Birmingham establishes landmark knowledge quarter

“All three of my key Investment Zone sites are now rapidly moving towards spades in the ground, following this agreement. That means real benefits are coming for local people with thousands of new jobs, modern homes, fresh skills, and new investment flowing into communities across Birmingham Eastside, Aston, and the wider region.”

This partnership builds on significant momentum across the district, including Woodbourne Group’s newly announced collaboration with global real estate investment manager Hines, a deal that could unlock up to £400m of additional investment into B‐KQ’s residential and innovation pipeline.

Birmingham City University and Aston University are both major anchor institutions driving this growth. Birmingham City University has invested over £400m to revitalise Birmingham and transform the Eastside district with flagship initiatives including the award-winning STEAMhouse: a landmark innovation hub fostering collaboration among businesses, creatives, students and researchers.

Meanwhile, Aston University’s Birmingham Innovation Precinct (BIP), adjacent to its main campus, is nurturing groundbreaking ideas and enterprise creation, including the new Aston Business Hub at 10 Woodcock Street.

Together, both universities’ long‐standing work with local schools, colleges, and SMEs will ensure that residents in neighbouring communities can access training, apprenticeships, and enterprise support. Planned improvements to public spaces around Aston University Campus, Jennens Road, and Curzon Street will create safer, greener routes that better connect local neighbourhoods with the city centre and major transport hubs.

Empowering local communities

The alliance said B-KQ’s vision is not just about buildings, but about people. The district is designed to empower local communities, create pathways to high-value careers, and transform the city’s economic prospects. By bringing together world-leading universities, pioneering developers, and city leadership, B-KQ will act as a magnet for global talent, investment, and innovation while ensuring the region’s diverse communities benefit from new opportunities, upskilling, and improved wellbeing.

“Birmingham has always been a city of innovation, and with an emphasis on sectors like advanced manufacturing, digital technologies and Life Sciences, B-KQ continues our proud history of being at the cutting edge of technology,” said councillor Sharon Thompson, deputy leader, Birmingham City Council and chair of the B-KQ Strategic Programme Board.

“This is one of the most investable cities in the country, a city of unmatched potential and opportunity, and thanks to partnerships like this we are creating jobs, opportunities and prosperity for a young and growing population.”

This partnership further strengthens that ambition, with the potential to significantly expand the district’s capacity for life sciences, AI, digital health, and advanced manufacturing – sectors identified as national priorities for growth.

“This is one of the most investable cities in the country, a city of unmatched potential and opportunity”

At the same time, new cultural and community facilities within B-KQ will reflect Birmingham’s identity as one of the UK’s most diverse cities, supporting local creatives, makers, and grassroots organisations.

Strategically located alongside the new HS2 Curzon Street station and the “Innovation Line” rail corridor, B-KQ offers connectivity to London, Oxford, Cambridge, and beyond. As part of the West Midlands Investment Zone it provides a package of government-backed incentives across multiple sites for businesses, investors, and developers, including:

• Five years of full business rates relief for new and expanding businesses on designated tax sites (available until March 2034)
• 100 per cent first-year capital allowances for investment in plant and machinery
• Full Stamp Duty Land Tax relief on commercial land and building acquisitions (until September 2034)
• Enhanced structures and buildings allowances (10 per pa)
• Increased Employer National Insurance threshold for eligible new employees.

The 170,000 square feet of innovation and tech space is available now including at Bruntwood SciTech’s Enterprise Wharf, Aston Business Hub and Woodbourne Groups upcoming BioCity at Curzon Wharf. There are further opportunities for pre-lets and investment in the Northern Gateway mixed-use project.