The UK’s largest listed provider of private rental homes, Grainger plc, is expanding its portfolio of private rental homes in The Midlands with a stylish new residential development located in central Birmingham. Due to launch in May 2022, the new purpose-built rental development, Gilders Yard, sits on the site of a former jewellery factory and involves the renovation of a three storey Grade II* listed building, once home to local jeweller, J Ashford & Sons.
Gilders Yard is located on Great Hampton Street, in the city’s Jewellery Quarter, an area of unique character with a particular combination of historical buildings and culture associated with jewellery and metalworking. The development, Gilders Yard, takes inspiration from the term gilding, a decorative technique used to apply fine gold leaf or powder to solid surfaces. A gilded object is described as gilt.
The former factory, J Ashford & Sons, was a ‘gilt toy maker’, with toys being defined as small articles worn or carried by a person, such as buttons, buckles and cuff links. The architectural design of Gilder’s Yard also plays homage to the former site of J Ashford & Sons with the original factory preserved and a centrepiece of the new development.
Gilders Yard is made up of a mixture of new and restored buildings, incorporating different architectures, with two buildings adjoined on each side of the original factory – a celebration of all things old and new. One of the new buildings features a distinctive terracotta exterior, a nod to the city’s past, particularly Great Hampton Street, which has a history of terracotta buildings from The Victorian times.
Grainger plc’s first to launch Build to Rent development in Birmingham will feature a combination of stylish one and two-bedroom rental apartments, in addition to a range of high-quality amenities including a co-working space and residents lounge, gym and outdoor courtyard garden. The development will also feature secure car parking and a bike storage unit. Residents will further benefit from superfast high speed WIFI and the services of a dedicated onsite Resident Services Team – both of which are included in the rent.
In addition to Gilders Yard (158 homes), Grainger has a strong Midlands pipeline, including a second scheme in Birmingham (375 homes), as well as upcoming developments in Derby (259 homes) and Nottingham (348 homes), totalling 1,140 new rental homes for the region.
Helen Gordon, Chief Executive at Grainger said: “Gilders Yard is a very special development, delivering high quality new rental homes, whilst also preserving a stunning listed building. The development pays tribute to Birmingham’s manufacturing past, with elements of the original factory, such as exposed brick and metalwork featuring within several of the new homes.
“This is the first in a pipeline of high quality new Build to Rent developments for Grainger in The Midlands, and as well as providing a new home for Grainger’s Birmingham office, will also compliment our existing portfolio of rental homes across Birmingham and The Midlands. We are really looking forward to launching Gilders Yard in Birmingham and welcoming our first residents to the Jewellery Quarter area, the city’s bustling industry hub.”