31-33 Horse Fair, Birmingham, B1 1DD

Description
The property comprises a prominent and substantial mixed-use building arranged over ground and four upper floors. The ground floor extends to approximately 2,996 sq ft and is fully let to Bank of China, providing established income secured against a well-recognised international covenant. The upper floors, extending to a combined Net Internal Area of approximately 4,731 sq ft, are offered with vacant possession and comprise a series of cellular office suites with associated ancillary accommodation. The configuration of the building presents a range of potential asset management and repositioning opportunities, including refurbishment, reconfiguration, or comprehensive redevelopment, subject to the necessary consents.

Location
The property occupies a prominent position on Horsefair within Birmingham City Centre, forming part of the established Southside district. The location sits immediately adjacent to Bristol Street (A38) and Holloway Head, providing direct vehicular access to the wider city and national motorway network.

The surrounding area has experienced significant regeneration and densification in recent years, characterised by a growing concentration of large-scale residential, mixed-use, and purpose-built student accommodation schemes. This pattern of development reflects the area’s strategic proximity to the core commercial, retail, and leisure amenities of the city centre. A pedestrian right of way flows through the car parking and unto Thorp Street.

Birmingham New Street Station, the city’s principal transport hub, lies within comfortable walking distance, offering extensive regional and national rail connections. The property also benefits from strong public transport accessibility and immediate access to key arterial routes.

With immediate proximity to the Chinese Quarter, Horsefair and the wider Southside continue to represent a well-established and evolving city centre environment, increasingly favoured for high-density residential and living sector development.

Viewings
Strictly by appointment with Shepherd Commercial.

Terms
Part of the ground floor accommodation is fully let to Bank of China (UK) Limited, providing established income secured against a highly recognisable international covenant. The tenancy provides an attractive income profile within a Birmingham City Centre lot size where strong covenant-backed retail income opportunities remain comparatively limited. The lease is outside of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

The lease structure reflects conventional institutional terms, enhancing the asset’s appeal to investors seeking income durability.

The first, second, third and fourth floors are offered with full vacant possession and extend to a combined Net Internal Area of approximately 4,731 sq ft. The accommodation is currently configured to provide a series of cellular office suites together with ancillary areas.

The upper parts present clear opportunities for refurbishment, reconfiguration or alternative use strategies, subject to the necessary statutory consents.

Planning Context
A comprehensive pre-application exercise has been undertaken in respect of the site, exploring redevelopment scenarios across multiple height and use typologies. The submission assessed alternative massing strategies including a six-storey scheme, a twelve-storey scheme, and a twenty-three-storey tall building option.

The twenty-three-storey scenario was identified within the design analysis as the most optimal configuration in terms of building proportion, architectural hierarchy, and development viability. The scheme was designed to accommodate either purpose-built student accommodation or residential apartments, reflecting the site’s location within a recognised tall building cluster and an area characterised by substantial ongoing regeneration.

The design work demonstrates how a taller building form could be accommodated within the surrounding townscape, with particular regard to neighbouring heritage assets, established building heights, and the evolving Holloway Head / Horsefair corridor. The proposal incorporates a defined base, middle, and top architectural composition and includes provision for active ground floor frontage and upper level amenity space.

Importantly, the pre-application documentation illustrates how key technical and site constraints may be addressed, including the retention and integration of the Birmingham Royal Ballet fire escape route at lower levels, servicing considerations, and interface conditions with adjoining buildings.

The pre-application response and supporting design material are available to interested parties for review. Purchasers should place reliance on their own planning investigations and professional advice

Parking
Five car parking spaces are available at the rear of the property and as such are included within the title.