Lodders advises Stoford on BBC’s Birmingham HQ

The Construction and Engineering team at Lodders has advised leading developer Stoford Properties Ltd on the transformation of the former Typhoo Tea factory in Digbeth into the BBC’s new Birmingham headquarters.

This marks a major milestone, with the first stage of development now successfully completed.

The Typhoo Tea Factory is set to strengthen the Midlands’ creative sector, supporting new jobs and attracting further investment to the region.

Following completion of the initial construction phase, the 84,001 sq ft custom-built broadcast centre on Bordesley Street has now been handed over for internal fit-out by the BBC and its contractors, with the headquarters due to officially open in 2027.

The Typhoo Wharf masterplan

The redevelopment forms part of the wider Typhoo Wharf masterplan and represents one of Birmingham’s most significant recent office pre‑lets. Once operational, the building will accommodate several BBC editorial teams, including The Archers, BBC Asian Network, BBC Newsbeat, BBC Radio WM, BBC 1Xtra and Midlands Today, further strengthening Digbeth’s growing creative and media cluster.

BAM Construction is the appointed contractor for the scheme, which is majority-funded by Aviva Investors on behalf of its Lime Property Fund, with a grant from Birmingham City Council.

Stoford is committed to retaining the historic legacy of the almost 100-year-old factory while delivering a pioneering scheme using low carbon principles. The building has already secured a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating and is reportedly the BBC’s most environmentally sustainable and flexible broadcast centre to date.

Expert construction and engineering legal advice

Heidi Brennan, partner and head of the Construction and Engineering team at Lodders, was instructed to draft, negotiate, and advise on the full suite of construction documentation required for the project, involving a major refurbishment of the partially existing building and new-built aspects. She says:

“I have a longstanding relationship with Stoford, serving as the company’s lead construction adviser for more than thirteen years, and so it has been a privilege to support the delivery of this hugely significant scheme. The project is a complex combination of heritage preservation and modern, sustainable construction, and reaching completion of the first stage is an exciting achievement for everyone involved.

“Our role has included driving the construction documentation, supporting contractor procurement, and guiding the project through to site and onto completion. Seeing the building now ready for the BBC’s fit‑out phase is incredibly rewarding, and we look forward to continuing to support the scheme as it progresses towards opening.”

Over the next decade, Stoford plans to deliver up to 800,000 sq ft of new residential, office and hospitality accommodation around the new BBC building. The wider scheme will see more than ten acres of underutilised land around Typhoo Wharf and the adjoining canal basin transformed into a new mixed-use neighbourhood characterised by attractive public spaces and open thoroughfares.

The scheme will also benefit from a new tram stop and is just a couple of hundred metres from the planned HS2 Curzon Street terminus.

Commenting on Lodders’ involvement, Gerard Ludlow, director at Stoford, said:

“Lodders’ construction team continues to be an integral part of our wider professional team. Their expertise and commitment have been invaluable in navigating the complexities of this historic yet highly technical first phase and reaching such an important milestone. We look forward to continuing our work with Heidi and the team as the Typhoo Wharf development progresses.”

For more information about Typhoo Wharf, visit: www.typhoowharf.co.uk 

Construction and engineering

Lodders’ Construction and Engineering team has significant experience in advising developers, funders, contractors, and sub-contractors, and is headed up by construction law expert Heidi Brennan. Find out more.