£27 million investment kick starts construction

A 140-home regeneration scheme in Birmingham is set to get off the ground after Cedar Invest received a £21 million investment to complete the development.

Named The Forge Digbeth, the five-storey development comprises a mix of one and two-bedroom luxury apartments, and is set for completion in December 2020. Providing new homes for over 226 residents, Cedar Invest has already sold 107 of the 140 homes. The development will also feature a landscaped external area and 42-space car park.

The investment, delivered by Frontier Development Capital (FDC) and Coutts, has allowed construction to commence at the previously disused 0.86-acre Park Works brownfield site, supporting more than 300 jobs in the construction phase.

Cedar Invest Limited is an equity finance vehicle owned by the family office of established property developer Grahame Whateley.

John Whateley, director at Cedar Invest Limited, said: “The Forge Digbeth is set to be a transformative development in the city, regenerating a currently underutilised piece of land to provide a range of luxury new homes. By securing backing from FDC and Coutts we have been able to get spades into the ground – a significant milestone for Cedar but also Birmingham as we contribute to its ongoing growth.”

The £27million package includes a £17.5million loan from Coutts and £3.5million from Frontier Development Capital, with Cedar Invest investing £6million.

Nick Oakley, head of property investments at Frontier Development Capital, said: “Demonstrating the flexibility of the finance we provide at FDC, this investment in Cedar Invest will be crucial in allowing the developer to deliver this flagship development, a strong platform from which it can bring forward more schemes across the Midlands and wider UK."

Frontier Development Capital provides access to flexible investments of up to £10million, deploying funds nationwide via its offices in Birmingham and Manchester.