Another First For Edgbaston
One Edgbaston - July 2007
19 George Road, the £2.2 million contemporary office building in Edgbaston has exceeded current building regulations and incorporated some of the latest requirements for a sustainable building. The BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating recognises the building’s environmental standards and gives it the very highest ‘green’ credentials.
The building, pre let to Shaws, the largest independent firm of dedicated Chartered Tax Advisors in the UK, has been appropriately designed to complement the surrounding period properties and conservation area, while delivering a striking and modern design. Commitment to sustainability has been at the heart of Calthorpe Estates for nearly three centuries. Today’s challenging environmental standards are integral to the future vision of the company and all new office buildings are being built to exacting environmental criteria.
One such building is Calthorpe House, the £40 million Grade A office development, which is on target to achieve another BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’. Construction of the 102,000 sq ft development, situated near Five Ways Island, will start this year and the building will offer impressive open floor plates of up to 22,000 sq ft upon completion.
Investing in Edgbaston
Family owned since 1717, Calthorpe Estates is dedicated to the continua improvement and development of the 610 hectare estate and is investing £350 million in delivering exceptional work and lifestyle facilities for Edgbaston. The Calthorpe Estate covers the majority of the west end of Birmingham - stretching from Five Ways Island it runs two miles along the Hagley Road and as far down as the junction where Pebble Mill Road meets the Pershore Road.
Together with Calthorpe House, the landmark development portfolio includes Edgbaston Mill, a new retail and leisure destination; Edgbaston Galleries, the £110 million re-development of Edgbaston Shopping Centre and University Science Park, Pebble Mill, a £90 million 12-acre science park.
Birmingham will soon enjoy a new retail and leisure destination opposite Edgbaston Cricket Ground. Edgbaston Mill, the £100 million nine-acre scheme, will boast a multitude of amenities, offering a variety of food and leisure facilities, office accommodation and a 175-bedroom hotel. The development will be complemented by landscaped surroundings, tree-lined avenues and two new public squares.
Recently the green light was given by Birmingham City Council to commence work on the commercial element of the scheme, which will start on site later this year, with the first phase due to open in 2008. In addition, 344 contemporary and luxurious apartments, developed by Redrow Homes, are currently under construction, and residents will begin to move in this September.
Edgbaston Galleries, the £110 million scheme that will transform the retail and leisure experience at Five Ways, is actively starting to take shape.
Demolition of the existing Edgbaston Shopping Centre is scheduled to take place later this year. Once opened, the development will offer a high-quality location for shopping, socialising and working and will represent the largest regeneration project of a principal gateway to Birmingham.
Work on one of the most significant investments in the West Midlands’ expanding knowledge economy is also progressing at University Science Park, Pebble Mill. The scheme will deliver a 393,000 sq ft world-class centre for the biomedical industry to help cultivate advances within the UK’s life sciences sector.
Detailed masterplanning of the £90 million scheme, based at the famous former BBC site, is currently underway and construction of the first buildings on the science park is expected to begin in 2008.
As well as the four landmark developments, Calthorpe Estates is also committed to enhancing the wider area of the Estate.
A transformation is in progress for one of Birmingham’s key gateways, the Hagley Road. Calthorpe Estates is investing £4.5 million in regenerating the site of the former Duck Inn, next door to TGI Fridays, by creating a 62 bedroom Premier Travel Inn and Beefeater restaurant. Being developed by Whitbread, the facilities will open in January 2008, and support Calthorpe Estates’ desire to improve this main arterial route into Birmingham City Centre.
Living and Working on the Calthorpe Estate
Much time and money is actively invested into the continual development of the whole Estate in order to preserve its unique environment for residents and workers.
Renowned for some of the most stylish and high quality homes, the Estate offers some of the finest Georgian period properties, set in the tree-lined avenues of one of England’s largest urban conservation areas – and all just a mile from Birmingham’s vibrant city centre.
There is also a thriving business community on the Estate who occupy the diverse range of commercial properties available in Edgbaston. With flexible lease arrangements and firstclass cultural and recreational facilities, the Calthorpe Estate provides the perfect location for business and pleasure.
Edgbaston has also delivered a first for Birmingham by attracting the first Michelin-starred restaurants, Simpsons and Jessica’s, to the area. These have undoubtedly contributed to Birmingham’s being named as one of the top ten heavenly food hot spots in the UK by national food magazine Olive.
Many enhancements have already taken place on the Estate and, with further developments scheduled to get underway later this year, 2007 is shaping up to be an exciting year in Edgbaston as Calthorpe Estates continues to improve the area for years to come.