Photo of Birmingham New Street Station, one of the busiest railway stations in the UK

Why Birmingham is a top property investment hotspot right now

The population of Birmingham is expected to grow by around 13.7%, or 150,000 people, by 2031, bringing with it increased demand for new homes – something that developers, investors and landlords are beginning to recognise and take advantage of now.

Average residential values in Birmingham have grown by 31% over the last five years, and Hometrack predicts that property prices there will rise a further 20-30% over the next three or four years as the area continues to see vast improvements.

Unlocking potential in the city is now a key target as The Big City plan sets out its 20-year vision for transforming the area, while the West Midlands Combined Authority offers strategic planning for housing, commercial space and infrastructure with the country’s largest investment fund for a combined authority of £1.1bn.

Improving infrastructure

Birmingham New Street station is now the busiest train station outside London, which has had a huge impact on the city as travel times have been cut and passenger capacity has increased. Extra investment in the Metro network has also opened up new areas for development and, according to a report by Savills focusing on the future prospects of Birmingham, continued investment in this network is vital to maintain growth levels in the city and surrounding areas.

It is also now quicker than ever to travel to and from London, and the new HS2 train line will further add to the city’s appeal as a major business location, reducing journey times to the capital to just 49 minutes, which will open up the city to people travelling from continental Europe.

Workers and businesses moving to the city

Office take-up in Birmingham exceeded one million square feet last year, which was 51% above the 10-year average, and a number of major businesses have made the move away from London to the city, with more in the pipeline. Deutche Bank opened a major office in Birmingham with more than 2,000 employees, while HSBC is set to relocate more than 1,000 members of staff from the capital. According to the report by Savills, the average saving per employee for businesses relocating away from London is approximately £10,000 for the worker and £10,000 for the property.

With business moves come workers, and Birmingham has one of the youngest populations in Europe, with under-25s making up 40% of all inhabitants – while 49% of graduates from the local universities stay on in the city, too. This is an important factor for developers and investors to acknowledge when considering the type of property that will be most in demand in the area.

Residential development

According to Savills research, there are currently around 21,200 residential units in planning or under construction in Birmingham, and development has been supported by the city’s strong property price growth and strong brownfield potential. However, property types are changing and diversifying, and the build-to-rent market is well and truly on the up in Birmingham, with around 1,800 BTR units currently under construction.

Major housebuilders looking outside London are flocking to Birmingham, along with property investors, and they are targeting all areas of the market – from high-end schemes down to affordable stock, which is vital in the city centre. The focus is on long-term returns rather than short-term, as has been seen in some parts of the London market, but as the population rises the demand for new homes will always be there.

The West Midlands as a whole is forecast to achieve 14.8% five-year compound growth in the residential sector, according to Savills, and with growth expected to be “subdued” over the course of 2018, now is an opportune time to look at investing in Birmingham as it sits on the cusp of major future growth.

Self-certified Sophisticated Investor

Please read

I declare that I am a self-certified sophisticated investor for the purposes of the restriction on promotion of non-mainstream pooled investments. I understand that this means:

I am a self-certified sophisticated investor because at least one of the following applies:

I accept that the investments to which the promotions will relate may expose me to a significant risk of losing all of the money or other property invested. I am aware that it is open to me seek advice from someone who specialises in advising on non-mainstream pooled investments.

High Net Worth Investor

Please read

I make this statement so that I can receive promotional communications which are exempt from the restriction on promotion of non-mainstream pooled investments. The exemption relates to certified high net worth investors and I declare that I qualify as such because at least one of the following applies to me:

STAY AHEAD OF THE MARKET

Sign up for first access to new developments and exclusive property investment opportunities.

We send limited and targeted emails on new launches and exclusive deals which best fit your areas. We are trusted by over 30,000 active buyers as their source for new stock.

  • New property developments
  • Professional market reports
  • Property deal alerts
  • Development updates
Manchester property investment

FIRST FOR NEWS AND KNOWLEDGE.

Receive trending news straight to your inbox and stay up to date on all of the property market trends and advice.

Established since 2005 we are a leading voice of authority and commentary on the UK property market. Our news is trusted by Apple News & Google News.

  • UK housing market
  • Mortgage & money
  • Buy-to-let landlords
  • Guides & advice

Talk to us

Speak to our UK property experts today:

 

+44 (0) 333 123 0320

Open from 9am-6pm GMT

 

+852 6699 9008

Open from 9am-6pm HKT