Plans in for BBC’s new home in Birmingham

The corporation is hoping to move from its current home at The Mailbox to the new 84,000 sq ft custom-built centre in 2025.

By repurposing the Bordesley Street landmark, Stopford is aiming to deliver one of Birmingham’s first net zero carbon in construction office buildings.

The building will utilise the majority of its existing facades, structure and substructure, avoiding substantial carbon emissions.

Typhoo Wharf, as it is currently known, will house several BBC editorial teams, including The Archers, BBC Asian Network, BBC Newsbeat, BBC Radio WM and Midlands Today.

Gerard Ludlow, Director at Stoford, said: “Typhoo Wharf is a significant opportunity, which will not only catalyse reinvigoration of the wider area, but will also help to kick start further private and public-sector investment into Digbeth’s built environment and transport connections.

“Central to our Typhoo scheme is the commitment to conserving the historic building, which dates back to 1929 but has been left empty for decades.

“The BBC’s new home will be instantly recognisable to everyone who travels into Birmingham on HS2, the tram, or into our existing railway stations.”

The building is on target to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘outstanding’ and an energy performance certificate (EPC) of ‘A’.

Stoford is working with The Gooch Estate, Glenn Howells Architects to deliver the scheme and to prepare a comprehensive vision for the wider area.

Over the next decade, Stoford plans to deliver up to 800,000 sq ft of new residential, office and hospitality accommodation around the new BBC.

The wider scheme will see more than 10 acres of underutilised land around Typhoo Wharf and the adjoining canal basin transformed into a new mixed-use neighbourhood characterised by attractive public spaces and open thoroughfares.

Grant Associates is designing the new landscape and urban realm, which will create a new canalside quarter centred on the canal which used to bring tea in and out of the original Typhoo building.

The new public square will be delivered in time for the first BBC staff to move in 2026.

updated:  23/11/2022