Hammerson gets green light for Birmingham regeneration project

Hammerson has received approval to redevelop an underutilized car park next to Birmingham's Bullring into a city centre regeneration project called Edgbaston Street Gardens. 

Hammerson project in Birmingham

This development aims to provide up to 745 apartments or 1,544 student rooms, or a combination, with demolition planned for late 2027 and construction from 2028. 
The project is designed to address Birmingham's needs for housing, environmental improvements, transport, and urban regeneration, specifically catering to its young urban population and the demand for over 30,000 new homes by 2031. It will also introduce new green spaces, amenities, commercial uses, and public realm improvements, connecting key city districts like Digbeth and Smithfield.
As a long-term investor in Birmingham, Hammerson recently took full ownership of Bullring and Grand Central, demonstrating its strong commitment to the city. Since 2021, Hammerson has revitalized over 400,000 sq ft of retail space in Birmingham, attracting new brands and experiences, which has boosted local economic activity and drawn nearly a million additional visitors to the Bullring this summer. Hammerson is also coordinating with local stakeholders to relocate the indoor market to a new facility by late 2027, allowing the car park to remain operational until development begins.
Hammerson’s strategic plans for new city centre regeneration through the redevelopment of an underutilised carpark have been given the go-ahead. Edgbaston Street Gardens, which is adjacent to Bullring, has the potential to deliver up to 745 apartments or 1,544 student rooms, or a blend of the two. Detailed plans will be determined ahead of the start of demolition in late 2027, with potential construction from 2028 onwards.
Harry Badham, chief development and asset repositioning officer at Hammerson, commented: “This planning consent for Edgbaston Street Gardens is a great outcome given the city’s needs and priorities, especially around housing. As long-term backers of Birmingham, we know the potential growth that is achieved with targeted investment and regeneration. This has been evident through our investment since 2021 in the Bullring itself, and a programme of attracting the best brands and experiences to the city. This is all underpinned by our core belief in cities as engines of growth, which resonates across our portfolio.”