Birmingham Property Listed for £2.1 Million with Plans for 23-Storey Residential Tower
The pre-application and CGI of the 23-storey tower were conducted by Glancy Nicholls
A prominent property in Birmingham city centre has been listed for sale at £2.1 million, with plans in place for a potential 23-storey residential tower. The site, located at 31–33 Horse Fair, is being marketed by Shepherd Commercial, a commercial property agency based in Birmingham and Solihull.
Situated in the Southside district, the property is conveniently located just a short distance from Birmingham New Street station. It has undergone a pre-application process with Birmingham City Council, which has provided encouraging feedback regarding various redevelopment options, including a scheme that could yield approximately 80 residential units.
The building, known as Essex House, spans 7,727 sq ft and currently houses a series of office suites, ancillary accommodation, a substantial basement, and five parking spaces. This configuration offers flexibility for redevelopment, whether as purpose-built student accommodation or residential apartments.
Kaine Arkinson, Managing Director of Shepherd Commercial, remarked, “31–33 Horse Fair represents a rare opportunity to acquire a freehold site in a prime Birmingham city centre location with significant redevelopment potential. The positive pre-application response from Birmingham City Council for a 23-storey tower delivering around 80 residential units highlights the scale of opportunity available to investors and developers – and we are already seeing huge interest in this property.”
He added, “With a freehold site within walking distance of New Street Station, opportunities of this scale and development potential rarely come to market in Birmingham city centre. At the same time, the existing property provides income through an existing tenancy and offers clear asset management potential in the short term.”
The property is strategically located at the junction of Horse Fair, Bristol Street, and Holloway Head, providing direct access to Birmingham’s inner ring road and the wider motorway network. Part of the ground floor is currently leased to Bank of China (UK) Limited, generating established rental income, while the first to fourth floors are vacant, allowing for refurbishment or alternative uses.
Design work conducted by Glancy Nicholls Architects has evaluated redevelopment options of six, twelve, and twenty-three storeys, with the tallest design emerging as the most viable in terms of scale and feasibility. This proposal aligns with the site’s location within a recognised tall building cluster and an area undergoing significant regeneration.
The site is positioned within a rapidly changing area of Birmingham City Centre, where investment is enhancing connectivity between New Street, the Chinese Quarter, and the Smithfield regeneration area. Shepherd Commercial is marketing the property on behalf of a long-standing private client, offering director-led commercial property advice that focuses on long-term asset value, risk management, and portfolio performance.
