'Haüs is a great example of thoughtful reuse done properly' - Work on luxury student accommodation scheme in Birmingham gathers pace
Planning permission has been granted for an extra 129 units at a new student living development in Edgbaston, Birmingham, with a topping out ceremony held to mark completion of the first apartments.
Mercia Real Estate (MRE) is investing £32 million to convert part of the 95,000 sq ft former HSBC office complex to create 266 student bedrooms.
The initial phase of the Haüs development at 12 Calthorpe Road is scheduled for completion in June, with the building set to welcome its first students for the 2026/27 academic year.
The additional planning consent will increase the total number of beds to 395.
Upon completion, MRE will have deployed more than £45 million into the transformation of the property, cementing the area around Five Ways as an established Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) location between Birmingham City University’s South Campus, the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City Centre.
The MRE team recently celebrated a key construction milestone with a topping-out event marking the completion of Haüs’ first show apartments.
Students can now explore the classic and premium options set within shared flats, each containing a private bathroom alongside communal kitchen and living areas, plus a luxury self-contained studio.
Designed around the concept of an exclusive members club, Haüs Edgbaston will offer extensive on-site amenities including a fully equipped gym, juice bar, cinema room, karaoke room, games room, content creation studio, private study zones, and a private dining room for hosting friends.
The topping out ceremony brought together project partners, consultants and key stakeholders, including Paragon Bank and Calthorpe Estates, to recognise progress on site and preview the design quality that future residents can expect when the development opens later this year.
Samuel Clark, CEO of Mercia Real Estate, said: “Redeveloping existing buildings and previously developed land sits exactly alongside our proven value-add strategy. Applying this ethos across both industrial and residential sectors, enabled by our capital partners, will continue in 2026.
“Being able to showcase the show apartment’s beautifully finished spaces has brought our vision for Haüs to life, and we’re excited to welcome our first students this September so they can experience first-hand all of the building’s high-end and unique amenities.”
MRE recently appointed global PBSA manager, Yugo, to operate the building, and Nick Sweeney, city manager at Yugo, said: “Haüs is a great example of thoughtful reuse done properly: strong amenity, clear student focus, and an asset that’s built to perform operationally as well as experientially. We’re excited to bring Yugo’s student-first approach to Birmingham and to support Mercia Real Estate as their PBSA portfolio grows.”
Simon Dekker, senior relationship director at Paragon Bank, said of the scheme: “This development shows how strong partnerships between developer, lender and landowner can repurpose existing buildings to create placemaking communities where they’re needed most. The scheme will support Birmingham’s education sector and wider regeneration ambitions.
“We’re proud to be one of the biggest investors in Edgbaston and look forward to funding more developments that bring positive impact to communities across Birmingham and the wider region.”
