Bruntwood SciTech begins work on new Birmingham tech hub

Bruntwood SciTech has announced plans to carry out a £4.5 million transformation of Birmingham’s Centre City Building. 

Once described as a ‘crime against architecture’, the 20-storey building will be revamped to become a major tech hub, the company said.

"Centre City will offer unparalleled accessibility and modern facilities, making it an attractive destination for businesses seeking state-of-the-art workspace, but is also one of the only floorplates of its size available in the city centre currently making it a truly unique proposition," said Andy Riach, director for agent Lambert Smith Hampton.

"We have no doubt that demand will be high for this market-leading workspace, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact this project will have on the local business landscape."

The 210,000 sq ft building, originally constructed in the 1960s, will provide cutting-edge workspace in a prime city centre location, close to both New Street Station and the Bullring Shopping Centre.

Work on the site is set to be finished in January next year, with the developers saying they're likely to give it a new name.

It will offer co-working and pay as you go options, alongside its existing leased offices, giving flexible and scalable options for companies at various stages of growth, according to Bruntwood SciTech.

Flexible units ranging in size from 7,500 to 23,000 sq ft will be available within the building; businesses already based there include the Ministry of Justice, the Water Services Regulation Authority, Citizens Advice, Hitachi and one of the UK’s largest insurance companies, Liverpool Victoria.

"This project offers a unique opportunity for businesses to thrive in a dynamic environment, supported by convenient access to Birmingham’s extensive transport network and vibrant retail offerings," said Mohammed Ali, senior asset manager for Bruntwood SciTech.

"As we progress with construction, we look forward to welcoming a diverse range of leading organisations to this revitalised landmark, further cementing Birmingham’s reputation as a premier destination for business growth."

This is just the latest of Bruntwood SciTech’s investments in Birmingham, following projects including the Cornerblock workspace, ongoing developments at the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, and Enterprise Wharf at Innovation Birmingham.

Birmingham itself is growing as a tech hub, with the West Midlands named two years ago as the UK's fastest-growing tech hub in a government report.

Earlier this year, Beauhurst named Birmingham as the UK's fourth biggest business hub, with 598 active high-growth businesses. Birmingham firms turned over a total of £5.93 billion last year, with an average turnover of £41.4 million per company.

Startups and scaleups in the city have an average of 73 employees per business, higher than Edinburgh, Manchester and Bristol.

Since the start of 2013, the city has pulled in £543 million in fundraisings across 465 rounds, and research from Beauhurst shows it is on track to break its record of equity investment raised this year.