City council deal with Keon Homes and Midland Heart to transform historic Edgbaston waterfront

Birmingham City Council has signed a deal with developer Keon Homes and housing association Midland Heart to build 95 affordable homes on the site of the former Tower Ballroom in Edgbaston.

The development will include a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom family homes, available for social rent and shared ownership. 

Construction is expected to begin in early 2027, with the scheme forming part of a wider project to create 3,000 new homes across key Birmingham sites.

Plans also include transforming the site of the former ballroom into a fully accessible public walkway and square, alongside an enhanced landscaping area of at least 25 metres on the water’s edge. 

The Grade II-listed Reservoir Lodge is also set to be refurbished into a community hub for local charities and groups.

Sustainable development

The scheme forms part of Midland Heart’s £295 million Birmingham investment programme, which aims to deliver 1,200 new affordable homes by 2028. It is designed to meet a new national net zero standard coming into force in 2026.

Deputy council leader Sharon Thompson said the project would deliver “high-quality energy efficient affordable homes and attractive outdoor spaces” for residents within a short distance of the city centre, adding that delivering decent affordable housing was “a key priority for this council”.

Oliver Thompson, Senior Land Manager at Keon Homes, credited “the huge amount of work undertaken by all parties” for getting the project ready for its planning application.

Joe Reeves, deputy chief executive at Midland Heart, said transforming this “iconic location” into affordable homes marked “an important step for Birmingham”.