Mailbox Birmingham

Last updated

Mailbox Birmingham
Mailbox at Night.jpg
Mailbox Birmingham from Suffolk Street Queensway
Mailbox Birmingham
Location Birmingham, England
Coordinates 52°28′34.42″N1°54′15.32″W / 52.4762278°N 1.9042556°W / 52.4762278; -1.9042556
Address7 Commercial Street [1]
Opening dateDecember 2000
DeveloperBirmingham Development Company
OwnerM7
Architect1997 – Associated Architects
2013 – Stanton Williams
No. of anchor tenants 1 Harvey Nichols
No. of floors6
Parking686
Website mailboxlife.com

Mailbox Birmingham (also known as The Mailbox) is a mixed-use development located within the city centre of Birmingham, England. It houses British luxury department store chain Harvey Nichols, and the BBC Birmingham studios.

Contents

The scheme comprises 689,000 sq. ft. of primarily office space, with ancillary retail and leisure offering, located on a 4.8-acre waterside site. [2] It is home to BBC Birmingham, WSP, Associated Architects, Harvey Nichols, Malmaison Birmingham and other leading stores and restaurants.

The Mailbox is about 300 metres (980 ft) long from front to back including The Cube. Above the front shops it has an additional six floors which includes a hotel and residential apartments. The Worcester and Birmingham Canal passes along the back with a number of restaurants overlooking.

History

The Mailbox was built on the white area just below the Central Goods Depot on this map. Birmingham Worcester Wharf Central Goods Depot OS map 2nd edition 1905 showing canals rail tunnels and Central Goods and New Street stations.jpg
The Mailbox was built on the white area just below the Central Goods Depot on this map.
Restaurants at the canal side of the Mailbox The Mailbox, Birmingham.jpg
Restaurants at the canal side of the Mailbox
Post Office (Subway) Act 1966
Act of Parliament
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (variant 1, 1952-2022).svg
Long title An Act to authorise the Postmaster General to construct a subway in the City of Birmingham.
Citation 1966 c. 25
Dates
Royal assent 3 August 1966
Text of statute as originally enacted

Previously the location of a railway goods yard with canal wharves off the Worcester and Birmingham Canal leading to Gas Street Basin, the site was the location of the Royal Mail's main sorting office building for Birmingham (hence its current name) which was completed in 1970, replacing the Victorian head post office (now Victoria Square House), in Victoria Square. The new building was designed by R. H. Ousman of the Ministry of Public Building and Works, who collaborated with project architect H. A. E. Giddings and with Hubbard Ford & Partners, who supplied E. Winters and R. Lee as architects. When completed, it was the largest mechanised letters and parcels sorting office in the country with a floor area of 20 acres (81,000 m2) and the largest building in Birmingham. A tunnel was authorised by the Post Office (Subway) Act 1966 (c. 25) and constructed under Severn Street between the site and New Street railway station, allowing electric tractors hauling carts carrying sacks of mail to be driven directly to the office. The structure housed the largest electronic sorting equipment in the West Midlands to handle the post. [3] It also housed the administrative teams moved from Victoria Square, including those for other Post Office functions, such as counter services.[ citation needed ]

The main entrance was located at Blucher Street beneath a tower set between a square block for parcels on the left and a lower block for the letters sorting office on the right. The structure consisted of a steel frame on a 40-foot (12 m) square grid with lightweight pre-cast concrete floor slabs and reinforced concrete retaining walls and sub floors. The exterior was clad with cast glass troughs and exposed aggregate panels. Ventilation was provided through air-handling units which provided the building with the temperature it required. Extract fans were also placed on the roof. The exterior consisted mainly of the glass slabs and projecting air handling units with recessed windows. [3]

Redevelopment

1997

The Cube is the last phase of development at the Mailbox. The Cube birmingham.jpg
The Cube is the last phase of development at the Mailbox.

