Australian-based international property developer Lendlease has been appointed by the Birmingham City Council as its development partner for the 17-hectare Birmingham Smithfield site in Birmingham, UK. Lendlease and the city council will form a joint venture to manage the project.
The £1.5 billion ($2.59 billion) development of the urban quarters will include a new home for the city’s historical Bull Ring retail markets, a new family-friendly leisure and cultural area, a new public square, an integrated public transport system, as well as more than 2,000 homes with a public park and community facilities.
An impression of the future developments on the 17-hectare Birmingham Smithfield site (Pictures: Lendlease)
The first phase of development will include new residential buildings, a new retail market building, and public spaces. Development is expected to commence in 2022, and the entire project is expected to take 15 years to complete.
This urban redevelopment is part of the city’s “Big City Plan” launched in 2010, which sets out a 25-year growth vision for the city centre. The site being developed is adjacent to the Birmingham New Street train station, and will be a short walk to the upcoming High Speed 2 City Centre Terminus Station, which is expected to open in 2026.
An artist impression of the public square to be constructed
Lendlease has a track record of major urban projects in the UK, including the iconic Bluewater shopping centre in Kent and the 2012 Athletes’ Village. It is continuing works on International Quarter London, a major commercial scheme in Stratford.