Architects are called in to map out a new vision for 300-year-old estate
ARCHITECTS have been commissioned to map out a vision for the Calthorpe Estate over the next half a century.
Broadway Malyan has been enlisted to develop a fresh vision for the historic estate in Edgbaston which will place residential and education at its heart with a more mixed-use business community alongside medical, tourism and cultural.
The 1,580-acre estate has been in the ownership of the AnstrutherGough-Calthorpe family since 1717 and counts sporting venues such as Edgbaston Stadium and Edgbaston Priory and the Botanical Gardens among its locations.
It is also home to more than three million sq ft of commercial office space, in addition to Pebble Mill, Edgbaston Medical Quarter and the University of Birmingham.
A key focus of the new commission is the area earmarked for commercial use when masterplanned in 1958 by renowned Birmingham architect John Madin, which stretches from Five Ways, along the Hagley Road and Bristol Road to the south of the university.
This includes Madin’s Chamber of Commerce building, which was placed on sale by the chamber in 2014, and New Square Garden, a residential and commercial project where demolition work has just started to bring down an old tower block.
Broadway Malyan director James Rayner, who is leading the project, said: “The aim was to develop a vision that maximised the estate’s potential and place it at the heart of Birmingham’s success in the long term.
“With its rich mix of quality offices, institutions, the centres of healthcare and medical excellence, plus the estate’s heritage, recreation and period character housing, there really are very few places quite like the Calthorpe Estate and it is hard to overstate its importance to the future prosperity and strength of Birmingham as a whole.
“The owners of Calthorpe Estate have been careful and diligent stewards over the years and have created a vibrant mix of uses that have ensured Edgbaston’s status as the city’s best residential area, as well as a popular commercial and leisure destination.
“However, they realise that, as the city and society in general evolves, so must they.
“As part of this project, we will look at a range of development scenarios including a more mixed-use business community, the opportunities offered by medical, tourism and cultural uses and a future with residential and education at its heart.
“This is with a view to creating a vision for a highly connected district that doesn’t just secure future success for the Calthorpe Estate but can also acts as a catalyst for positive change across the wider city.”
Calthorpe Estates’ chief executive Mark Lee added: “The estate has evolved significantly over the years.
“Edgbaston went through a phase of development appropriate to Bir- mingham’s expansion in the 1960s. However, the way people work is now changing.
“We need to refresh our commercial centre with a vision that will contribute to Birmingham’s newfound vibrancy and economic growth while maintaining the special character and community that Edgbaston has developed since Sir Richard Gough first acquired the land over 300 years ago.
“We have commissioned Broadway Malyan as a result of their enormous international experience in designing urban extensions for cities globally.
“Furthermore, we wanted to develop a masterplan with ambitions to help shape our minds and one which will see the estate thrive for the next 300 years.”