Bradford Works, Birmingham

Bradford Works is Birmingham’s first purpose-built shared-living development, delivering 54 en-suite, self-contained studio units for young professionals and postgraduate residents. Located at the corner of Barr Street and Harford Street within the historic Jewellery Quarter, the scheme combines high-quality modern accommodation with sensitive refurbishment of the existing building, preserving its historic façade and enhancing its context within the wider Great Hampton Street masterplan.

The project forms a distinctive contribution to ongoing urban regeneration in one of Birmingham’s most dynamic quarters. Farrow Walsh provided structural and civil engineering services, supporting both the retrofit of the existing mill building and the delivery of additional new-build elements.

The site presented several technical challenges. The development involved a former mill building requiring structural appraisal to support two additional storeys of light gauge steel frame (LGSF) superstructure. Additional constraints included underpinning the existing building and lowering the basement to accommodate the new design, while ensuring the historic structure remained stable and intact.

Farrow Walsh undertook detailed structural appraisal and designed underpinning solutions to strengthen the existing mill building. This allowed for the safe addition of two LGSF storeys above, while lowering the basement to create functional internal spaces. By integrating the retrofit and new-build elements, Farrow Walsh ensured the development preserved the heritage façade, supported urban regeneration objectives, and delivered high-quality, affordable shared-living accommodation on a complex inner-city site.