Over the last two years, Prior + Partners has been working as masterplanners to support the delivery of a transformational 60-acre Sports Quarter, anchored by a new football stadium, first-class training facilities, and a thriving academy for Birmingham City Football Club. Last night marked a major milestone with the revealing of the winning architectural designs for the stadium, paving the way for a vibrant new mixed-use destination in East Birmingham.
Heatherwick Studio and MANICA Architect’s stadium proposals will act as a catalyst for wider renewal, supported by our masterplan which introduces an ecosystem of sports-oriented commercial workspaces, homes, and leisure uses designed to benefit local communities. This vision reflects Knighthead Capital Management’s commitment to driving positive economic and social change through sports-led regeneration.
Elise Baudon, Project Director for the masterplan at Prior + Partners, describes: “Sports-led regeneration goes beyond building a stadium – it’s about creating a distinct identity and lasting benefits by integrating sports with wider urban development. Drawing on our team’s experience, including legacy masterplans for the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, as well as Manchester’s Commonwealth Games and development around the Etihad Stadium, we’re applying a placemaking-led approach that balances world-class facilities with vibrant, sustainable neighbourhoods.”
The ambition for the project is moving closer to reality, with West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker confirming in June this year that UK Government investment in regional transport will be used to extend the West Midlands Metro to the proposed Sports Quarter site, helping unlock the future of the development.
Joon Chung, Associate Director at Prior + Partners, adds: “Supported by this essential new transport infrastructure, the Sports Quarter will unlock new potential for East Birmingham, opening access, creating pathways into skilled employment, and offering apprenticeships for local residents. As a major sports-led regeneration initiative, it will establish a vibrant destination that elevates wellbeing across the city and catalyses Birmingham’s long-term economic growth.’’
In bringing the masterplan for Birmingham Sports Quarter together, Prior + Partners has championed the use of digital innovations such as our Place Platform – a dynamic tool that captures and shares the project’s evidence base to enrich collaboration between client, partners and consultants.
Over the coming months, the team – which includes Deloitte, Knighthead’s lead advisors for the commission, alongside AFL Architects, WSP and Field Operations – will continue to guide the next phase of masterplan development, including the integration of the stadium proposals. Together, we are shaping a development that will redefine the region, unlock growth, improve lives, and set a new benchmark for sports-led regeneration.
