Shui On Land has confirmed that construction on its Birmingham Smithfield development will start in 2026, delivering a major mixed-use regeneration project that has been in the pipeline for over a decade.
The developer, best known for its large-scale urban renewal schemes in Shanghai, said the first phase of works will begin on site late next year. The planning permission for the overall scheme was granted in outline by Birmingham City Council in 2023, and the full planning application for the initial plots is expected to be submitted this autumn.
The Smithfield site, formerly the home of Birmingham's wholesale markets, has been cleared and is now a derelict expanse of land bound by the Digbeth branch of the Birmingham Canal, Park Street, and the city centre's inner ring road. The project represents one of the largest unbuilt development opportunities in central England.
What the Smithfield regeneration includes
According to the approved masterplan, the scheme will deliver up to 2,500 new homes, with at least 35% designated as affordable. There will be 1.4 million sq ft of offices, 260,000 sq ft of shops, and 100,000 sq ft of community facilities. A new public park, measuring the size of two football pitches, will run through the heart of the development.
The project also includes a new pedestrian bridge crossing the canal, boat moorings, and a potential site for a new primary school. The developer has committed to using low-carbon building materials and connecting the district to the city's heat network. The overall design aims to create a 15-minute neighbourhood, with most amenities reachable on foot.
City leaders welcome the timeline
The announcement has been welcomed by city officials, who see the development as vital for attracting more residents to the city centre. Birmingham has a shortage of homes, with over 50,000 people on the council's housing waiting list. The first homes at Smithfield are expected to be ready for occupancy by 2029.
In economic terms, the scheme is forecast to create around 20,000 jobs directly and indirectly. Many of these will be in the construction sector during the build-out, but a significant number will be in the new offices, which are expected to attract high-tech companies and professional services firms.
The road to 2026
Shui On Land has faced criticism over the slow progress, with some local businesses questioning whether the project would ever get off the ground. The company cites the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and rising interest rates as challenges that delayed the project's timeline.
However, the developer now says that infrastructure work will start in earnest in 2026. This will include the diversion of a major sewer, the building of new roads, and the creation of a temporary park for public use during the construction period.
The project is being delivered in phases, with the first phase focusing on the southern part of the site, closest to the city centre. Later phases will move towards Digbeth, where the developer hopes to link up with other regeneration projects such as the new HS2 station at Curzon Street.
Sustainability and legacy
Shui On Land has promised to deliver the development to the highest environmental standards. The scheme has been designed to be net-zero in its operation, using renewable energy and water recycling. It also includes a district heating system powered by waste heat from a neighbouring energy-from-waste plant.
The company says the project's social impact will be felt far beyond the construction period. A community trust is to be set up, funded by from a share of the development's profits, to support local charities and environmental projects.
Birmingham's Smithfield is seen as a litmus test for the city's ability to deliver complex brownfield developments. If the 2026 start is met, it will send a strong signal to global investors that Birmingham is open for business.
