Urban Splash and Places for People, two of the UK’s leading regeneration specialists, in a joint venture partnership are working with landowners on bringing forward the next phases of development at Port Loop.
As a large development, the project is being delivered in multiple phases. This summer, the team are preparing to submit reserved matters applications for Phases 3D, 4, 11 and 12 – please see further information below.
The Port Loop Site benefits from an outline planning permission which has been subject to two variations, including most recently in 2023 to reflect a refreshed masterplan for the development.
Subsequent reserved matters applications are required to provide further detail and must be approved by Birmingham City Council.
The consultation on the emerging proposals is now closed. For any further information, please contact portloop@turley.co.uk
Illustrative site wide phasing plan
On Tuesday 25th July, the project team presented the proposals at a live public webinar and took questions from the audience. You can view a recording of the session below.
Phase 3D
Places for People and Urban Splash are preparing a reserved matters application for 31 homes with associated landscaping, car parking and including a new towpath link
The scheme has been designed to be provide a variety of house types which will vary between 2-3 storeys in height and accommodate between 2-5 bedrooms in size. Each home will include a private terrace and benefit from the use of a shared garden and communal cycle facilities.
The development seeks to provide public access to the canal via a new towpath which will be designed to maximise waterfront activity that is safe and accessible in consultation with the Canal and River Trust’s aspirations for the City’s blue infrastructure.
Phase 4 (A&B)
Places for People and Urban Splash are preparing a reserved matters application for approximately 330 apartments over two development blocks at Phases 4A and 4B with associated landscaping and pedestrian links via new towpaths and a new bridge over the canal which runs through the centre of the site.
Architect on this phase - Howells
The apartment buildings will be designed to ensure the building heights (5-7 storeys) are sensitively designed and positively responds to the surrounding environment, with particular reference to the canal and users of the waterway.
The Phase 4 site is proposed to include landmark buildings connecting to the green gateway at Wiggin Street, which provides opportunities for the inclusion of landmark tree planting and soft landscaping buffers.
Phase 4 is in a unique position within the masterplan being situated within the midst of the green gateway and seemingly spliced in two by the canal. The buildings remain sensitive to the local context by adopting a low profile along Icknield Port Road, taking cues from the factories that made up much of the site’s industrial past.
The Design Code and Landscape Strategy set out that consideration should be given to interfaces with the surroundings at each phase. For Phase 4A and 4B, this includes the Phase 3 and Phase 7 parks, Phase 3D, Rotton Park Street, Wiggin Street, the Icknield Port Loop canal as well as the relationship with Icknield Port Road.
Architecturally, the façade responds to the red masonry affiliated to Birmingham and detailing attributed to local factories. Unique to the scheme is the circulation strategy – with the intention to maximise resident’s enjoyment and experience of the green gateway and canal, the shared stairwells and lifts are external, allowing residents to enjoy the blue and green amenity on offer as soon they leave their front door.
Phases 11 & 12
Places for People are preparing a reserved matters application for approximately 138 homes on land west of the Ladywood Middleway, near to the Ladywood Leisure Centre. The aspiration for this part of the site is to create access to the green gateway from Ladywood into Port Loop.
A mixture of family houses and apartments are proposed within this development phase. Emerging proposals include over 70 houses between two and three storeys, ranging between three and four bedrooms. There are two apartment blocks proposed at four storeys in height which seek to deliver over new one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.
Parking will be provided onsite to a majority of the homes. The site will also promote active travel with its close proximity to the Birmingham Old Line Canal, Ladywood Leisure Centre and the creation of a Green Ribbon to connect to other phases of Port Loop. It is hoped that with direct access to the public transport links such as the buses, in addition to its proximity to both trams and trains that there will be a reduced dependency on cars.
A green buffer will ring the site, retaining as many existing trees as possible and adding new habitats to the natural green public open space. Each house will have access to its own private garden, but also every resident will benefit from shared garden space, where the community can come together.
The design of the development has been carefully considered and will comply with the Port Loop Design Guide. To complement the existing architectural aspects of Ladywood and to incorporate the modern style established in the early phases of Port Loop, the new homes will be terraced and feature a traditional brick colour palette.