The Tea Factory
From Tea Factory To BBC Birmingham
DWJ Harkin and GRAF deliver an open-top EcoBloc Maxx attenuation tank at the former Typhoo tea factory in Digbeth.
This story follows groundworks contractor DWJ Harkin on the redevelopment of the former Typhoo tea factory in Digbeth into the BBC’s new Birmingham home, and the EcoBloc Maxx attenuation tank GRAF installed there.
GRAF UK Stormwater Attenuation Tank Installation at BBC's New Birmingham HQ
Neil Hewitt, DWJ Harkin · Commercial redevelopment, Digbeth, Birmingham
Neil Hewitt, project manager for groundworks contractor DWJ Harkin, introduces the former Typhoo tea factory in Digbeth, which is being redeveloped as the BBC’s new Birmingham home. As a redevelopment of an existing building, the site needed attenuation as part of a permeable drainage system. Having worked with GRAF before on a project in Coventry, and finding GRAF competitive, DWJ Harkin chose GRAF, whose own team installed an EcoBloc Maxx tank in July 2024.
A Birmingham landmark, repurposed
The Typhoo tea factory in Digbeth once processed tea to be shipped throughout the UK. Now it’s being redeveloped as the BBC’s new Birmingham home. DWJ Harkin is delivering the groundworks package, with project manager Neil Hewitt responsible for making sure it’s completed to a high standard.
Attenuation for a redevelopment
As the scheme is a redevelopment of an existing building, it needed an attenuation tank, with the wider area designed as a permeable drainage system. The drainage was specified by BWB Consulting.
An open-top EcoBloc Maxx tank
GRAF supplied an EcoBloc Maxx attenuation tank measuring 42.4 m x 4 m x 0.74 m, giving 125.50 m³ gross and 120.48 m³ net storage. The sides are sealed, but the top isn’t wrapped in membrane, so water can percolate down through the textile into the tank before being slowly released, much like a soakaway but with sealed sides.
Installed by GRAF's own team
GRAF’s own installation team put the tank in during July 2024. DWJ Harkin had worked with GRAF before on a project in Coventry, and chose GRAF again because it was competitive in the market. Neil reports that the tank went in in a timely and efficient manner, and he’s looking forward to seeing the building completed in a couple of years.
“We’ve used Graf previously on a different project up in Coventry. Graf are competitive within the market, so that’s why we’ve chosen you on this particular project. Regarding the installation of the Graf tank, I’m happy to report that they installed it within a timely and efficient manner.”
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