City Car Club scheme at Hub
Homeowners in Birmingham city centre are making the most of the opportunity to live a more eco-friendly way of life, just a year after the introduction of Birmingham city centre’s first City Car Club at Hub – a Crosby Lend Lease development in the Gunsmiths Quarter.
Twelve months on from when the City Car Club was first launched, homeowners at Hub have been keen to sign up as members, in a move which is not only helping them to lead a ‘greener’ lifestyle, but is also cutting congestion in and around the city centre. The City Car Club is a scheme which enables homeowners to share two pool cars and membership therefore brings with it the added benefit of cutting out the expense of keeping a vehicle on the road that may not only be used occasionally.
The City Car Club was initially introduced to cater for the 56 homeowners at Hub who do not have car parking, but all residents are encouraged to join the scheme. For every City Car Club vehicle introduced at the development, it is expected Birmingham’s congested roads will be rid of a least eight private cars – a small yet significant step towards a cleaner, less polluted environment.
Justine Elliott, sales and marketing director at Crosby Lend lease Midlands, said: “Being more eco-friendly and leading a green way of life are high on the agenda for today’s homeowners, and coupled with the credit crunch, most people are looking at ways to make savings whilst still doing their bit to protect the environment. The City Car Club had proved to be a real hit and, as it is the only one in Birmingham, Crosby has been seen to be leading the way as a sustainable developer.
“The City Car Club operates by providing pool cars which homeowners can book in advance to hire. This is ideal for those living at Hub who do not have the necessity to drive on a daily basis, but may need a car at weekends to visit family friends, or to do the weekly shop. Those taking part in the scheme will not have the hassle and cost of ongoing maintenance, fuel and insurance, and this is a huge benefit to buyers who are trying to tighten the purse strings and cut back on costs.
“The ongoing success of the City Car Club and the introduction of other car-pooling schemes such as this means there will be fewer cars on the road, reducing congestion and pressure on parking spaces in Birmingham. We hope that once other developers in the city see how successful the City Car Club has proved at Hub they will follow suit, helping Birmingham to become a greener city.”
Designed by RIBA Stirling Prize-nominated Glenn Howells Architects, the £17 million Hub scheme comprises a collection of 123 apartments in the Gunsmith’s Quarter of Birmingham, only a few minutes’ walk from Colmore Row. The futuristic exterior design of Hub, which overlooks Birmingham’s world-famous canal network, is an exciting prospect for the area – which is tipped to be the next up and coming regeneration ‘hotspot’ for the city. With prices starting from just £99,950, Hub has already found its marketing with first time buyers and buy-to-let investors.
Justine continued: “Competitive entry prices and its convenient location, just two minutes walk from Colmore Row and Snow Hill train station, have made Hub hugely popular with buyers. Hub offers design-led apartments at an affordable price so buyers can enjoy city living at its best without stretching the purse strings.”
Prices at Hub start at £99,950 for a “city pad”, £141,950 for a one bedroom apartment and £178,950 for a two bedroom apartment.
For more information on Hub and Crosby’s portfolio of schemes in Birmingham, visit Crosby Central on Navigation Street (between The Mailbox and New Street Train Station) on Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 5pm, or call to book a viewing on 0121 643 7944. Alternatively, log on to www.crosbylendlease.co.uk
