Curzon Wharf: Approval for World's First Mixed-Use NZC Development

A vision to create the world’s first mixed-use net zero ready development, which features four new buildings ranging from nine to 53-storeys, has been approved.

Hybrid outline & full detailed plans were unanimously approved today (April 27, 2023).

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It positions Birmingham as the UK’s leading smart and sustainable city, and one that fully complements the forthcoming ‘Our Future City: 2040 Birmingham' masterplan – due to launch in the coming weeks​.

A process of over seven years of consultation with the Council, public, and a team of regeneration and built environment specialists, Curzon Wharf has secured outline approval for four new buildings. They include:

• up to 130K of Life Science floorspace over nine floors;
• up to 732 PBSA within Watt Tower (41 storey);
• up to 122 residential units within Galton Skytree (14 storey); 
• up to 498 BTR units with Boulton Tower (53-storey, 172m);
• and 3K SF of retail & over 15K SF of vibrant leisure across the site.

Full planning approval was also given for the partial removal of a listed canal wall, which enables the site to move forward with upgraded walking & cycle routes, as well as the delivery of a £2.49M public realm - the latter will now be secured via a S106 legal agreement.

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With outline planning now secured, a Reserved Matters application providing more in-depth information for each building (accommodation numbers, layouts, etc.) will need to be submitted.

Following a three-phase strategy, together with a strict design code, all buildings will be highly energy-efficient and powered by renewable energy sources, but would also be capable of operating more traditionally.

Luxury and leading student and Build to Rent (BTR) operators for these buildings have already been secured, according to Woodbourne.

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COSTS: The basic costs have been laid bare: CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) will cost £2.1M (paid on the 41-storey/ equivalent to 9% affordable housing); public realm upgrades will cost in the region of £2.5M (equivalent to 11%); and Net Zero Carbon (NZC) could cost a whopping £11M.

Should the public realm improvements cost less than £2.5M, then the difference will be provided to the Council to be spent on off-site affordable housing.

Incorporating affordable dwellings into the site has materialised, despite the huge costs. It has impacted on viability, but has stopped short of scuppering it. Woodbourne has agreed on 5% (31) – up from 3% – with a deal also in place for 51% of the homes to be two and three-bedrooms.

A mechanism will also be put in place for an increase in affordable homes should Woodbourne deviate away from NZC.

Curzon Wharf was approved unanimously.

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“Birmingham is now at a turning point and our generation has the opportunity to transform the city into one of the most sustainable and leading cities in the world. The support received by Curzon Wharf is a reflection of that. It has taken us years of hard work to get here, and I hope the committee supports these unique proposals.

“This isn’t just another development, it’s a manifesto that will position Birmingham as the UK’s leading smart and sustainable city – as demonstrated by the highly successful eco-friendly delivery of the Commonwealth Games – helping to pave the way for the country’s Green Revolution. 

“It will act as a catalyst for the wider transformation of the Eastside area where a number of masterplans have been earmarked which otherwise would not be possible. It signposts Birmingham’s route to delivering transformational change to the city, promoting social, cultural and economic exchange in a truly transformative urban neighbourhood.”

Tani Dulay, Chief Executive, Woodbourne Group

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Curzon Wharf images from Woodbourne Group + Associated Architects.

Curzon Wharf: Approval Recommended for World's First Mixed-Use NZC Development

The world’s first mixed-use net zero ready development, featuring four new buildings ranging from nine to 53-storeys, is earmarked for approval.

A decision on these hybrid plans (outline + full) will be made on 27 April, at 11 am.

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Woodbourne Group is seeking outline consent for the demolition of the above site, to be replaced with four new net zero carbon (NZC) buildings comprising:

• up to 130K of Life Science floorspace over nine floors;
• up to 732 PBSA within Watt Tower (41 storey);
• up to 122 residential units within Galton Skytree (14 storey); 
• up to 498 BTR units with Boulton Tower (53-storey, 172m);
• and 3K SF of retail & over 15K SF of vibrant leisure opportunities across the site.

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Full detailed planning is also sought for the partial demolition of a listed canal wall, enabling the site to undergo walking and cycling route improvements, as well as the delivery of a new £2.49M public realm - the latter will be secured via a S106 legal agreement.

