We've backed Vita Group's plans for The Goods Station site in the heart of Birmingham with a £13m property loan, helping to turn a prime plot of unused land into something much more exciting.
Located just 600 metres from New Street Station, the site at The Axis on Holliday Street sits between the city centre and the Westside district. It's a key gateway location and a big part of Birmingham's long-term regeneration vision set out in the Draft Central Birmingham Framework 2040.
Vita snapped up the land in 2023 and has since cleared it. Full planning consent was granted in November 2025, with construction set to take place over the next three years.
The proposed mixed-use scheme includes:
- 990 new homes across three residential blocks (484, 384 and 122 units)
- A 221-bed aparthotel
- A 720-bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) block
- One acre of new public square and public realm
At full height, the development will reach 49 storeys, stepping down to 10 storeys around a central public space designed to maximise daylight and integrate with neighbouring buildings.
There's even a 4.5-metre level change across the site, which has been cleverly tackled with landscape terraces that create new spaces to socialise and play.
This wasn't a straightforward deal either. With a phased disposal strategy and a challenging market backdrop, the funding needed careful structuring. We worked through a series of conditions to balance flexibility and risk, getting everything in place for drawdown six weeks post-sanction.
Peter Shipley, director of corporate finance at Vita Group, said: "This funding gives us the necessary flexibility at a key stage in the evolution of this site. Mike and the wider Secure Trust Bank team demonstrated a pragmatic approach throughout the process, working closely with us to navigate the scheme and the wider market conditions.
"The Goods Station occupies a great position in the second city, with full planning consent in place for a high-quality mixed-use development. This facility allows us to continue progressing the group's strategy for the site."
Relationship director and property finance specialist Mike Feasey headed up the deal. He said: "This was a complex transaction involving a prominent city-centre site and a phased strategy against a challenging market backdrop. To see it draw down is incredibly rewarding - it's a perfect example of how tailored loans can support regeneration-led schemes in thriving cities like Birmingham."
Over the past 14 years, Vita Group has delivered more than 11,000 student beds and 4,000 private rented sector homes across the UK and Spain, with a further four projects set to complete in 2026.
The deal was supported by our relationship support specialist Dinesh Masih, with legal advice from Shepherd & Wedderburn.
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