Beorma Quarter, Birmingham, United Kingdom

Planning granted for development set beside Future Systems' iconic clad Selfridges store
Birmingham City Council has today granted planning approval in a unanimous decision for Beorma Quarter, a £150 million mixed-use development located adjacent to Bullring and Future Systems' Selfridges building. Beorma Quarter is the first direct UK development by Salhia Investments, one of Kuwait’s largest and most respected property developers.


Designed by London-based Trevor Horne Architects, Beorma Quarter will provide 60,231 sq m of mixed use development comprising of the refurbishment of three Digbeth buildings and construction of three new blocks, including a 27 storey tower. The scheme will provide shops, offices, restaurant and a café, business space, residential, and exhibition space, together with an energy centre using an aquifer thermal energy storage system (ATES), basement parking and creation of new landscape areas. The cluster of buildings will be set around Orwell Place - a new public space, and 30% of the ground plan will be public realm.

Cllr Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council comments: “Beorma Quarter will inject £150 million of investment into this key part of Digbeth, next to Bullring and the Wholesale Markets. This is a crucial development in the ongoing renaissance of Birmingham and I am delighted that hundreds of construction jobs will be created when work commences on site.”

The first phase of Beorma Quarter will include the refurbishment of the landmark Grade II listed Cold Store that fronts onto Digbeth High Street. The warehouse style building, designed by Ernest Bewley and constructed in 1899, will be redeveloped as an innovation centre to support and enhance the local creative community acting as a centrepiece of Beorma Quarter and accommodating a restaurant and gallery space.

A 27 storey tower is the boldest element of the development. Creating 340,183 sq ft of office space, the building is set for BREEAM Excellent, the UK sustainability marker. The facade of the tower will create a shimmering and dynamic kinetic elevation, providing a unique building for Birmingham’s skyline source: www.worldarchitecturenews.com
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