Edition Birmingham – the premium residential scheme being developed by the city’s specialist residential developer, Sphere Group, alongside strategic partner Select Property – is “crucial” to the vision for a thriving city centre, according to Birmingham City Council’s most senior planning director. 

Simon Delahunty-Forrest, the city council’s director of planning and development, was given a tour of the development site, in Brindley Drive off Centenary Square, as the strategic partners make significant progress towards completing the scheme, with phase one due to be ready next year.

Edition Birmingham comprises two adjoining towers: the 149-apartment, 15-storey Park Residence and the larger Centenary Tower, which has 432 apartments across 45 storeys. In November the scheme became one of the first developments of its kind in the UK to gain Building Safety Act Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator. This recognises that developers have considered building safety at every stage of the design.

The development is located close to the Library of Birmingham and adjacent to the £1.2 billion Paradise scheme, which is transforming an area that includes the city’s historic town hall and will include the creation of three new public squares, eight buildings and 1.3 million sq ft of contemporary office space. Deloitte, Fieldfisher and Forvis Mazars are among the major firms basing their Birmingham hubs at Paradise. 

In the latest developments on-site, the construction team, led by contractor Midgard, has broken ground, removing 130,000 sq ft of earth – enough to cover three football pitches a metre deep – to make way for the buildings. 

Meanwhile, the towers’ invisible metal base, which comprises 578 tonnes of reinforced steel, has been fixed in place. Contractors have begun pouring concrete for the basement slab, creating a raft to support the towers, with over 2.5 million metres cubed of concrete poured on to the site.

After his tour, Simon Delahunty-Forrest, director of planning and development at Birmingham City Council, said: “Edition Birmingham is a stunning development and it’s fantastic to see work underway after gaining Gateway 2 approval. The scheme sits next to Paradise and within a major economic development area that will house exciting new residential and commercial assets being brought to life over the next decade.

“Our vision for Birmingham includes improving our world-class cultural assets and creating high-value jobs and desirable living space, ensuring a vibrant city centre and drawing in residents and visitors alike. High-quality residential developments like Edition Birmingham are crucial to helping the city council deliver this vision.”

Sphere Group and Select Property have previously revealed that all 149 apartments in the Park Residence tower have been sold, while the partners report strong sales of the adjoining Centenary Tower. The development has so far generated over £115 million in revenue. 

Residents will have access to an unmatched range of wellness-led amenities and benefits. Alongside cutting-edge gym and spa facilities, residents will enjoy a 20-metre above-ground swimming pool with an accompanying hydro pool, plunge pool, sauna and steam room. Residents will also be able to scale a climbing wall overlooking the city from the 46th floor before relaxing at the sky lounge with private dining experiences on the 44th and 45th floors.

Meanwhile, the development includes a premium co-working lounge, called The Study, and outdoor co-working space on a 14th-floor garden terrace. Other outdoor amenities include a 9,000 sq ft podium terrace with a cinema screen and a BBQ area that connects the two buildings.

Completion of Park Residence is expected in 2027 followed by Centenary Tower in 2028.

Thomas Taylor, managing director of Sphere Group, said: “Our teams on the ground are making great progress after Edition gained prestigious Gateway 2 approval, and we’re now on track to welcome our first residents next year. It was fantastic to host Simon and show him how the development is taking shape. We’re proud that Edition is part of the vision to make Birmingham city centre a truly world-class place to live, work and spend leisure time.”

Adam Price, CEO of Select Property, added: “We’ve seen a huge appetite for the apartments at Edition Birmingham and it’s no wonder. Residents will be in the city centre’s most luxurious new development and have outstanding cultural assets, leisure amenities and jobs on their doorstep. Birmingham is on the up and we’re thrilled to be part of it.”

Edition Birmingham’s designs have been led by Weedon Architects with support from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). The development has financial backing from PGIM Real Estate, the real estate business of PGIM, one of the largest investment firms in the world, as well as Eldridge.