Sisk and Moda Living has broken ground on a pioneering new rental neighbourhood in Birmingham.

Redeveloping the Ludgate Hill Carpark, the £302 million Great Charles Street neighbourhood will be situated in the city's famous Jewellery Quarter offering 722 best-in-class new rental homes across four blocks spanning 6 to 39 stories, with breathtaking views across the city. The neighbourhood will be delivered by Sisk, who were responsible for the successful delivery of 481-home neighbourhood Moda, The Mercian on Broad Street.

Designed in partnership with the nationally acclaimed Ryder Architecture, Great Charles Street will include state-of-the-art amenities including a 24/7 gym fitness centre and concierge, private dining rooms, co-working areas, resident sky lounges, roof terraces, cinema rooms and more. The neighbourhood will also feature new landscaped green spaces and public realm, as well as community amenities including , shops and cafes. Great Charles Street will target leading ESG certifications, following in the footsteps of Moda, The Mercian on Broad Street which was the first residential building in Birmingham to secure three-star Fitwel accreditation, and uses certified 100% renewable electricity.

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Delivery of the new project will add an estimated £92m of gross added value to the West Midlands, creating around 470 new construction jobs. Moda and Sisk will continue their successful Skills Hub partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) which is already helping to maximise local employment and training opportunities across the West Midlands.

This partnership, spear-headed with Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street, established a training hub during the building of Moda Living’s The Mercian neighbourhood and has been operating since 2018. The hub has already supported more than 80,000 hours of work and 140 employment opportunities specifically for local people – including seven apprenticeships – by offering construction training and a guaranteed job interview after completing a 20-day course.

By the end of Moda Great Charles Street's construction, Sisk estimate that at least another 240,000 hours will have been completed by local people, from apprentices to graduates, reinforcing Moda Living and Sisk’s commitment to Birmingham.

The beginning of work on Great Charles Street was marked with a special ceremony attended by Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and other key stakeholders.

The £302m neighbourhood has been backed by the largest deal for a build-to-rent project seen outside of London, with funding from Harrison Street, NFU Mutual and Apache Capital and a £188m development loan from Precede.

Alan Rodger, Managing Director, John Sisk & Son, said: "Sisk is delighted to begin works with Moda Living on its Great Charles Street development. Our enduring relationship with Moda Living is founded on our capabilities and relevant experience in the high-rise residential sector across Birmingham and other major cities in the UK. The project will create a landmark entrance to the city centre and provides us with the opportunity to build upon our work with Birmingham City Council, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and our trusted Supply Chain to create training, jobs, and quality accommodation for the people of the West Midlands."