Work starts on multimillion-pound Birmingham flats scheme

Work has started on site on a £28m build-to-rent scheme which will create 156 new flats in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.The start of work on the site in Great Hampton Street follows a deal in which residential landlord Grainger agreed to forward fund and acquire the private rented sector development, known as Gilder’s Yard, from Blackswan.It marks a milestone for Birmingham-based Blackswan as the first of several developments it has in the pipeline in the area.Planning permission was awarded earlier this year to develop the industrial site into 156 one and two-bedroom apartments, with 47 parking spaces, 28 cycle spaces, and commercial units.Blackswan will develop the site and Midlands-based construction group Shaylor has been appointed as contractor.The development will involve demolishing some of the existing buildings and the renovation of the three-storey grade II-listed former jewellery factory at 16-18 Great Hampton Street, which was once home to J Ashford & Son.