Stoford signs off on BBC’s Typhoo Wharf HQ
BBC plans to quit the Mailbox for a new home in Digbeth have taken a step forward, with final fit-outs now set to begin at the corporation’s historic Tea Factory building.
Property developer Stoford and main contractor BAM says they have now completed the £39m conversion of the 84,000 sq ft former Typhoo building on Bordesley Street, a 1930’s factory which had fallen derelict after closing down in 1978.
The BBC announced plans to relocate across Birmingham in 2022, part of a drive to rebalance its operations away from London.
According to its own forecasts, the corporation says the move, alongside increased levels of editorial spending in the West Midlands, will add £282 million of economic benefit to the region by 2032.
Set to house around 700 staff, the building will anchor a wider regeneration project around a canal basin site, known as Typhoo Wharf, set to transform around 10 acres of former industrial land into around 800,000 sq ft of new residential, office and hospitality accommodation around the new BBC building.
The BBC and its contractors will now complete an internal fit out of the building, which is due to open in 2027.
The Tea Factory base for the BBC was designed by Howells. Credit: Typhoo Wharf
Gerard Ludlow, director at Stoford, said the building was an important first step for the wider regeneration of Typhoo Wharf.
“We’ve taken a building with real history and given it a new purpose, one that we hope will have a lasting impact on Digbeth and the wider Birmingham creative scene,” he said.
“There have been challenges along the way, particularly in adapting a building like this to meet the BBC’s needs, but that makes the end result all the more significant.
“To have the BBC as an occupier says a lot about the quality of what’s been delivered, and we are thankful to our professional team and BAM for helping us get here.”
Once opened, several BBC editorial teams will make the switch from the corporation’s existing premises at the Mailbox, which is currently home to The Archers, BBC Asian Network, BBC Newsbeat, BBC 1Xtra, BBC Radio WM and Midlands Today.
Funded by Aviva Investors on behalf of its Lime Property Fund, The Tea Factory was developed by Stoford in partnership with The Gooch Estate, alongside support from the city council.
“The Tea Factory is a powerful symbol of Birmingham’s ambition — a heritage landmark reimagined as a world-class home for the BBC and a catalyst for the wider regeneration of Digbeth,” said Joanne Roney, managing director of Birmingham City Council.
“This project shows what can be achieved when partners come together with a shared vision, and it strengthens the city’s position as a thriving hub for the UK’s creative industries.
“The completion of this first phase at Typhoo Wharf unlocks new opportunities for jobs, investment and innovation, and marks an exciting step forward in Birmingham’s long-term growth.”
Jason Horton, chief operating officer for BBC Nations, added: “This marks a major milestone on the journey towards our new home in Digbeth, a 100-year-old industrial building being brought back to life as a sustainable broadcasting and digital production centre.
“It underlines our commitment to the West Midlands, one of the BBC’s priority creative clusters, and to supporting investment and skills development across the region.
“I’m looking forward to the Tea Factory opening its doors and helping to scale up the ambition of turning Digbeth into a world-class creative quarter.”
