A 22-acre development site on the outskirts of Birmingham city centre has been sold - with work on a major 800-home scheme expected to start this summer.
Barratt Homes unveiled its plans last March to build 772 houses and apartments on land at the corner of Bristol Street and Belgrave Middleway on the edge of the city centre. This was later revised to 778 units.
The 22-acre development site, located on the former site of Matthew Boulton College, has now been sold to Barratt Homes by Birmingham City Council and the Homes and Communities Agency.
A mix of 590 flats, 188 houses, 544 car parking spaces, and green spaces will now be developed on the site.
This will include almost 150 three-bedroom houses in an unusual move for a city centre scheme.
Nine houses will have one bedroom, and 396 two-bedroom houses will be built.
The plans didn't come without controversy, however, as conservation groups Save Britain's Heritage and The Victorian Society objected to plans to knock down the 20th century St Luke's Church and the Highgate Centre.
The Highgate Centre, in St Luke's Road, dates back to 1877 and was most recently used as a city council office building but was once a home for orphaned children.
A Birmingham City Council planning committee approved plans to build the 778 homes last month - and agreed to sacrifice the two non-listed heritage buildings.
Waheed Nazir, chief planning officer for Birmingham City Council said: "It’s fantastic that the developer has adapted their plans and we welcome the revised designs.
"The improved mix of houses, flats, the on-site affordable housing and the additional green space included in the proposals is exactly the type of development that the city needs."
Eleanor Deeley, Partner in Cushman & Wakefield’s Residential team in Birmingham, who advised Birmingham City Council and the Homes and Communities Agency in the sale, said: "We are delighted to have secured the sale of this landmark site.
"The approved scheme will deliver a gateway development into the city, and will provide much needed housing led regeneration to the area."
Work is expected to start on the site this summer.
