Icknield Port Loop LLP is formed
Places for People and Urban Splash, together with Birmingham City Council and charity the Canal & River Trust, have formed Icknield Port Loop LLP – the vehicle which will facilitate the development of one of the UK’s most important Brownfield sites.
The formation of the LLP concludes the pre-development legal process; all agreements have now been signed, paving the way for the creation of more than 1,150 homes at the 43-acre, waterfront site in Birmingham. At the same time the development will open up a little-used and inaccessible corner of the city’s canal network creating 1.5km of new towpath, new moorings, waterbus stops and space for historic boats.
John Clancy Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “This is a strategically important site for our city which plays a key part in our growth agenda and our objective to deliver houses for Birmingham people. We are excited to see the formal partnership for Icknield Port Loop in place and look forward to collectively delivering a fantastic, family-focused, sustainable neighbourhood for Birmingham.”
Mary Parsons, group director at Places for People, said: “Since 2013, we have worked in joint venture with Urban Splash on a number of projects, fusing our combined strength in designing and delivering great places. Icknield Port Loop will be no exception and together we look forward to working with Birmingham Council and Canal & River Trust to create a truly memorable development and a vibrant waterfront neighbourhood.”
Added Urban Splash director Nathan Cornish, who oversaw the company’s redevelopment of Birmingham’s Rotunda and Fort Dunlop buildings: “With the legal process concluded, we can now move forward with the exciting part of this job – considering designs and uses for the development’s initial phases. It’s great to be back in Birmingham with fantastic partners; together we will create a new quarter within the city.”
A part of the legal agreement will also see some areas of the site offered to other developers: “We look forward to welcoming more developers into the mix,” added Nathan. “Working collaboratively, we will nurture an interesting and diverse masterplan with an array of designs and tenure options.”
James Lazarus, head of property development at the Canal & River Trust, concluded: “This is an excellent example of the Canal & River Trust working in conjunction with both public and private sector partners to deliver a high quality waterside development. This important canal-side site will become one of the UK’s best examples of a waterfront community, delivered by the collective skills and shared passions of this LLP. Birmingham is Britain’s unofficial ‘canal capital’ and has pioneered waterside regeneration for decades. We’re delighted to be playing such a key role in this next phase of the city’s canal revolution.”
Icknield Port Loop sits by the within the area covered by the Greater Icknield Masterplan, part of the draft Birmingham Development Plan, which includes the delivery of 3,000 new homes and 1,000 new jobs by 2031. As part of the LLP agreement Urban Splash and Places for People will provide development management services at the scheme.
