Homes England and Digbeth Loc. Studios to deliver major creative development in Digbeth
Homes England and Digbeth Loc. Studios Ltd will deliver a major new creative and mixed-use neighbourhood at Fazeley Street in the heart of Digbeth, Birmingham.
The proposed development represents a significant step forward in the continued regeneration of Digbeth, strengthening Birmingham’s growing reputation as a national hub for film, television and creative production.
Homes England has announced Digbeth Loc. Studios as its preferred development partner (subject to contract and standstill period) to deliver the development.
The new neighbourhood will build on the success of established organisations and venues including BBC Studioworks, The Bond, The Custard Factory and The Tea Factory, creating a vibrant destination where creative businesses, residents and visitors can live, work, create and collaborate.
This is an exciting opportunity to build on Digbeth’s unique identity and growing reputation as a centre for creative excellence. Working closely with our partners, we want to deliver a place that celebrates the area’s heritage while creating new opportunities for people and businesses to thrive.
Digbeth Loc. Studios has already played a pivotal role in the area’s growth as a destination for film and television production. Together, we will seek to create a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood that supports economic growth, delivers new homes and further strengthens Birmingham’s position as a leading creative and cultural centre.
– Jo Nugent, Executive Director, Midlands at Homes England
The project forms part of a wider ambition to establish Digbeth as a globally recognised destination for the creative sector and a leading example of creative-led regeneration.
As the next phase of Digbeth Loc. Studios’ expansion, and working in partnership with the Mayor of the West Midlands and Birmingham City Council, the development will support the growth of the region’s creative industries while unlocking new homes, employment opportunities and investment for the area.
This time last year I announced a bold vision for Digbeth – that it would be bigger, better and bolder than Manchester’s Media City.
Today’s announcement by Homes England is another key milestone in that journey, which has seen Digbeth emerge over the last 12 months as a nationally significant hub for the creative industries.
– Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands
The development team has previously been responsible for the transformation of the Banana Warehouse on this site into the MasterChef studio, as well as leading the redevelopment of Television Centre and the Truman Brewery in London.
Fazeley Street is the next stage of Digbeth’s creative story. Digbeth is already one of Birmingham’s most vibrant and distinctive neighbourhoods, and we are proud to have played a part in that at Digbeth Loc. Studios, home to the new Peaky Blinders franchise.
Alongside the BBC’s investment at Typhoo Wharf and the wider community of creative businesses, artists and cultural organisations embedded here, we now have an opportunity to accelerate the development of one of the UK’s most dynamic creative and cultural quarters.
Our ambition is to create a place where creative businesses can grow, and local talent can build a future, strengthening Birmingham’s reputation as a global destination for film and television production.
Over the coming months, we will be working with Homes England, Birmingham City Council, the Mayor of the West Midlands and the West Midlands Combined Authority to implement our plans. It is a vision which will build on Digbeth’s creative and industrial heritage whilst opening up new opportunities for the city and its people.
– Steven Knight, Founder of Digbeth Loc. Studios