Houses to be built on uni campus after sale of land
PART of a university campus in Birmingham is to be turned into housing. Birmingham City University (BCU) has sold a 14.5-acre plot of its campus in Perry Barr to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) for £6.1 million.
The City North Campus is slowly being wound down by BCU as it transfers all of its operations to a new base in Eastside and sister site in Westbourne Road, Edgbaston.
The plot in Aldridge Road will be redeveloped by the HCA into new housing.
This latest deal allows the university to retain occupancy of its premises, which represents the vast majority of its teaching accommodation in Perry Barr, until late 2018 at which point its school of education and social work will relocate to a new building under construction in Edgbaston.
The HCA will now draw up a planning application in conjunction with Birmingham City Council and BCU to redevelop the site.
The university’s vice-chancellor Professor Graham Upton said: “The sale further confirms our determination to leave a powerful legacy for the local community who have been nothing but supportive of us during our time at Perry Barr.
“We know that Birmingham’s population is growing faster than homes are being built so our land will help the Government address this problem while creating new jobs and strengthening the Perry Barr community in the process.”
Karl Tupling, the HCA’s general manager for the Midlands, added: “Aldridge Road is a significant development opportunity and an excellent example of the HCA’s work to increase house building.
“We will now work with Birmingham City Council and Birmingham City University to accelerate the development process to ensure the site is brought back into productive use at the earliest possible opportunity.”
Carl Potter, senior director at property consultancy GVA which sold the land for BCU, said: “This is a tremendous outcome for the site.
“Birmingham City University will be provided with the confidence that their departure in late 2018 will not lead to an under-utilised asset in one of the city’s main growth area.”