THE SITE
HISTORY
The site has a long history of being a place of work, industry and urban living throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, owing to the railway connections and proximity to the Digbeth Branch Canal.
The site became the home of the Typhoo Tea Factory building in 1929, which was designed by Harry W Weedon and built over five major phases between 1929 and the 1960s, pioneering the first Typhoo tea bags during this time. In 1978 Typhoo relocated to Moreton, Merseyside and the building has remained vacant ever since.
The proposed development will preserve the industrial heritage of the site whilst creating a landmark modern development fit for 21st century use. This will be accomplished through the retrofitting of existing elements, retention of well-recognised façade features and the delivery of a new sustainable building and public spaces that will contribute to the wider reinvigoration of the area.
TYPHOO REVOLUTION
THE SITE TODAY AND TOMORROW
The development area is in the northern part of Digbeth. The site presents a fantastic opportunity for thoughtful reinvigoration, through a combination of heritage retention and modernisation.
The BBC Birmingham headquarters development comprises the Typhoo Tea Factory building fronting Bordesley Street as well as land to the rear of the Typhoo Tea Factory building between the canal basin and Benacre Drive.
The wider site sits within a reinvigoration area bounded by Bordesley Street to the south, New Canal Street to the west, Pickford Street to the east and Fazeley Street to the north. It is within walking distance of the city centre, Birmingham New Street and several existing and planned public transport hubs including the new Curzon Street HS2 station, which is due to open in 2028.
The Site today
CONTRIBUTING TO BIRMINGHAM'S FUTURE
Birmingham is undergoing a generational period of change. The City Council’s “Our Future City Plan” (OFCP) sets out a bold vision for change in central Birmingham over the next 20 years, noting the future developments that will ensure the city continues to be one of the largest growing city economies in Europe.
The development site is identified for major reinvigoration within Birmingham City Council’s adopted Curzon Masterplan which establishes the city’s aims to create a world-class high-speed rail station linked to the unique offer of the location, enterprise, skills, people and spirit of Birmingham. The Masterplan maximises the reinvigoration and development potential of HS2 in the city centre, particularly within Digbeth, and the potential new jobs and boost to the local economy this can deliver.
The rebirth of the former Typhoo Tea Factory building will contribute towards city-wide reinvigoration, building on the 2022 Commonwealth Games and HS2 as part of a “golden decade” of transformation across the city.
Click here to find out more about the Masterplan.
