New homes built at canalside site with £13 million investment

Joint venture partners Urban Splash and Places for People marked the start of a new phase of work at Port Loop in Birmingham today. The occasion was supported by Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, who confirmed a £13 million investment into the site by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) – funding which will be responsible for helping to deliver the new homes at Phase 2 at Port Loop. 

The partners have been transforming this historic, 43-acre canalside site, already delivering 105 new homes – all of which are completed and fully-occupied. The partners, working with Birmingham Council and the Canal & River Trust, have also created a one-acre public park, improved towpaths, and partnered with local operators to deliver a broad programme of community events.  

Now, early works are underway on a brand-new phase that is being supported by the WMCA funding. The homes in this phase include 58 apartments designed by architects shedkm, offering future residents dual-aspect views across the neighbourhood and Main Line Canal.  

The joint venture partners are also moving forward with a further 500 new homes having applied for planning for the next phases. Future proposals include a 31 house-scheme designed by shedkm, plus a phase of 331-apartments designed by Birmingham-architect Howells – a phase which will feature a new public park and residential green spaces. The homes front onto a new canal towpath in alignment with both partners long standing commitment to sustainability and opening up the waterways at Port Loop.   

Sammie Steele, Places for People’s managing director of placemaking and regeneration, said: “We are delighted to continue our work at Port Loop, outlining our future plans to deliver more much-needed homes here, and extending this unique new community.  

“We really enjoyed showing Mayor Street around the site and sharing our vision for Port Loop as we transform more of this land into a sustainable new place in which everyone can thrive.”  

Adam Willets, associate director development at Urban Splash; Sammie Steel, Places for People’s managing director of placemaking and regeneration; and Andy Street, mayor of the West Midlands and Chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, and Chair of the WMCA, said: “Port Loop is an initiative that is about more than just building houses. It marks a substantial and collective commitment to increasing the provision of affordable homes in our region – regenerating derelict brownfield sites and transforming them into vibrant communities.  

“Our focus remains on ensuring that these homes meet the needs of local residents and help us stay on track to continue meeting our housing targets to build at least 215,000 homes by 2031. 

“Together, we’re improving access to housing, creating inclusive neighbourhoods and powering growth and prosperity right across our region in the months and years ahead.” 

Adam Willetts, associate director development at Urban Splash, said: “Port Loop is a unique site, and we are looking forward to taking our ambitious plans to the next stage; our newest homes and proposals are a result of great collaboration and partnership working with Places for People, our design team, and key stakeholders.” 

The new Port Loop apartments are set to complete in early 2025.

Access to the WMCA funding was provided by the Property Team at Frontier Development Capital Ltd (FDC). FDC continues to work closely with property developers to arrange investments from the WMCA's Collective Investment Fund (CIF) and Revolving Investment Fund (RIF).