The Neighbourhood
Birmingham is usually known for its industrial background. It is the second largest city in the UK after London and has more miles of canals than Venice.
The city is one of the most diverse in Europe with its population consisting of 187 different nationalities, and more than 40% of its population is under 25.
Birmingham has gained attention from investors because of the growth potential and the average prices of properties are significantly cheaper than in London.
The investor interest in the city comes alongside the worry that there is a property bubble in major cities like London and Paris and so eyes are shifting to cities like Birmingham instead.
The Trends
Recent regeneration of the city has made Birmingham an attractive spot for many people looking to put their money in property.
The city is promising high returns and, with new transport links to London planned, this looks like it will continue.
New Street Station was one of the first parts of the city to get rejuvenated with £600 million being spent on updating this transport hub. Other parts of the city have also seen injections of large amounts of money.
Property investors are turning to Birmingham as a safer bet than London with a lot more room for growth and many of them are focusing on the city
The city is going to play host to the Commonwealth Games in 2022 which will boost the West Midlands economy by £750 million which will bring a lot more opportunities for investment.
Major companies are also moving their offices out of London and into the West Midlands, which is not only creating new job opportunities but also stimulating the local economy.
Channel 4 is the latest company to discuss the potential of moving national offices to Birmingham.
Business Spotlight: HSBC Head Office
The business and shopping districts in Birmingham are promising areas for investors. This is exactly the area that HSBC has moved their UK head office to in a move out of London.
The major bank has set up shop in one of the greenest buildings in the city. The building will have reduced waste and energy consumption as well as an increased use of renewables.
The relocation of HSBC’s head office to the city will bring key staff from London as well as new hires coming from Birmingham.
The move to Birmingham will create jobs in the city and will hopefully encourage new business.
Commuter Spotlight: High Speed 2
The HS2, the highspeed railway line that will link London to Birmingham in the first phase to be finished in 2026. The second phase will connect Birmingham to Manchester, Sheffield
The railway will come into the new HS2 Curzon Street Station. The hope is that this station will become a
The area around the new station will also have £900 million spent in order to regenerate it.
Is this area for you?
There is a lot of investment happening in Birmingham over the next few years. The city was voted the most investable city in the UK.
If you are looking for a city in which to move or develop your business in for competitive prices, this could be it.
There are many commercial properties that will continue to increase in value as the city sees money pour in from all over the country and beyond its borders.
There is going to be a lot of development in the city over the next few years and there is substantial room for growth.
Taking into consideration the increased transport links planned and the upcoming Commonwealth Games, this city is going to keep attracting businesses and people who are looking for better opportunities than London is currently able to offer.
There are also attractive government offers of support for businesses that are looking to move out of London, and Birmingham might be the right move in order to take these up.
