This is an unofficial 'plain English' version of the Big City Plan Work in Progress consultation document about how Birmingham (UK) should be developed over the next 20 years. For more information, see the About page.
To find your way around, use the links under 'Contents' below.
The official consultation closes at 23:59 on Friday 6th February. We closed comments on the same day at 12 noon here in order to get them to the council on time, in the format they want.
We sent a printed copy of all comments that were made before midnight on 4th Feb to the council by post (recorded delivery). We are currently processing comments made by 12 noon today (6th Feb) to email to them.
You can email us at hello@bigcitytalk.org.uk
What kind of additional shops and services are needed in Birmingham in the future to set it apart from its competitors and develop its global reputation?
What kind of extra shops and services do we need in Birmingham in the future to make it better than other cities and to make it well-known throughout the world?
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We desperately need somewhere for smaller, independant retailers. Birmingham city centre depressingly could be any other High Street in any UK town.
I would love to see something like The Lanes in Brighton being developed in Birmingham. Not only could it be a fantastic place for develooping new businesses, it is also a tourist attraction.
We need alternatives to chain shops, We need shops where creative people in any area can develop what they sell be it imported, or crafted locally (and thus supporting other local creators). To be able to do this we need low cost shop units (possible rental rates in proportion to turnover achieved eg by a local tax on turnover or earnings.
Let's get back to producing as well as selling on the premises – butchering, baking, ready meals for microwave reheating, locally sourced vegetables, etc.
The retailers of ready cooked pasties, etc in the city turn out fatty under cooked offerings as opposed to food created with pride by the owner of the shop.
Let's create a city of character by these talented artisan businesses. But, support to set up and gradually increase costs according to revenue is necessary.
Repeat of earlier comment, but now registeuing.
We need alternatives to chain shops, We need shop
s where creative people in any area can develop what they sell be it imported, or crafted locally (and thus supporting other local creators). To be able to do this we need low cost shop units (possible rental rates in proportion to turnover achieved eg by a local tax on turnover or earnings.
Let's get back to producing as well as selling on the premises – butchering, baking, ready meals for microwave reheating, locally sourced vegetables, etc.
The retailers of ready cooked pasties, etc in the city turn out fatty under cooked offerings as opposed to food created with pride by the owner of the shop.
Let's create a city of character by these talented artisan businesses. But, support to set up and gradually increase costs according to revenue is necessary.
Birmingham has a lot of talent in the areas of original art, crafts and media products.
I think it's important we encourage local and young talent. Perhaps this could be utilised through the idea of street markets.
We could have a local market that allows people who create their own art work, food, clothes, accessories etc. to have their own stalls to sell work. This could also be linked in with university talent and a way for students to get their work into the market place more easily.
I definately think that Birmingham city centre lacks anything that seperates it form any other city centre. The buildings and space is great but without anything original, indepedent or unique people will just be disappointed.
Your average medium-sized town in the the middle of nowhere has almost all of the high-street chains that are available in our huge, supposedly vibrant city. Despite apparently being a 'shopping capital' there is very little to entice me into the city that I can't get in King's Heath, Bearwood or Halesown.
I went to Bristol recently and the Clifton district was brilliant – loads of one-off shops, characterful restaurants, artisan food stores etc- it felt like a real tourist attraction. I know Moseley is attempting this but it is too far out of town. With so many big chains going under and our shopping districts filling up with vacant premises, can anything be done to incentivise (and maybe subsidise) small businesses to open in their place, kick-starting a fightback against the ailing economy?
yes – alternative, indepdent premises with their own unique style and character need to be encouaraged somehow.
Better places to eat.
More good music venues (restrain Environmental and Planning from building residential flats everywhere then restricting the practices of established music venues).