Sphere hands over Birmingham's tallest tower to PIC

Sphere Group has handed over One Eastside, Birmingham's tallest skyscraper, to developer and investor Pensions Infrastructure Platform (PIC). The 51-storey tower, built on a brownfield plot that once housed a chemical engineering teaching facility for Birmingham Metropolitan College, delivers 667 apartments for rent alongside co-working spaces and other amenities.

The project created 87 local jobs, generating £33.5 million in annual economic value. It also supported local businesses through £15.7 million of locally sourced materials and provided 11 apprenticeships, with 61% of labour sourced locally. The development added new green space, tree planting and renewable energy infrastructure, including 620 trees planted through the One Eastside Forest initiative to offset resident move-in emissions.

James Agar, head of real estate origination at PIC, said the completion marks an important milestone in delivering "667 much-needed, new high-quality homes" to meet rental demand in the city. He said the tower was designed around the expectations of modern renters, combining premium apartments with a "best-in-class amenity offering."

"Today's residents increasingly seek more than just an apartment; they want flexibility, convenience, community and experiences within the buildings they call home," Agar said.