The Royal Mail sorting office was recognised by Alan Chatham in 1997.[ clarification needed ] Chatham had been an important figure in the regeneration of Birmingham, working with Argent to develop Brindleyplace. He found out that the sorting office was to be sold and tried to convince Argent about the potential the building offered if it were to be converted into a mixed-use building. Argent was unconvinced and so Chatham decided to establish his own development company, Birmingham Development Company, and purchased the building in 1998 for £3 million. He also paid a further £1 million for the surrounding waterfront buildings. [4] Soon after purchasing the building, he sold the air-rights to Crosby Homes, providing him with further money for redeveloping the building. [4]

The building was converted by the Birmingham Development Company and designed by the RIBA award winning, Birmingham practice, Associated Architects. It was to include two hotels with a total of 300 rooms, 15,850 sq. m (170,000 sg. ft.) of office space, 9,290 sq. m (100,000 sq ft.) of retail space and a similar area for restaurants and a health club. [4] Crosby Homes constructed apartments above the space. The redevelopment of the sorting office involved demolition of all but the steel sub-structure. It cost £150 million overall and opened in December 2000. Following the purchase of two retail units by Harvey Nichols, the development was valued at over £125 million. [4]

A public square the size of Chamberlain Square [ clarification needed ] was created to the front of the Mailbox beneath Suffolk Street Queensway. It was paved with natural stone and as well as being a social area, it was also designed to allow the easy movement of visitors to, from and around the building. The area to the rear of the building is used frequently by the public. At the back of the Mailbox a walkway leads over a bridge and to the canal towpaths near Gas Street Basin. A mixed-use building called the Cube, designed by Birmingham born architect Ken Shuttleworth's practice Make Architects with Buro Happold engineers forms the final phase of the Mailbox development and houses a rooftop restaurant, boutique hotel and residential flats.

A view of the BBC Birmingham Offices from outside the Mailbox The Mailbox 02.jpg
A view of the BBC Birmingham Offices from outside the Mailbox

In 2004, BBC Birmingham moved into a new complex of studios at the Mailbox that replaced the previous Pebble Mill site in Edgbaston. The general public is able to watch radio and television broadcasts being made at an all-access public foyer, as well as surf the BBC website and purchase BBC merchandise. On 31 October 2005, 81-year-old actress Mary Wimbush died at the Mailbox studios shortly after a recording session for The Archers . [5] On 16 February 2008, a shooting incident took place at Cafe Lazeez at the Mailbox. [6]

In April 2011 the Mailbox was sold for £127.1 million to a joint venture between Brockton Capital and Milligan. [7]

2013

On 30 May 2013, Milligan Retail announced that the Mailbox would undergo a major renovation, designed by Stirling Prize winners Stanton Williams, which would see a roof installed over the shopping complex's atrium. The anchor store, Harvey Nichols, would double in size to over 45,000 sq. ft. It was also announced that Brockton Capital and Milligan would work in co-ordination with Birmingham City Council to improve the public area reaching from the underpass beneath Suffolk Street Queensway to the front of Mailbox. These changes would be implemented to complement the redevelopment of New Street station which will house a full-line John Lewis department store. [8]

On 29 November 2013, it was announced that Everyman Cinemas would take space at the Mailbox, opening a 12,000 sq. ft 3-screen cinema in the latter part of 2014, ahead of the completion of the whole scheme in 2015. L.K.Bennett, Jaeger and Gieves and Hawkes will also open in the redeveloped centre in 2015 whilst an improved way-finding system will be introduced to improve shoppers' experience. [9]

2015

On 13 March 2015, Gas Street Social opened at the Mailbox. [10]

2022

In August 2022 it was announced that the BBC intends to leave The Mailbox when its current lease comes to an end in 2026.

IPSX listing

In December 2019, Brockton Capital and Milligan sold the Mailbox to M7 Real Estate ("M7").

In October 2020, M7 announced its intention to float the Mailbox on the International Property Securities Exchange ("IPSX"), making it the first single property REIT to be listed on a dedicated property stock exchange. Shares in Mailbox REIT commenced trading on 14 May 2021.

In April 2022, M7 completed the conversion of level one of the Mailbox from retail into 50,000 sq. ft. of flexible office space, which is now operated by IWG plc under its Spaces co-working brand under a new 10 year management agreement. The accommodation has been well received with occupancy in excess of 60% by October 2022.

