BAM starts work on The Typhoo Tea Factory in Digbeth – the new home of BBC Birmingham

BAM has started work on transforming the former Typhoo Tea factory into BBC’s new Birmingham home in the city’s creative quarter Digbeth.

Once completed in 2026 the broadcast centre will house several BBC editorial teams, including: The Archers, BBC Asian Network, BBC Newsbeat, BBC Radio WM and Midlands Today.

The nearly 100-year-old factory and its original iconic 1930s building will be the heart of the new landmark 84,001 sq ft custom-built broadcast centre named Typhoo Wharf scheme, and is on target to achieve a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and EPC ‘A’ rating.

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

Significantly, the introduction of ‘Tea Factory Wharf’ will create opportunity to showcase our communities through new developments, that respect the heritage of the area, whilst adding innovative and creative spaces that drive prosperity to the heart of the country and the local community.”

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 10 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.

Gerard Ludlow, Stoford Director, said: “After months of planning and preparing the site, it’s exciting to start work on revitalising this historic building and, in time, working with our partner The Gooch Estate, we will bring forward a much larger mixed-use scheme - known as Typhoo Wharf - which sits around the wider area adjacent to the Bordesley Street landmark.

With our strategic partners, we have created an exciting blueprint that will provide a stunning home for the BBC, which will be the corporation’s most sustainable and flexible centre yet. Over the next three years, as work progresses, anyone visiting Digbeth will be able to see the scheme unfolding.”

Tim Davie, BBC Director-General, said: “This is a significant step, not just for the BBC, but for invigorating the wider creative industries in the Midlands. We are transforming The Tea Factory into a world-class state of the art production facility, which will benefit the region for generations to come.

Digbeth will deliver world-class programmes, be a centre for excellence and bring investment and new opportunities to one of the most vibrant parts of the country.”