Makers Place
| Great Charles Street | |
|---|---|
 Great Charles Street topped out in December 2025 | |
 Interactive map of the Great Charles Street area | |
General information | |
| Status | Topped-out |
| Type | Residential / mixed-use |
| Location | Great Charles Street, Birmingham, England |
| Coordinates | 52°29′02″N 1°54′06″W / 52.4838578°N 1.9017367°W |
Construction started | April 2023 |
| Topped-out | June 2025 |
Completed | est. Early 2026 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 126 m (413 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 39 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Ryder Architecture |
| Developer | Moda Living |
| Main contractor | John Sisk & Son |
| Website | |
| https://modaliving.com/locations/birmingham/great-charles-street | |
Makers Place, also known as Great Charles Street, is a mixed-use residential development in Birmingham, England, centred on a 126 metre (413 ft) tall, 39-storey skyscraper. The project is being delivered by Moda Living and comprises residential units, amenity space and ground-floor commercial uses.[1] The development occupies the former Ludgate Hill car park site on Great Charles Street, located between Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter and the Snow Hill district.[2] The scheme features a 39-storey tower, two mid-rise podium buildings and landscaped public areas. In total, it provides 722 apartments, along with co-working space, lounges, gyms, roof terraces and commercial units at ground level.[3] As of October 2025, the tower is the fourth tallest building in Birmingham, behind The Octagon, One Eastside and Moda's other project, The Mercian.
History
[edit]The site, formerly used as a surface car park at the junction of Great Charles Street and Livery Street, had remained largely undeveloped for several decades before being identified for regeneration by Birmingham City Council.[4] Moda Living, in partnership with Apache Capital Partners, brought forward plans in March 2020 for a large Build-to-Rent neighbourhood comprising approximately 722 homes arranged around three primary blocks, including a 39-storey tower as the landmark element.[5]
A formal planning application was submitted in April 2020, and planning consent was granted in April 2021.[6] The scheme was designed to align with Birmingham’s city-centre housing and regeneration objectives under the Big City Plan framework, aiming to reconnect the Jewellery Quarter with the Snow Hill commercial area.[7]
Following planning approval, construction commenced in April 2023 when main contractor John Sisk & Son began on-site works for the £300 million development.[8] The tower and wider neighbourhood structurally topped out on 12 June 2025, marking the completion of the main structural frame.[9] The project is being delivered in phases, with the first block due for handover in late 2025 and full completion of the development targeted for early 2026.[10]
In December 2025, the name of the development was revealed to be Makers Place.[11]
Design
[edit]The scheme comprises three primary blocks arranged around landscaped courtyards, stepping up in height towards the 39-storey tower. The design references the traditional brick character of the Jewellery Quarter at the lower levels while adopting contemporary materials and a glazed façade for the tower element.[3]
The tower serves as the focal point of the composition, intended to act as a visual landmark within the Birmingham skyline. The development’s design aims to mediate between the historical urban grain and the modern city core.[3][4]
The project incorporates a range of resident facilities, including a gym, lounge spaces, roof terraces, co-working areas and landscaped courtyards.[1][3] Ground-floor retail and public realm improvements are designed to enhance pedestrian connectivity between the Jewellery Quarter and the central business district.[1]
Significance
[edit]At 126 metres, the tower ranks among Birmingham’s tallest residential buildings, alongside other recent Moda projects such as The Mercian on Broad Street. The development forms part of the city’s tall-building cluster north of the city core and contributes significantly to Birmingham’s growing Build-to-Rent sector. City planners have noted its role in bridging the Jewellery Quarter with the Snow Hill commercial area and adding to the city’s evolving skyline identity.[1][4][6]
Impact
[edit]The scheme is expected to support local employment through its construction and long-term operation, while delivering additional city-centre housing supply.[1][12] Ground-floor retail and public areas are anticipated to enhance the vitality of Great Charles Street and encourage integration with surrounding districts. Consultation responses for similar city-centre tall buildings have raised considerations around heritage impact, local infrastructure and housing affordability; these factors were addressed in the planning documentation.[2] Design documentation references sustainability and well-being features such as energy-efficient building systems, rooftop green spaces and improved pedestrian connections.[1][3] The scheme aligns with Birmingham’s wider regeneration and environmental goals as set out in the city’s Big City Plan.[12]
Gallery
[edit]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Great Charles Street - Moda Group". modagroup.com. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
- 1 2 Council, Birmingham City. "Planning Online Birmingham - Birmingham City Council". eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Great Charles Street". Ryder. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
- 1 2 3 "Moda, Great Charles Street". RPS. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
- ↑ "Moda and Apache Capital Partners unveil plans for €288m resi scheme (GB)". europe-re.com. 2025-10-22. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
- 1 2 "Jewellery Quarter set for transformation as £300M development tops out". Sisk. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
- ↑ "Great Charles Street regeneration tops out - Moda Group". modagroup.com. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
- ↑ "Sisk gets moving on £300m Jewellery Quarter development". www.theconstructionindex.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
- ↑ "Great Charles Street regeneration tops out - Moda Group". modagroup.com. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
- ↑ "Precede Capital finances Birmingham BTR development". Precede Capital Partners. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
- ↑ "Rent a new build apartment in the Jewellery Quarter". modaliving.com. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
- 1 2 Council, Birmingham City. "Big City Plan". www.birmingham.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-28.