List of occupiers

FashionLifestyleFood & drinkFilmBeautyOfficesHotels
Harvey Nichols BBC Birmingham Miller & Carter Everyman Cinema WSP UK Ltd Malmaison
Castle Fine ArtAlunaNicky Clarke Associated Architects AC Hotel
Gas Street SocialSpaces
Bar Estilo Malmaison Spa Washington Green
Gieves & Hawkes Ribble Cycles Chez Mal Smile 2 Impress Advanced [11]
James LakelandIntercar Cleaning (ICC)LucarelliDermoperfection
Edit Suits Siematic Kitchen GalleryCôte Brasserie
Ribble Cycles Harvey Jones Kitchens Indico Street Kitchen
Nando's
Zizzi
Medicine Bakery
Tesco Express
Elio Café
Penny Blacks
The Mayan
Sixes Cricket Club

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bull Ring, Birmingham</span> Major shopping centre in central Birmingham

The Bull Ring is a major shopping area in central Birmingham England, and has been an important feature of Birmingham since the Middle Ages, when its market was first held. Two shopping centres have been built in the area; in the 1960s, and then in 2003; the latter is styled as one word, Bullring. When coupled with Grand Central it forms the United Kingdom's largest city centre based shopping centre, styled as Bullring & Grand Central.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birmingham Central Library</span> Former main public library in Birmingham, England

Birmingham Central Library was the main public library in Birmingham, England, from 1974 until 2013, replacing a library opened in 1865 and rebuilt in 1882. For a time the largest non-national library in Europe, it closed on 29 June 2013 and was replaced by the Library of Birmingham. The building was demolished in 2016, after 41 years, as part of the redevelopment of Paradise Circus by Argent Group. Designed by architect John Madin in the brutalist style, the library was part of an ambitious development project by Birmingham City Council to create a civic centre on its new Inner Ring Road system; however, for economic reasons significant parts of the master plan were not completed, and quality was reduced on materials as an economic measure. Two previous libraries occupied the adjacent site before Madin's library opened in 1974. The previous library, designed by John Henry Chamberlain, opened in 1883 and featured a tall clerestoried reading room. It was demolished in 1974 after the new library had opened.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paddington Basin</span> Canal basin in Paddington, London, England

Paddington Basin is the name given to a long canal basin, and its surrounding area, in Paddington, London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brindleyplace</span> Mixed-use development in Birmingham, England

Brindleyplace is a large mixed-use canalside development, in the Westside district of Birmingham, England. It was named after Brindley Place, the name of the street around which it is built. It was developed by the Argent Group from 1993 onwards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chamberlain Square</span>

Chamberlain Square or Chamberlain Place is a public square in central Birmingham, England, named after statesman and notable mayor of Birmingham, Joseph Chamberlain. The Victorian square was drastically remodelled in the 1970s, with most of the Victorian buildings demolished and the construction of the Brutalist Central Library. Re-landscaping occurred most recently when the square was closed to the public for five years until March 2021 for remodelling as part of the Paradise scheme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wood Wharf</span>

Wood Wharf is a 23 acre site in Canary Wharf, London. It is currently under construction to provide offices, residential homes and retail space. The site is next to Canary Wharf. Wood Wharf will contain 5 million square feet of space, which will include 2 million sq ft of office space, 3,330 residential homes, 3.6 hectares of public spaces, and 380,000 sq ft of shops, restaurants and space for community use. It is estimated to be completed in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harvey Nichols</span> Department store in London, England

Harvey Nichols is a British luxury department store chain founded in 1831, at its flagship store in Knightsbridge, London. It sells designer fashion collections for men and women, fashion accessories, beauty products, fine wines and luxury foods. It is owned by Hong Kong luxury goods company Dickson Concepts. The chain has 14 locations worldwide across Hong Kong, Ireland, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, including a Beauty Bazaar in Liverpool and a brasserie in the OXO Tower, London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big City Plan</span> Major development plan for the city centre of Birmingham, England

The Big City Plan is a major development plan for the city centre of Birmingham, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewellery Quarter</span> Human settlement in England

The Jewellery Quarter is an area of central Birmingham, England, in the north-western area of Birmingham City Centre, with a population of 19,000 in a 1.07-square-kilometre (264-acre) area.

