The joint venture has been given the green light by Birmingham city council to revamp a row of listed buildings in Bristol Street.

The St Paul’s Associates-designed proposals comprise 108 student beds, to be developed in time for the intake of students in 2013.

The joint venture will also refurbish the existing ground floor shops.

Bristol Street sits within Birmingham’s Southside district, which has been earmarked for regeneration following the £600,000,000 redevelopment of the neighbouring New Street railway station.

Work will begin on site on 1 October 2012, with a completion date of July 2013.

Pennycuick Collins, chartered surveyors advised the joint venture.

Planning permission has been granted to convert the buildings on Bristol Street in the city centre into 100-bed student accommodation.

The development is being administered by the Gooch Estate, one of Birmingham’s most prominent land owning groups, and Birmingham Properties Group.

Ground floor commercial units will also be refurbished as part of the scheme.

Work began this week, and the project is expected to be finalised by July next year in time for the 2013 intake of students.

Charles Gillett from Pennycuick Collins, which acts as chartered surveyors for the Gooch Estate, said; “This is an exciting development which will see this area of the city updated in line with Birmingham’s ambitious regeneration plans.

This high quality student scheme will include a range of outstanding facilities for students in the region of outstanding facilities for students in the region and the Gooch Estate is delighted to be able to re-store this key building to its former glory.”

Planning permission has been granted to turn buildings on Bristol Street in the city centre into 100 bed student accommodation.

The development is being overseen by the Gooch Estate, one of Birmingham’s most prominent land-owning groups, and Birmingham Properties Group.

Ground-floor commercial units will also be refurbished as part of the project.

Work will start nect week, and is expected to be completed by July next year in time for the 2013 intake of students.

Charles Gillett from Pennycuick Collins, which acts for Gooch Estate, said the project would restore the buildings to their “former glory”.

He said: “This is an exciting development which will see this area of the city updated in line with Birmingham’s ambitious regeneration plans.”

After fully appraising the opportunity a re-launch of the building was undertaken and within 2 months an owner occupier was sourced to purchase the building.

John Tebbutt, Managing Director, commented “this is exactly the type of opportunity we excel with, the building and agents needed re-focusing on what they needed to achieve and with strong leadership we have obtained a great result”.

Since 2008 Birmingham Properties Group have managed a number of distressed assets on behalf of large Banking clients, their experience is extensive and their success visible through the market improvement in the asset’s capital value. Birmingham Properties Group continue to be proactive in this area with experience in both residential and commercial sites/buildings that have become distressed assets.

A new investment by Birmingham property specialists has found the recipe for success after attracting a well-known restaurant as tenants.

Birmingham Properties Group has acquired the 2,600 sq ft commercial unit in a high profile location that forms part of the Harborne Central development of apartments and townhouses. The company has announced that it has successfully let the unit to Thai restaurant Sabai Sabai on a new 10-year lease.

Birmingham Properties Group already owns properties occupied by leading Birmingham city centre restaurants Purnell’s and Love’s. The latest move demonstrates Birmingham Properties Group’s determination to expand its investment portfolio. It is also actively seeking interesting development and investment opportunities, said managing director John Tebbutt.

He added: “Sabai Sabai is proving to be a great asset to the Harborne village eating scene and is very popular. Their other restaurant in Moseley is well established and has a very good reputation and we wish them great success with their new venture in the heart of Harborne. “We were very pleased to acquire the property as it is in such a prominent location on the high street and is ideally suited to being used as a restaurant. Harborne has a growing reputation as a destination for food lovers and the arrival of Sabai Sabai will serve to enhance that.”

Sabai Sabai owner Torquil Chidwick said: “We felt this was the perfect size and location to expand our business. The feedback from customers has surpassed all our expectations.”

The restaurant is based in a commercial unit which forms part of the popular Harborne Central development, which represents the best of luxury living in Birmingham’s most sought after suburb. Comprising 16 contemporary townhouses and 64 apartments and penthouses, the flagship development by Birmingham Properties Group has created an exclusive new community in a prime setting in the heart of Harborne.
Landscaped communal spaces, secure gated access, lifts to all floors and a generous underground parking allocation are amongst the many benefits that living at Harborne Central provides.

Birmingham Properties Group, based in the city’s Jewellery Quarter, is focused on delivering innovative and high quality mixed-use schemes, urban regeneration, strategic recovery and asset management. Founded in the 1980s, the company has grown into a leading player in the Midland’s property market with a reputation for delivering high quality developments.

