3.2.17
Original Document
The property requirements of the creative industries vary by segment, but the sector is well suited to making use of old converted buildings that can not be viably redeveloped for mainstream commercial use. As such a policy of limited intervention may best suit the needs of this sector. Creative industries’ location choices are more strongly related to economic processes than planning designations. The Big City Plan will therefore need to accept that there will be change over time. Indeed, it might be a sign of success if, in thirty years’ time, the creative industries were priced out of Digbeth and were colonising a new, less affluent area of the city in search of lower rents.
Plain English Translation
Different parts of the “Creative Industries” need different types of buildings to work in, but often they can use older converted buildings that are not suited to other commercial uses.
We might not need to do anything to help these types of businesses as they often chose places on cost rather than other things. The Big City Plan may need to take into account that where they locate might change over time. It might be a success if in 30 years time the ‘Creative Industries’ had been priced out of Digbeth and have moved somewhere cheaper.