In April 2025, Bluecastle Capital, on behalf of its investors, unconditionally purchased Marks & Spencer’s former flagship department store directly adjacent to Birmingham Curzon Street, the new Northern Terminus for HS2.
The prime city centre site at 42 High Street presents a rare opportunity to deliver a significant residential-led development, 250 feet from the future Curzon Street HS2 Station and the Bluecastle team is currently progressing plans for a landmark build-to-rent development.
The site is designated in Birmingham’s City Centre Growth Area and represents a new gateway and front door into the city, nestled between five major regeneration projects: Birmingham Curzon Street, The Curzon Investment Plan, Martineau Galleries, The Digbeth Estate and the Smithfield Masterplan.
Birmingham is the UK’s second largest city, home to 1.2 million people serving as the Midlands’ leading commercial and cultural centre. The city is undergoing a major transformation led by the arrival of HS2, the £66 billion high-speed rail project which will cut travel times to London to just 49 minutes and which has already catalysed billions in investment in the city.
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a landmark residential development at the heart of one of the UK’s fastest-growing cities, our vision is to deliver an outstanding build-to-rent scheme that sets a new benchmark for quality, sustainability and urban living. Birmingham’s connectivity, culture and momentum make it a key city for our long-term strategy, and the site’s strategic location next to the HS2 terminus makes it a critical piece in the city’s regeneration puzzle.
Ed Williams, CEO, Bluecastle Capital