A landmark Victorian building in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter has been restored and converted into stylish new homes, following major investment from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
Mayor Richard Parker visited the newly completed Great Hampton Street Works this week, 15 months after first touring the site when it was still an unheated warehouse in urgent need of restoration.
The Grade II* Listed building, originally constructed in 1872 as a button factory for Green, Cadbury and Richards, has now been transformed by Great Hampton Street Button Works Ltd and Hanehouse Developments. Supported by WMCA funding, the project has safeguarded the building’s heritage while delivering 29 one- and two-bedroom apartments for rent.
The new homes retain many of the building’s original features, including cast iron windows, exposed beams, brickwork, and even some original button-making machinery. Landscaped courtyards complete the development, providing residents with modern, high-quality housing in a characterful historic setting.
Mayor Parker praised the scheme, saying: “Great Hampton Street Works is an important part of the Jewellery Quarter’s heritage, but when I visited last year it was badly in need of restoration. It’s inspiring to see the tremendous job the developers have done in bringing it back to life, creating new homes and adding vibrancy to the area. “Regenerating historic buildings and transforming derelict industrial sites is central to my Growth Plan, which aims to reignite our economy with high-quality housing in well-connected locations where people want to live and work.”
The restoration is part of the wider Growth Plan, launched earlier this year, which sets out to deliver 120,000 homes, create 100,000 jobs in fast-growing sectors, and invest in improved transport links across the West Midlands.
Richard Whitehouse, director of Hanehouse Developments, said the completed project had exceeded expectations.
“This scheme has delivered what we set out to achieve – a sensitive, high-quality restoration that leaves a lasting legacy for the city. All contractors and suppliers were based within 15 miles, making this a true Birmingham project. Having seen the success of Great Hampton Street Works, we’re already exploring similar opportunities across the region.”
FFunding for the development was arranged through Frontier Development Capital Ltd (FDC), which works with property developers to secure investment from the WMCA’s Commercial Investment Fund and Residential Investment Fund.
The revival of Great Hampton Street Works is now being hailed as a model for how heritage-led regeneration can both protect Birmingham’s history and provide much-needed housing for its future.
