Unlocking a brownfield site for a future community

New Bond Street Redevelopment Technical Support

New Bond Street is located by the famous Grand Union Canal in an area of Birmingham renowned for its creative, industrial, and bohemian roots, and emerging as a popular location for residential development. Under the Homes England framework, we were part of a team led by Avison Young to assess the viability for redevelopment of this site in Digbeth, Birmingham. Our integrated technical engineering team assessed the site and advised Homes England on how to proceed.

Part of the site had the potential to be undevelopable because a large, 1.5-metre (4.9-foot) diameter sewer pipe ran through the northern corner of the site. We liaised with Severn Trent Water and devised a suitable pile foundation design to prove that the development could be delivered successfully without affecting the underground sewer. Between our structural and drainage engineers, we secured a build over agreement. The result was a larger developable area that increases the site’s potential value for Homes England.

Our transport planning team determined that the historic cobbled street running through the centre of the site, one of the few remaining in the area, could be retained. We worked with architect Allies and Morrison to retain the character of the street while providing suitable carriageways and increased footway provision.

We also analysed the baseline energy performance of the development and advocated a site strategy combining air source heat pumps and photovoltaics that would comply with Part L requirements. Additionally, with the site in close proximity to the Grand Union Canal, we assessed strict easements and no-build zones in the designs.

Ultimately, Homes England secured permission for the planned development of 762 new homes, of which 35 percent would be affordable. This will be delivered across five apartment blocks of up to 15 storeys.