Birmingham Location Guide - Frater Property Partners

Invest in Birmingham

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 1,140,525 people living in the borough.
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 high-speed rail stations will reduce travel time to London by nearly 50% meaning Birmingham becomes a more popular area for employees working in London in a more affordable location, driving capital growth in years to come.
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): Located approximately 6 miles east of the city centre, BHX is the UK’s seventh busiest airport, offering flights to various domestic and international destinations, including Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

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 £230,000 for the city (UK House Price Index).

Forecasts for Growth

2024-2028: Property prices are expected to rise by 19.9%, averaging an annual increase of 3.7%.
2025-2029: Savills anticipates a 26.4% increase in house prices in the West Midlands.
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.