With a three-phase strategy in place, together with a strict design code, all builds are to be built to be highly energy efficient and powered by renewable energy sources, but would of course also be capable of operating more traditionally using non-renewable energy.

Luxury and leading student and Build to Rent (BTR) operators for the buildings have already been secured, says Woodbourne.

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More details on each building, accommodation, layouts, etc., will come via a Reserved Matters application should planning consent be achieved on Thursday.

What we do know is that at least 51% of the residential units to be built is required to have two or three-bedrooms, with the affordability offering now up to 5% (31 homes).

A mechanism will be put in place for an increase in affordable provision should Woodbourne not move forward with NZC in any of the phases.

This increase particularly impacts Curzon Wharf's viability. Why? CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) will cost c.£2.1M, to be paid on the PBSA element (equivalent to 9% affordable housing); public realm improvements will cost £2.5m (equivalent to 11%); and implementing Net Zero Carbon (NZC) will cost around a cool £11M.

Should the public realm improvements cost less than £2.5M, then the difference will be provided to the Council to be spent on off-site affordable housing. Much more to come here!

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“Birmingham is now at a turning point and our generation has the opportunity to transform the city into one of the most sustainable and leading cities in the world. The support received by Curzon Wharf is a reflection of that. It has taken us years of hard work to get here, and I hope the committee supports these unique proposals.

“This isn’t just another development, it’s a manifesto that will position Birmingham as the UK’s leading smart and sustainable city – as demonstrated by the highly successful eco-friendly delivery of the Commonwealth Games – helping to pave the way for the country’s Green Revolution. 

“It will act as a catalyst for the wider transformation of the Eastside area where a number of masterplans have been earmarked which otherwise would not be possible. It signposts Birmingham’s route to delivering transformational change to the city, promoting social, cultural and economic exchange in a truly transformative urban neighbourhood.”

Tani Dulay, Chief Executive, Woodbourne Group

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Curzon Wharf images from Woodbourne Group + Associated Architects.

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Curzon Wharf: World's First Mixed-Use Net Zero Development Set for Approval

A vision to create the world’s first mixed-use net zero ready development, which includes four new buildings ranging from nine to 53-storeys, is recommended for approval.

Plans will be considered on Thursday 23 February.

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Positioning Birmingham at the forefront of the green revolution, Curzon Wharf has been the process of seven years of consultation with the City Council, public, and a team of regeneration and built environment specialists.

Woodbourne Group is proposing outline planning permission for four new buildings comprising:

• up to 130K of office R&D and life science floorspace over nine floors;
• up to 732 purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) within a 41-storey;
• and up to 620 homes in two builds of 14 and 53-storeys (172m; 564ft).

The 53-storey Build to Rent skyscraper would deliver up to 498 new homes, while the 14-storey would accommodate 122 units.

Luxury and leading student and Build to Rent operators for the buildings have already been secured, according to Woodbourne.

Full planning is also proposed for partial demolition of a listed canal-side wall to open up the site. This would allow for improved walking and cycling routes around the site, and the creation of a new £2.49M public realm.

All of this would be complemented by over 3K SF of retail and over 15K SF of leisure opportunities, on a site that will be just an eight-minute walk to the forthcoming HS2 Curzon Street station.

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“Birmingham is now at a turning point and our generation has the opportunity to transform the city into one of the most sustainable and leading cities in the world. The support received by Curzon Wharf is a reflection of that. It has taken us years of hard work to get here, and I hope the committee supports these unique proposals.

“This isn’t just another development, it’s a manifesto that will position Birmingham as the UK’s leading smart and sustainable city – as demonstrated by the highly successful eco-friendly delivery of the Commonwealth Games – helping to pave the way for the country’s Green Revolution. 

“It will act as a catalyst for the wider transformation of the Eastside area where a number of masterplans have been earmarked which otherwise would not be possible. It signposts Birmingham’s route to delivering transformational change to the city, promoting social, cultural and economic exchange in a truly transformative urban neighbourhood.”

Tani Dulay, Chief Executive, Woodbourne Group

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Curzon Wharf, images from Woodbourne Group