Stoford completes first stage of The Tea Factory transformation for BBC in Birmingham

Property developer Stoford has completed the first stage of the Typhoo Wharf development with the transformation of The Tea Factory into the new sustainable, fit for purpose home of the BBC in Birmingham.

The BBC and its contractors will now complete an internal fit out of the building, which is due to open in 2027.

The broadcast centre is the culmination of several years’ work to revitalise the historic former Typhoo Tea factory on Bordesley Street in Digbeth.

Funded by Aviva Investors on behalf of its Lime Property Fund, The Tea Factory was developed by Stoford in partnership with The Gooch Estate, alongside support from Birmingham City Council.

Built by main contractor, BAM, the development preserves the heritage of the original 1930s structure while using low carbon principles to create the BBC’s most environmentally sustainable and flexible broadcast centre to date.

The building will house several BBC editorial teams, including The Archers, BBC Asian Network, BBC Newsbeat, BBC 1Xtra, BBC Radio WM and Midlands Today, when it officially opens.

The Typhoo Wharf development, linking Digbeth to HS2 and Birmingham city centre, will unlock major construction and development opportunities for the city and as part of the masterplan there are several plots now ready for future development, along with a new area of public realm which reconnects the site with the canal network.

Up to 800,000 sq ft of residential, office and hospitality space will be delivered on more than 10 acres of land around the new Midlands HQ for the BBC which is investing in new productions like MasterChef, Silent Witness and Peaky Blinders as part of the BBC’s Across the UK strategy.

Located close to Digbeth Loc Studios, The Tea Factory is expected to strengthen the Midlands’ creative sector, supporting new jobs and attracting investment to the region. BBC commissioned analysis forecasts that its recent investment in Digbeth and the West Midlands will add £282 million of economic benefit by 2032.

Gerard Ludlow, director at Stoford, said: “Working with The Gooch Estate, Aviva Investors and Birmingham City Council, we’ve taken a building with real history and given it a new purpose, one that we hope will have a lasting impact on Digbeth and the wider Birmingham creative scene.

“There have been challenges along the way, particularly in adapting a building like this to meet the BBC’s needs, but that makes the end result all the more significant. To have the BBC as an occupier says a lot about the quality of what’s been delivered, and we are thankful to our professional team and BAM for helping us get here.

“The Tea Factory is an important first step for the wider Typhoo Wharf plans, and we’re looking forward to continuing that journey over the coming years.”

Jason Horton, chief operating officer for BBC Nations, added: “This marks a major milestone on the journey towards our new home in Digbeth, a 100-year-old industrial building being brought back to life as a sustainable broadcasting and digital production centre.

“It underlines our commitment to the West Midlands, one of the BBC’s priority creative clusters, and to supporting investment and skills development across the region.

“I’m looking forward to the Tea Factory opening its doors and helping to scale up the ambition of turning Digbeth into a world-class creative quarter.”