Work is well under way on an exciting project to transform the site of a former photo processing building in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter into 50 new homes.

The scheme by developers Hatchbury has seen the demolition of the existing building in the city’s Camden Street, with the new four-storey development now taking shape as steelwork is craned into place.

The site was home for more than four decades to the Munn’s Brothers photographic processing works, which developed films for companies including Boots as well as a wide range of independent chemists in Birmingham and across the West Midlands.

Named Photographic Works in honour of the history of the location, the new residential development has been cleverly designed by local architects BPN Architects to include a variety of brickwork detailing and features which reflect the site’s former use.

John Kennedy, Director of Hatchbury, said: “We are delighted to see the progress made on site and the way in which the new building is taking shape.

“Our ethos at Hatchbury is to ‘retain and enhance’. This informs our approach to the sensitive renovation or redevelopment of the buildings and sites we choose, drives our insistence on design excellence and exacting construction standards, and extends right the way through to retaining and enhancing the character of the communities in which we are working.

“The Jewellery Quarter is an exciting area; it’s up and coming; it’s got history; it’s got a uniqueness about it, different from any other area of Birmingham. That’s what really attracted us to the site and the opportunity to provide new homes and help improve the local area at the same time.”

Photographic Works will feature 50 spacious one and two-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom duplex apartments, many benefitting from access to communal landscaped gardens or private balconies. Private parking and bicycle storage will also be provided on site.

Isaac Burner, from selling agents Savills, said: “We are really impressed with the quality of the scheme, the attention to detail and of course it is in a great location. The Jewellery Quarter is one of the best areas in Birmingham and a really vibrant location within walking distance of the city centre, central business district and Paradise Gardens.”

The Photographic Works project is backed by Shawbrook Bank, project managed by Jewellery Quarter-based project managers and quantity surveyors PMP Consultants and is being built by Solihull-based construction company mac-group.

Simon Knowles, Senior Director for Shawbrook Bank, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this project. We know the quality that Hatchbury can deliver. We love the location, perfect for the city centre and all the facilities this brings but without being a typical city centre development. It all adds up to an exciting development and one which people will enjoy owning and living in.”

The first residents are expected to move into Photographic Works in summer 2022.

For more information, please see:
www.photographic-works.co.uk