Calthorpe Estates confirms sale of Edgbaston housing site
A £13m sustainable housing scheme will be built in south Birmingham, after WB Property Group completed a land deal to build 52 new homes on behalf of social housing provider Citizen.
The proposals for 268-274 Hagley Road, which received planning consent from Birmingham City Council in 2024, will see a vacant 19th century villa demolished to make way for 42 apartments and 10 townhouses following the purchase of the site from Calthorpe Estates.
Work is expected to begin in early 2026, with a project duration of around two years.
“This is one of the most exciting schemes we’ve been involved with to date. It sets a new standard for affordable housing – the architecture, the sustainability, the placemaking, it’s all exceptional,” said Steve Wilkes, construction director at WB Property Group.
“We’re incredibly proud to be working with Citizen Housing and delivering what we believe will become the benchmark for sustainable regeneration and brownfield development in Birmingham.
“With contracts now exchanged and mobilisation underway, we look forward to bringing this ambitious and socially impactful scheme to life.”
Five units, or just under 10% of the site, will be allocated as affordable housing.
Architects Bond Bryan are designers for the scheme, while Knight Frank handled the sale process.
Will Jordan, Head of Birmingham Residential Development at Knight Frank, said the sale demonstrated the continued strength of the Birmingham residential development market, particularly for sites with planning permission already in place.
“The scheme’s mix of townhouses and apartments, combined with its excellent connectivity to both the city centre and the M5, made it highly attractive to developers,” he said.
“With the upcoming SPRINT transport route and proximity to major employment hubs including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Colmore business district, this scheme is well-positioned to meet strong demand for quality homes in Edgbaston.”
In a statement, former owners Calthorpe Estates said they were “delighted” to have completed a deal for the 1.5-acre site, which they said had been “over a decade in the making”.
“From early discussions with Birmingham City Council on scale and need, to working with Bond Bryan Architects and Knight Frank on a considered design, the scheme secured unanimous planning approval in 2024, ensuring a high-quality development that responds to local demand and enhances the neighbourhood,” they said.
“These homes are set to make a real difference for the Edgbaston community. We’re looking forward to seeing this scheme come to life.”
