News

Rebirth of the River Rea approved by Birmingham City Council’s Planning Committee

On behalf of Dandara Living, Turley has secured approval from Birmingham City Council’s Planning Committee on an application to deliver over 1,300 new homes and 2,700m2 of commercial space, at Warner’s Fields in Digbeth.

We provided expert Planning, Strategic Communications, Economics, Sustainability, Heritage & Townscape and EIA services to Dandara Living for the development, which will deliver a new sustainable neighbourhood centred around a renaturalised River Rea, which runs through the middle of the site, but is not currently accessible to the public. 

Work can now begin to regenerate the brownfield site, which is located within a mile of rail, tram, bus and coach connections. 

Dandara will invest in landscaping the river, creating desirable new public spaces along its banks and laying the foundations for a dynamic new mixed-use destination a short walk from the city centre. This first phase of the development will spearhead the delivery of the council’s Rea Valley Urban Quarter regeneration with successive phases delivering further homes, workspaces, commercial space and new active travel routes. 

Dandara Living is one of the UK’s leading Built-to-Rent Developers with an already strong track record of delivery in Birmingham City Centre at its sites at Aston Place and Unity & Armouries.

Rachel Allwood, Planning Director at Dandara Living, said:

“We are delighted that Birmingham City Council’s Planning Committee has today approved our application to deliver a new neighbourhood at Warner’s Fields.

“The redevelopment will deliver much-needed new homes to meet Birmingham’s housing need and drive the ecological and environmental transformation of this part of the city by renaturalising the River Rea and delivering significant net biodiversity gain.

“Phase 1 will see the excavation and landscaping of the River Rea for the first time in decades, alongside over 1,300 new homes and 2,700m2 of commercial space. This initial investment will catalyse the construction of successive phases, including further mixed-use developments and bring much needed regeneration into the area.

“We are grateful to the Officers at BCC who recognised the necessity of this phasing and recommended the scheme for approval and to the Committee Members who approved it.”

24 May 2024