With canalside cafés and bars, thriving retail hubs and culture on tap Birmingham has everything for home-hunters in search of the hustle and bustle of an urban adventure.

But with the cost of getting on the property ladder ever increasing, many first-time buyers are looking at more accessible ways to get on it, and shared ownership is one of those.

And this is where one developer can help. Optivo is one of the largest housing providers in the UK and specialises in building affordable homes across London, the south east and Midlands.

They are offering shared ownership on their range of one and two-bedroom apartments at Bristol Street, right on the edge of the heart of Birmingham.

The stylish and contemporary apartments offer a palatable price. A one-bedroom would be from £46,875 for a 25 per cent share purchase with a full market value of £187,500. A two-bed would be £56,250 for a 25 per cent share with a market value of £225,000.

It also means lower deposits than buying on the open market. To find out more about Bristol Street and book a viewing visit the Optivo website.

With shared ownership, you buy a share in a brand new leasehold property on a part buy/part rent basis and pay a subsidised rent on the part that you don’t own. There is also a management charge for the apartment building.

Bristol Street is located just moments away from all that this cosmopolitan city has to offer, from shopping and places to dine to cultural venues and tranquil green spaces.

There are properties on the ground, first, second and third floors of the building. With all appliances and fitted carpets throughout, the 12 one-bed and 8 two-bed apartments are move-in ready.

The kitchens are fitted out and the apartments are move-in ready. This image of one of Optivo's other developments is an example of the typical finish

The kitchens have a Zanussi hob and oven, fridge freezer, space for a dishwasher with a washing machine in the hall cupboard. They are fully fitted with kitchen units, laminate worktops and vinyl flooring.

In the bathrooms, there are baths with chrome mixer taps and shower attachments and tile-effect vinyl flooring.

There are BT Openreach telephone and fibre broadband points in the hall cupboard and telephone points and a Digital TV connection point to the living room, which is pre-wired for Sky. The apartments have audio entry systems for security and convenience.

Outside there is a communal cycle store and parking to some of the apartments .

“At Optivo, we know how important it is to find a home that’s perfect for you," said Jane Williams, Head of Sales and Marketing, Optivo.

"That’s why at our Bristol Street development we offer high-quality homes to suit most budgets through shared ownership. Our customers are at the centre of everything we do - which keeps us building homes, making places and enhancing lives.”

Birmingham a proud city

Birmingham is a thriving social, cultural, financial and commercial centre - home to Edgbaston Cricket Ground, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, the NEC, which has played host to worldwide music acts and is the main music venue in Birmingham and a ten-level Library which includes the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

For retail therapy look no further than the Bullring shopping centre, one of the largest in Europe with more than 200 shops, department stores and restaurants, which is about a 20-minute walk from the apartments.

You will find more shopping at Grand Central and The Mailbox and Jewellery Quarter, where big names are alongside independents and then add to the mix the range of pubs, clubs, restaurants and bars.

Get away from it all

If you value the outdoors and peace and quiet then you will be pleased to know Birmingham boasts more public parks than any other European city, with 571 and has a longer network of canals than Venice – so there are plenty of places to escape.

You won’t be far away from nature at Bristol Street. The city has five local nature reserves and a national one at Sutton Park with 2,400 acres of heathland, woodlands, seven lakes, wetlands, and marshes to explore.

Close to the apartments is Cannon Hill Park, one of the city’s most popular green spaces for walking, cycling, running or playing sports. It has formal parks, woodland and sports areas.

It even features the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park, where you can see animals such as red pandas, lynx and lemurs.

If you want something calmer, visit the 15 acre Birmingham Botanical Gardens, which has more than 7,000 species of plants from the tropical rainforest to the desert and is home to the British National Bonsai collection.

At Edgbaston Reservoir you can enjoy 70 acres of woodland and grassland on foot or fish, sail or row.

The apartments have cosy bedrooms. This image of one of Optivo's other developments is an example of the typical finish
Easy to get around

Keen cyclists can enjoy a range of traffic-free city routes and there are several bike hire shops to help you.

If you don’t have a car, it is not a problem, because Birmingham is well served, being one of the most important transport hubs in the country, served by many motorways, railways, air and even canals.

If you take the train you can be in London in just over an hour. The Birmingham New Street station is at the heart of the UK rail network and a transport hub for those travelling throughout the UK.

Birmingham international airport is a 10 minutes train ride away, with direct flights to hundreds of destinations including New York, Paris and Madrid.

For those who do want to drive, then you can get onto the M40, which also goes to Oxford. Midlands, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Derby, Nottingham and the Black Country, which are all less than an hour away.

For a one-bed apartment the minimum share value is £46,875, which is 25 per cent of the full market value of £187,500. For a two-bed apartment the minimum share value is £56,250, which is 25 per cent of the full market value of £225,000.

To find out more about buying your own apartment at Bristol Street. or to book a viewing email sales@optivo.org.uk, call 0800 012 1442 or visit the website.