Wavensmere Homes secures approval for £45m Birmingham brownfield redevelopment
Wavensmere Homes has secured planning approval for a £45m redevelopment of the former Clarendon Suites site in Edgbaston, Birmingham, with work set to deliver 165 new homes on the long-vacant brownfield site.
Birmingham City Council’s planning committee unanimously approved the proposals for the 1.39-hectare site, which has stood vacant for 12 years following the closure of Clarendon Suites.
The development will comprise 75 three-bedroom townhouses and 90 one- and two-bedroom apartments, alongside new public and communal open space.
165 homes planned for former Clarendon Suites site
The scheme, designed by Glancy Nicholls Architects and Tetra Tech, will feature three distinct character zones reflecting the architectural style of the surrounding Edgbaston conservation area.
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The first zone will draw on traditional housing along Clarendon Road and Stirling Road, incorporating contemporary detailing.
A central zone will feature more contemporary housing, while a six-storey apartment building will front Hagley Road.
The development will include 0.55 hectares of public open space and 0.18 hectares of private communal space, with natural play areas, swales and extensive landscaping.
Ben Clarke, Development Director for Wavensmere Homes, said: “We are pleased that Birmingham City Council’s planning committee shares our vision for this prominent site and has approved our plans.
“Our design ethos places a significant emphasis on placemaking, intricately pairing requirements of modern living with the timeless charm of Edgbaston’s grand residences. This development will help to address the significant unmet demand for family houses in Edgbaston, while transforming a prominent derelict site in the process.
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“Clarendon has been designed to overcome various brownfield site complexities and it will greatly enhance the street scene along Hagley Road, Clarendon Road and Stirling Road. We look forward to working with the Council to process the pre-commencement conditions efficiently, so that we can start work on site as soon as possible.”
Brownfield scheme targets EPC A homes
The plans retain mature Category A trees along Hagley Road and include additional planting and biodiversity improvements.
The new homes will incorporate measures aligned with the Future Homes Standard, with an EPC A rating targeted across the development.
Vehicular access will be provided from Stirling Road, while the homes will benefit from private terraces and access to a shared communal garden.
Jacob Bonehill, Planning Director for Tetra Tech, said: “This is a fantastic scheme in a sustainable location with great public transport connections.
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“The future residents will have access to a shared communal garden at the heart of the development, with the houses also benefitting from private terraces. These innovative design features ensure that Wavensmere’s development plans will make efficient use of this long vacant brownfield site.”
The former Clarendon Suites building was designed by architect John Madin and opened in 1971. It operated as a conference, exhibition and banqueting venue before closing in 2014.
A major fire damaged the building in 2019, with demolition and site clearance completed in 2022.
Wavensmere was selected as the preferred developer following a site marketing exercise in 2024. The detailed planning application was submitted in August 2025 following stakeholder engagement and public consultation.
The developer will now progress pre-commencement conditions ahead of construction starting on site.