6. Harborne – Properties to buy in Birmingham

This gated development of flats and houses includes landscaped communal spaces, lifts to all floors and an underground car park. A three bedroom townhouse with roof terrace is for sale for £365,995 from Birmingham Properties Group, 0121 427 7022, www.harborne-central.co.uk

The John Bright Street building, a magnet for 20 years for Midland rock fans, has been completely renovated nearly five years after a blaze which gutted the premises.

The striking Victorian Grade II listed building, which once hosted concerts by the likes of Nirvana, Radiohead and Smashing Pumpkins, has been given a new lease of life by owners Birmingham Properties Group.

The £3 million building is being marketed as a potential office headquarters targeted at organisations seeking to benefit from the £500 million redevelopment of New Street Station.

In the blaze in November 2006, 500 people were evacuated, with 10 being treated for minor injuries. Initial fears that clubbers could have been trapped in the burning building proved groundless.

The blaze brought an end to a club with a colourful history, where many music lovers saw their first concert.

Edwards was opened in the 1970s and took its name from the controversial night club boss Eddie Fewtrell, the man dubbed Mr Nightclub for his huge Birmingham based entertainment empire.

John Tebbutt, managing director of Birmingham Properties Group, said: “This is a beautiful stone terracotta and brick building which we have carefully restored over the past 18 months.

“It now offers potential as an office HQ building in a fantastic location that is very close to the New Street Station extension, the new John Lewis store and the Mailbox.

“This is a very rarer opportunity to purchase a building of this quality which is located in the heart of the city core.

“The fire destroyed the entire internal structure but this has allowed us to create open plan floorplates so it offers very flexible space. There is a useable basement and four floors amounting to a total of around 25,000 sq ft of space.

“A purchaser is now being sought to either take the property as it is, or we will provide a bespoke fit out subject to agreeing terms.”

John Griffiths, of BPG’s agent GBR Phoenix Beard, said: “There has been a noticeable increase in inquiries since work at the station really became visible.

“A number of charities in particular have seen the opportunity to buy an incredibly strategic and convenient location. But it has been the interest from training and medical organisations in particular that prompted us to secure the much coveted D1 consent. This property now presents an incredible opportunity in terms of value and location.”

Work carried out on 81 – 91 John Bright Street includes careful restoration of the existing terracotta and brickwork, and the roof and windows have been completely replaced.

Those with ‘rooms with a view’ and ‘easy commuting’ on their wish list will be impressed by the much-anticipated £10 million redevelopment of Bedford’s former BT tower.

An open weekend is being held at The Heights on the 14th and 15th May between 11.00am and 3.00 pm. The Heights is a stylish 13 storey development of 109 high quality apartments and penthouses – which is ideally located just a short stroll from the train station and town centre.

Developers Birmingham Properties Group (BPG) carried out the 12-month refurbishment project at the landmark building.

The one and two-bedroom apartments boast stunning views of the town centre, the river and embankment, and miles of surrounding countryside including the Cardington hangars. Located on St John’s Street, near Bedford train station, The Heights is ideally placed for London commuters. A regular train service to London Kings Cross takes just 35 minutes. There are also excellent road links to the A1 and M1 via the new A421 bypass.

One bedroom apartments complete with high quality contemporary kitchens and bathrooms start at just £99,950. Two-bedroom apartments start at £130,000. Some of the 109 apartments have already been sold off-plan, including three of the four spacious penthouses. The development includes secure parking, a well equipped gym/work-out room and a bright and stylish reception area.

Birmingham Properties Group managing director John Tebbutt said: “This is a spectacular building with stunning views across the town and over miles of open countryside. We have been able to deliver a range of high quality apartments in a landmark location which will appeal to a wide range of buyers including investors, young couples and London commuters.”

He added: “Bedford has a highly skilled workforce and many young professionals choose to live in the town in order to commute to Milton Keynes or London. The town offers a very good quality of life and we are confident that a wide range of buyers will be keen to grasp the opportunity to live in such a well located development.”

John Tebbutt, Managing Director of Birmingham Properties Group believes that it is one of the fastest selling developments across the West Midlands. At least 85 per cent of the development of 80 properties comprising of 16 townhouses and 64 apartments have now been sold.

The success of the £20 million development will help draw a line under the challenges that have faced the development prior to BPG taking over the landmark site in late 2008. BPG were appointed by administrators Deloitte in December six months after the original developers Chase Homes had gone into administration. The Linford Group was awarded the construction contract by BPG in January 2009 enabling work to get underway once again on the site in the heart of Harborne High Street.

