Canalside apartments begin construction

Work has started on a new canalside development of 61 apartments in Birmingham city centre.Consortia Developments is converting the former Lockside House office building on Scotland Street into 16, one-bedroom and two-bedroom duplex apartments. A roof extension, which will house four penthouse-style apartments, and a new building on the adjacent car park, will create an additional 45 homes, of which three will be affordable.Consortia Developments has appointed D W Hicks as the main construction contractor on the £16m scheme.Many of Lockside House’s original features, including brickwork, exposed steelwork and internal fireplaces, have been retained and incorporated into the design of the apartments and common areas. New full-height Crittall windows, in keeping with the building’s original design, will be installed.Seventy per cent of the apartments have balconies, including all of those overlooking the canal. There are 12 ground floor car parking spaces, two electric charging points and a cycle store for 45 bikes.Archie Ward, managing partner at Consortia Developments, said: "Lockside House is our first residential development in Birmingham. Having received planning permission for the scheme at the beginning of the year, we are pleased to have reached this stage of the project, when work on site can really begin in earnest."The building is full of character, much of which we are retaining and restoring, to create what we think will be a fantastic addition to the city's mix of new residential apartment developments."Olly Clayton, partner at Consortia, said: “Birmingham is undergoing a major transformation and is now one of the most attractive cities to live in in the UK, thanks to the investment in the city’s transport infrastructure, the quality and cost of living and lifestyle offer.“The historic Jewellery Quarter, The Mailbox and the city centre are all within walking distance of Lockside House; perfect for those who want to make the most of what Birmingham has to offer.”Lockside House is anticipated to complete in the second quarter of 2023.