Birmingham Location Guide - Frater Property Partners

Invest in Birmingham

Last reviewed: June 2026, against ONS, Birmingham City Council, HS2 Ltd and Savills data

Birmingham is the UK’s second city, with a population of over 1.18 million projected to reach 1.23 million by 2038. Savills’ most recent forecast (June 2026) puts West Midlands house price growth at 19.7% over the five years to 2030. Backed by the £10bn+ Big City Plan and two new HS2 stations under construction, Birmingham remains one of the strongest regeneration-led cases for property investment outside London.

Birmingham's Economy & Population

Rapid GDP Growth – Birmingham’s economy contributes over £85 billion to the UK’s GDP, making it one of the fastest-growing city economies outside London.

Birmingham has a population of over 1.18 million people living in the borough, with the city council projecting continued growth toward 1.23 million by 2038.
Birmingham has also been recognised as the UK’s most entrepreneurial city for 5 years running, producing the highest number of businesses outside of London.

Regeneration & Institutional Investment

£10bn 20-year City Centre Masterplan – Big City Plan. It’s a vision to encourage and support Birmingham’s continuing transformation into a world class city centre and covers every aspect of the built environment.

£10+ billion total investment in regeneration projects across the city.
Over 50,000 new jobs expected to be created through major developments.
More than 5,000 new homes planned to accommodate the growing population.
Over 1.8 million square feet of commercial and office space under development.
Contributing £2.1 billion to the economy each year.

Connectivity & Transport

Birmingham has brilliant connectivity through rail, land & road.

Two new HS2 stations — Curzon Street in the city centre and Birmingham Interchange near Solihull — will eventually cut journey times to London to around 49 minutes. Foundation works at Curzon Street were completed in March 2026, though the government’s latest official timeline (May 2026) puts the opening of HS2 services to Birmingham between 2036 and 2039.
Road connectivity: M40, and M42, facilitating efficient road travel across the UK.

Mainline Stations: Birmingham New Street is the busiest railway station in the UK outside London. The HS2 project includes the construction of Curzon Street Station in Birmingham.

West Midlands Metro: This light rail system connects Birmingham to Wolverhampton.

Birmingham Airport (BHX): had its busiest year on record in 2025, with 13.65 million passengers, and is investing £300 million over the next four years as it targets 18 million passengers by 2033.

Employment

Major Business Hub – Home to leading financial institutions (HSBC UK, Wesleyan, Unity Trust Bank) and a thriving business. services sector, with the highest start-up rate outside London
Over 100,000 people employed in banking, insurance, law, and consultancy.
Strong Employment Market – Key sectors including finance, legal, tech, manufacturing, and logistics provide thousands of jobs, attracting a skilled workforce.
Strong rental demand from professionals – Birmingham’s business districts create steady demand for high-quality apartments.

Universities, Education & Graduate Retention

Home to 5 Major Universities – Including the University of Birmingham (Russell Group), Aston University, and Birmingham City University, attracting over 80,000 students annually.
High Student Housing Demand – Areas like Selly Oak, Digbeth, and Aston see strong rental demand due to a large student population.
Top Business & Research Institutions – Aston Business School and Birmingham Business School offer globally recognized programs, supporting business and finance sectors.
Strong Graduate Retention – Many students stay post-graduation, driving demand for professional housing and contributing to a highly skilled workforce.
Investment in Innovation & Skills – Over £340m invested in university expansions, including the STEAMhouse Innovation Hub, fostering entrepreneurship and tech startups.

Lifestyle & Amenities

Bullring & Grand Central – One of the UK’s largest shopping destinations with 200+ stores.
Five Michelin-starred restaurants, making Birmingham a foodie hotspot.
Birmingham Hippodrome – The UK’s busiest theatre and home to the Birmingham Royal Ballet.
Over 8,000 acres of parks and open spaces, making it one of the greenest UK cities.
Alexander Stadium – Upgraded for the Commonwealth Games, hosting athletics events.
Edgbaston Cricket Ground – Home of Warwickshire Cricket Club and international matches.

Previous Growth & Performance

Property prices in Birmingham have grown steadily over the last 10 years in a relatively slow period for UK property with the average price of property now at around £232,000 for the city (UK House Price Index 2026).

Forecasts for Growth

Savills’ most recent forecast (June 2026) puts West Midlands house price growth at 19.7% over the five years to 2030.
Population Growth: Birmingham’s population is projected to reach 1.24 million by 2030, driving housing demand.
JLL’s latest forecasts suggest that Birmingham rental prices will rise by 22.2% between 2024 and 2028.

Discuss Birmingham investment property with one of the team

Is Birmingham a good place to invest in property in 2026?
Birmingham has a population of over 1.18 million, projected by the city council to reach 1.23 million by 2038. Savills forecasts 19.7% house price growth across the West Midlands over the five years to 2030.

What regeneration is happening in Birmingham?
The £10bn+ Big City Plan is a 20-year city centre masterplan targeting over 50,000 new jobs and more than 5,000 new homes. Two new HS2 stations — Curzon Street and Birmingham Interchange — are under construction, though the government’s latest timeline (May 2026) puts the opening of HS2 services to Birmingham between 2036 and 2039.

How well connected is Birmingham Airport?
Birmingham Airport (BHX) is the UK’s seventh busiest, with a record 13.65 million passengers in 2025. It is investing £300 million over the next four years as it targets 18 million passengers by 2033.

What is Birmingham’s employment and business base like?
Birmingham is home to leading financial institutions including HSBC UK, Wesleyan and Unity Trust Bank, with over 100,000 people employed in banking, insurance, law and consultancy, and the highest start-up rate outside London.

Is Birmingham a good city for graduate retention and rental demand?
Birmingham is home to five major universities, including the University of Birmingham (Russell Group), attracting over 80,000 students annually. Strong graduate retention drives sustained demand for professional and student housing in areas like Selly Oak, Digbeth and Aston.