John admitted: “We launched this development 18 months ago into a very difficult market. What I think we have highlighted is that this is a good quality scheme in a good location and therefore, despite the difficult economic climate 85 per cent of the homes have been sold.”

Harborne Central’s location has been a key factor in appealing to buyers planning to purchase a home rather than investors looking to let the properties.

The development has appealed to professionals, both local and those moving to Birmingham for the first time. There has been noticeable interest from people working at the nearby Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Edgbaston.

John said: “Harborne has a traditional village feel with wonderful facilities, is in an excellent location and is very accessible to both the City and the hospital. Harborne is recognised an aspirational place to live and therefore the majority of buyers have been owner-occupiers.“This means that even in difficult times people have appreciated what is on offer at Harborne Central. We have not had to offer large discounts to sell which means people believe that they are getting a good quality product at the right price.”

Apartments are priced from £144,995 Townhouses are priced from £269,995 £244,995 All houses have a private patio and the three bedroom homes also have amazing private roof terraces, a rare treat particularly given the weather we are currently enjoying.”

For more information, visit the Harborne Central show home and marketing suite on Harborne High Street, open Thursday to Monday 10am – 5pm. Tel 0121 427 7022,

The new development is situated just beyond the western fringe of Snowdonia National Park, which is renowned for its outstanding natural beauty. Other local attractions include Dyfi Estuary, Talyllyn Lake and Cader Idris. Tywyn itself benefits from a seafront promenade with a sandy beach, combined with a good range of town centre amenities, including restaurants, cafes, primary and secondary schools, a dental practice, doctors’ surgery, a small cottage hospital and good rail and bus links. Shrewsbury is only 50 miles away, while Birmingham can be reached in two hours by train or by car.

Located only two miles from the popular holiday resort of Aberdovey, the Marine Parade development occupies the last piece of sea frontage available in the area. With the tourist magnet status of Aberdovey, house prices are out of the reach of many buyers, however, Marine Parade offers spacious, luxury properties at an affordable price.

The collection of exclusive family homes are priced from £249,950 to £259,950. Plot six has already been matched with a buyer, while plots one to five are available for occupation. However the developer BPG Ltd has held back from fitting the kitchens, enabling purchasers to select their preferred kitchen style, which will then be fitted prior to occupation.
The six family houses have been carefully designed and constructed to the highest standards. Using traditional local stone and finished to a luxurious modern specification, these homes offer traditional splendour with the efficiency and comfort of a modern property.

Each house benefits from four bedrooms and has a wet room on the ground floor. The whole of the first floor is dedicated to a large open plan kitchen, dining and living space. The wide first floor balcony provides panoramic views across the Cardigan Bay coastline. Each home benefits from a 10 year Zurich guarantee, giving homeowners complete peace of mind.

The master bedroom on the top floor of the house benefits from an en-suite shower room and a Juliet balcony. The family bathroom is also situated on the top floor, next to the second and third bedrooms. The fourth bedroom is situated on the ground floor and benefits from being next to the wet room. A deep storage cupboard is also located on the ground floor and there is a door leading off to the integral garage.

Celine Southall, director of developer BPG Ltd comments: “It is fantastic to be able to develop six very special family houses on the last piece of sea frontage available in Tywyn and the local area. In recent years Tywyn has grown in popularity and is able to match Aberdovey with its beauty and amenities, but without the high price tag.

“We have designed the Marine Parade homes to cater for modern lifestyles, with the whole first floor dedicated to open plan living. The ground floor wet room is ideal for families returning from a day on the beach or a sandy walk. However, one of the best features of the houses is the stunning panoramic views of Cardigan Bay that can be enjoyed from balconies on the first and second floors.”

The Marine Parade properties benefit from a front and rear garden and parking is also available at the front of each property, as well as at the rear in – and outside of – the integral garage.

Celine Southall added: “With only five properties now available for sale, there is only a limited opportunity to secure one of these stunning Marine Parade homes. With four bedrooms, two bathrooms and an en-suite off the master bedroom, there is plenty of space and accommodation to be able to host family and friends.”

Marine Parade is located on Tywyn’s sea front, accessed off the A493, close to Tywyn train station. A showhome is available to view by appointment with joint agents Sandersons and Shearer Morris. Sandersons’ Tywyn office operates a viewing hotline until 10pm each evening, please contact 01654 712 685 to make an appointment. Shearer Morris can be contacted on 01654 710 388.