News

Public consultation opens for Warners Fields – a new riverside neighbourhood in the centre of the city

Acting on behalf of Dandara Living, Turley has opened a pre-planning application public consultation on plans to create a new riverside neighbourhood on the edge of Birmingham city centre. The proposed neighbourhood will be named Warners Fields in recognition of the area’s rich history and early industrial past.

We are providing expert Planning, Strategic Communications, Economics, Sustainability, Heritage & Townscape and EIA services for this major investment which will help to bring Birmingham City Council’s Rea Valley Urban Quarter ambitions to life, by opening up the River Rea and the surrounding area to the public, bringing the people of Birmingham closer to nature through the provision of new public spaces on both banks of the river, leading to the proposed linear park on Moseley Street.

The new neighbourhood will prioritise walking and cycling on its upgraded streets and cycle ways, with over 50% of the site devoted to green and pedestrian spaces. It will also provide flexible workspaces, shops, restaurants and up to 3,000 high-quality new homes once all phases are complete.

We have worked with Dandara Living and  Birmingham-based Glenn Howells Architectsto create a long-term vision for the site, which is located to the South West of the former Smithfield Market – south of Moseley Street, east of Barford Street, west of Lombard Street and north of Alcester Street.

The first phase of Warners Fields, will include approximately 1,300 new homes to rent, which will be built and managed by Dandara Living itself, UK leaders in the build to rent sector. Most buildings will range in height from 6 – 10 storeys, with a select number of taller buildings between 11 and 29 storeys, the largest of which will be located to the north of the site, next to the proposed linear park on Moseley Street. The first phase will also include the Henry Bradford Centre, designed to support start-ups and small businesses; and the Apollo Building, a flexible hub for cycle storage, bike repairs, vehicle sharing, electric vehicle charging, residents parking, and gym facilities. The Apollo building will be converted into a residential building once nearby public transport improvements like the HS2 Curzon Street Station, Eastside metro extension, and expansion of Birmingham Moor Street station are complete.

The public consultation is now open and will run until Monday 25 October 2021. Before the consultation closes, there will be several online and in-person events for members of the public to ask questions and find out more information. Event and project information are available on a dedicated consultation website www.warnersfields.info.

Dandara Living intends to submit three planning applications to Birmingham City Council before the end of the year. A “hybrid application”, with detailed elements for the majority of the site, will enable construction to start as soon as possible on land in Dandara’s ownership following planning permission being granted; an “outline” application for the wider masterplan area, will set the context for detailed planning applications to be submitted at a later date; and an “enabling works” application, will facilitate the start of minor site preparation works as soon as possible.

Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “I am very excited to see progress in these plans for a new mixed-use riverside community development on the edge of the city centre.

“So many people in Birmingham don’t even know we have a river, so I am really pleased to see the work Dandara has done with the Environment Agency over the last couple of years which will help transform the River Rea and its banks into the public asset that it can and should be for the city”.

Ed Tynan, Director of the Dandara Group added: “We are immensely proud of the work that has gone into, and continues to be put into, these emerging plans.

“Dandara has a track record of successful regeneration and brownfield development across the UK and is already managing a popular development at Aston Place in Birmingham. This masterplan for Warners Fields demonstrates our commitment to the city and the collaborative ambitions of the City Council.

The River Rea is a complex challenge we have to deal with, but will also be the unique blue spine of this new neighbourhood – it makes it special – and I’m confident all the hard work and effort will be worth it when we see these new streets, buildings and public spaces start to come out of the ground.”

Glenn Howells Architects Partner, Glenn Howells said: “This hugely exciting project, which is on our doorstep here in Digbeth, has the opportunity to create a new quarter for Birmingham that reveals and celebrates the river that was such an important part of the city’s history but until now has been hidden. We have enjoyed working closely with Dandara and Birmingham City Council to create a healthy and sustainable neighbourhood for people to live, work and enjoy.”

8 October 2021

This scheme was previously referred to as ‘Cheapside’