing Association in partnership with WB Property Group. This partnership strongly aligns with our long-term vision for the estate, ensuring the integrity of the approved design is maintained, in a sustainable scheme offering homes responsive to local demand of Edgbaston communities.

“We look forward to seeing this scheme come to life and make a positive, lasting contribution to the area.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Knight Frank LLP is the leading independent global property consultancy, serving as our clients’ partners in property for 128 years. Headquartered in London, Knight Frank has more than 27,000 people operating from 600 offices across 50 territories. The Group advises clients ranging from individual owners and buyers to major developers, investors and corporate tenants. For further information about the Firm, please visit knightfrank.com.