On mapping from 1817 by Robert Dawson, the site appears to be undeveloped. However, by the turn of the Twentieth Century, Ordnance Survey (OS) maps show that the northern part of the site was a mixed industrial and residential area, comprising Coldfield Ironworks, Mill Street Foundry, two malthouses, a sawmill, the Globe Works factory and a small amount of residential housing.

This was undoubtedly due to the site’s close proximity to the canal which provided easy access to the rest of the British canal network and the arrival of the railway at Birmingham station (now Curzon Street station), built in 1838. This made it easy to transport raw materials and distribute finished products.

The early 1900s saw the continued growth of Birmingham's manufacturing sector, with the city becoming a major center for the production of automobiles, motorcycles, and bicycles. The city was home to several major automobile manufacturers, including Rover, Austin, and Morris, which helped to establish Birmingham as a center for automotive innovation.

The decline of the horse-drawn coal barge in Birmingham in the 1950s gave way to the rise of new forms of transportation, particularly trucks and trains, for the transport of goods and materials. This shift was a part of a broader transformation in Birmingham's economy and transportation sector, as the city's traditional industries, such as metalworking and engineering, began to decline and new industries, such as electronics and plastics, emerged. The decline of the horse-drawn coal barge also paved the way for the redevelopment of Birmingham's canal system. While the use of the canals for transportation declined in the 1950s, the city recognized the potential of the canal system for leisure and tourism, and began to invest in its redevelopment.

The Dartmouth roundabout and surrounding road network dominate the site’s immediate setting to the north and east. The surrounding area is currently in a state of transition including development by Aston University to the south-west, Birmingham City University and an 11-storey office building (ref. 2019/10607/PA) just south of the canal and immediately opposite the site on Holt Street.

Within the emerging waterfront ecosystem, Birmingham BioCity will deliver approximately 130,000 sq ft of best-in-class fitted CL2 laboratories and office space dedicated to life sciences research and development, supporting collaboration between industry, academia and healthcare - all just 8 minutes from HS2 Curzon Street Station.