Swansea city centre in Swansea, Wales, contains the main shopping, leisure and nightlife district in Swansea. The city centre covers much of the Castle ward including the area around Oxford Street, Castle Square, and the Quadrant Shopping Centre; Alexandra Road, High Street, Wind Street and the Castle; Parc Tawe; and the Maritime Quarter extending down to the seafront.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Post and Mail building, Birmingham</span> Office in Birmingham, England

The Birmingham Post and Mail building was constructed in the 1960s and was a symbol of the rebuilding of Birmingham, England, following the devastation of World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paddington Waterside</span> Development in London, England

Paddington Waterside is a developed area around Paddington Station in London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridge Street Town Centre</span> Lifestyle center in Huntsville, Alabama, United States

Bridge Street Town Centre is a lifestyle center in Huntsville, Alabama, developed by O&S Holdings and designed by TSArchitects, both of Los Angeles. The center is located in Cummings Research Park at the intersection of Old Madison Pike, Interstate 565, and Research Park Boulevard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Cube, Birmingham</span> Mixed use building in West Midlands, England

The Cube is a 24-storey mixed-use development in the centre of Birmingham, England. Designed by Ken Shuttleworth of Make Architects, it contains 244 flats, 111,500 square feet (10,359 m2) of offices, shops, a hotel and a 'skyline' restaurant. It is the final phase of The Mailbox development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assembly Square</span> Neighborhood in Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S.

Assembly Square is a neighborhood in Somerville, Massachusetts, United States. It is located along the west bank of the Mystic River, bordered by Ten Hills and Massachusetts Route 28 to the north and the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston to the south. The district's western border runs along Interstate 93. Located 2.5 mi (4.0 km) from downtown Boston, the 143 acres (580,000 m2) parcel is named for a former Ford Motor Company plant that closed in 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snowhill</span> Hotel, residential, office and retail in Birmingham, England

Snowhill is a mixed-use development in the Colmore business district, known historically as Snow Hill, in Central Birmingham, England. The area, between Snow Hill Queensway and Birmingham Snow Hill station, is being redeveloped by the Ballymore Group. The £500 million phased scheme has been partly completed on the site of a former surface car park adjacent to the railway station and West Midlands Metro terminus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">100 St Georges Terrace</span> Skyscraper located in Perth, Western Australia.

100 St Georges Terrace is a 24-storey skyscraper located at 100 St Georges Terrace in Perth, Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marischal Square</span> Mixed use (offices, hotel, and gastronomy) in Aberdeen, Scotland

Marischal Square is a mixed use complex on Broad Street, Aberdeen, Scotland. The development is located on the site of St. Nicholas House, Aberdeen City Council's former 14-storey headquarters building, whose demolition was completed on 18 June 2014, after staff had been relocated to the redeveloped Marischal College across the road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Square House</span> Commercial in Birmingham, England

Victoria Square House, is an office building on the south side of Victoria Square, Birmingham, England. It was formerly Birmingham's Head Post Office, designed in the French Renaissance style by architect for the Office of Works Henry Tanner for the General Post Office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paradise, Birmingham</span> Area in the city centre of Birmingham, England

Paradise, formerly named Paradise Circus, is the name given to an area of approximately 7 hectares in Birmingham city centre between Chamberlain and Centenary Squares. The area has been part of the civic centre of Birmingham, England since the 19th century when it contained buildings such as the Town Hall, Mason Science College, Birmingham and Midland Institute buildings and Central Library. The site was redeveloped from 1960 to 1975 into the present Paradise Circus based within a roundabout on the Inner Ring Road system containing a new Central Library and School of Music. From 2015, Argent Group will redevelop the area into new mixed use buildings and public squares.

References

  1. "The Mailbox Address".
  2. Parsley2021-05-14T06:53:00, David. "Mailbox finally completes listing on IPSX". Property Week. Retrieved 24 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. 1 2 Douglas Hickman (1970). Birmingham. Studio Vista Ltd. p. 93.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Andrew MacLaran (2003). Making Space: Property Development and Urban Planning. Oxford University Press US. p. 207. ISBN   0-340-80827-6.
  5. "Archers star Wimbush dies at 81". BBC News. 1 November 2005. Retrieved 10 November 2007.
  6. "'Shots fired' in city restaurant". BBC News. 16 February 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  7. UK Office Space News, archived from the original on 5 June 2012, retrieved 6 April 2011
  8. Harvey Nichols Birmingham Announces Store Expansion and Relocation at the Mailbox (PDF), milliganretail.com, May 2013, archived from the original (PDF) on 7 December 2013, retrieved 3 December 2013
  9. The Mailbox Secures Luxury Cinema Brand Everyman Cinemas, Mailbox Life, November 2013, archived from the original on 4 December 2013, retrieved 3 December 2013
  10. Gas Street Social Opens at the Mailbox, Mailbox Life
  11. "ADVANCED – Mailbox" . Retrieved 28 February 2023.