Within easy reach of Birmingham city centre, the Five Ways South and Calthorpe Park area has been crowned the most sought-after place in the city
Victoria Linehan, a resident on Frederick Road
Situated in the shadow of a derelict tower block in Birmingham is the city’s ‘most desired’ estate, where house prices have more than doubled in 12 months.
The area of Five Ways South and Calthorpe Park, located in Edgbaston near the western edge of the city centre, saw average house prices rise from £235,000 in 2024 to £500,000 in 2025 – a whopping 112.3% increase.
No other part of Birmingham experienced a three-figure increase over the past year. The next biggest increase came in Brandwood North, where house prices rose by 36.3% from £282,500 to £385,000.
READ MORE: Residents feel ‘punished’ in estate where house prices split down middle
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Among the streets where residents call home in Birmingham’s most sought-after neighbourhood includes Frederick Road, which is lined with trees, eye-catching homes and gated driveways. Here, houses can fetch more than £1.5 million.
There’s even a plastic surgeon located at the end of the road, based opposite the 27-storey Five Ways Tower, which has fallen into disrepair and been vacant since 2005, much to the frustration of nearby residents.
READ MORE: Inside Birmingham estate where house prices boomed in 2025
One house on Frederick Road even features a blue plaque, dedicated to Florence Barrow, a Quaker and housing reform activist who died in March 1964, aged 88.
Doctors, bankers and consultants are said to call the leafy street home, which sits in a conservation area and is governed by certain rules and regulations.
Asked why house prices may have soared on Frederick Road, resident Victoria Linehan, aged 82, said: “It has got beautiful, large trees.
“The old houses have not been pulled down, and there is the Calthorpe Estate that manages it to a certain degree.”
Inside Frederick Road
She added: “Birmingham city (council) is pulling everything historic down. Everywhere is becoming student accommodation. It needs to be put in the right place.”
A 62-year-old man, a retired banker, said: “I think partly (because) it’s in a conservation area.
“There are certain rules and regulations (put in place) by the Calthorpe Estate.
“A lot of doctors and consultants live here. There’s the university right next door, both BCU (Birmingham City University) and University of Birmingham.
“It’s 20 minutes into town. The trams make a big difference. You hop on a tram and you’re in the Jewellery Quarter within 20 minutes.
“Big gardens make a difference; some people like them, some do not. The trees make a big difference, it feels like you could be anywhere.
“(However) during rush hour, it can be quite noisy.”
He continued: “I retired nine years ago, I used to be a banker. We’re the youngest on the street.
“I think a lot are retired on this street, there’s doctors and consultants. We’ve been here 18 years, it feels like yesterday we moved.”
He added: “You also have Five Ways Tower, they want to get a move on.”
Residents have complained over the ongoing existence of Five Ways Tower
Meanwhile, an 82-year-old man, who’s lived on Frederick Road for more than 30 years, said: “There are lovely houses, they are well maintained.
“On holidays, someone will throw a party.
“You can walk into the centre of Birmingham in half an hour.
“There’s not many other cities where you can live in a leafy suburb and walk into the centre of a busy industrial city.”
However the man sought issue with the derelict Five Ways Tower, adding: “It looks like Gaza.
“I fail to understand why Birmingham City Council don’t get off their backside and do something about it.
“If we have people come to stay with us, that is the first thing they notice.”
A woman, who lived on Frederick Road, added: “It’s a very nice place to live, it’s within walking distance to the city, the train and the tram.
“There’s beautiful old houses once you get down this end of the area. It’s quiet.
“People on this road have maintained their houses, I think that’s the main thing.
“It’s also in a conservation area.
“We have lived in this road for 20 years and within Edgbaston and Harbourne the previous 20 years.
“There’s very big houses around Calthorpe Road and Carpenter Road.
“They have got very large houses, some of them have large projects going on.”
The house price data from March 2024 to March 2025 was compiled by Online Marketing Surgery and BLG Development Finance.
Birmingham council does not own Five Ways Tower and has no say in it.
Its freehold and land is owned by Calthorpe Estates, but the leaseholder is The Corbally Group (Edgbaston) Ltd, which acquired it in 2016.
Developer Osborne+Co has proposed the demolition of Five Ways Tower to make way for a “modern and elegant structure of similar scale” in addition to “two smaller blocks” for either student or residential use, according to the company’s website.
In response to the story, a Calthorpe Estates spokesperson said: “At Calthorpe Estates we are committed to creating exceptional places and positively influencing the neighbourhoods we manage.
“The Calthorpe Estate has been in continuous stewardship for more than 300 years, with a focus on long-term estate management that protects its character and environment for the benefit of those who live and work here.
“As set out in the Calthorpe Residents’ Handbook, the estate operates guidelines and covenants covering matters such as alterations and extensions, use of properties, boundary treatments, landscaping, and the upkeep of shared spaces.
“These measures are designed to ensure that any changes are appropriate to their setting and help preserve the character of the area over the long term.
“We believe this consistent and considered approach to estate stewardship plays an important role in supporting attractive, well-maintained communities that people are proud to call home.
“We believe those actions add health and wellbeing and financial value to residents.
“Five Ways Tower is a significant site within the estate, and we are working closely with the long leaseholder to bring forward scheduled future redevelopment.”