Pinnacle Architecture helps give new life to historic Sunbeam plant
It was once the place where a record-breaking car was built in the 1920s.
But now the famous old Sunbeam factory in Wolverhampton is being brought back to life as a new build-to-rent residential development in the heart of the city.
Pinnacle Architecture has been working alongside Wolverhampton-based developer Paragon Living to launch a new chapter in the storied history of this iconic location.
It was here that Sir Malcolm Campbell's Sunbeam Blue Bird car was built which went on to break the world land speed record in 1924, setting a speed of 146.16 mph on Pendine Sands in South Wales.
The first phase, containing around 40 new apartments, has already been completed and is fully let to tenants with a second phase due to be ready by the end of this year.
Hurnake Singh Johal, managing director of Wolverhampton-based Pinnacle Architecture, said: "We are delighted to have worked with Paragon Living on this locally important heritage project to breathe new life into an iconic Wolverhampton building reflecting the city's industrial past.
"Due care and consideration has been taken to ensure that the building's heritage is acknowledged and preserved and the development is a first in high-end build-to-rent accommodation for the region."
The Sunbeam factory, in Paul Street, fell into disuse in the late 1980s after almost a century as the headquarters of the Sunbeam Motor Car Company, producing historic cars and motorcycles.
The overall masterplan for the new £15 million scheme is to create 182 apartments.
Pinnacle Architecture was appointed to design the internal space and said a priority was to maximise use within the existing property and design additional loft units.
Alongside the apartments, there will be a fitness centre, gym, lounge areas, co-working spaces, private gardens and car parking. The development team is striving to preserve much of the original factory's brickwork, period windows and vaulted interiors.
Pinnacle Architecture, which was founded in 2019, works in fields such as architecture, structural and civil engineering and laser scanning, encompassing projects in the care, retail, residential and mixed-use property sectors. Alongside its HQ in Tettenhall Road, it has bases in Telford and London.
Phase two has recently been launched to market with more than a third of apartments snapped up within days of being released.
Paragon Living's chief executive Robbie Hubball said: "This new phase builds on the energy and success of our initial launch.
"The Sunbeam has quickly become known for its quality, design and convenience and the response to phase two shows that people are really buying into the lifestyle we are creating here."
Paragon Living has also confirmed that phase three will follow early next year while phase four is scheduled to complete soon after.
