Option D2
Original Document
Business Digbeth: Digbeth would become a modern city centre business quarter, involving refurbishment of the best buildings and redevelopment of the remainder. The emphasis would be on growing small to medium enterprises including high grade manufacturing, media and services which desire a city centre location. The area would become the focus for international business connected with Birmingham’s diverse working population and would be supported by a high speed next generation fibre optic network. Residential development would have a lesser role but it could include historic / iconic building conversions, live-work studios and other innovative means of enabling industrial, creative, and residential uses to work together. Improvements to the public realm would be encouraged, particularly along Digbeth High Street and High Street Deritend. This option could involve ring-fencing small areas for creative industries and developing more facilities like the Custard Factory.
Plain English Translation
‘Business Digbeth’
Digbeth becomes a large, modern business quarter. The best buildings will be refurbished and the rest will be redeveloped. It will target expanding small and medium businesses. These will include manufacturing, media and services who want a city centre location. Foreign businesses could be attracted to the area by Birmingham’s diverse workforce. The businesses’ IT needs will be supported by a high-speed, fibre optic network for internet connections, etc. Housing will play a less important role but could include conversions of historic buildings, development of live-work studios and other ways of creating a mix of industrial, creative and residential spaces. Improving the streets and outdoor areas will be encouraged, especially the main Digbeth High Street. This option could involve ring-fencing small areas for creative industries and developing more areas like the Custard Factory.
This is definitely the best option, one that retains the heart of what Digbeth is about, while moving things forward at the same time. I feel that too much residential development will kill what Digbeth is at the moment, and too much unchecked commercial development will drive up rents and kill off the existing creative businesses.
Arrgh! Wrong option – this was meant for option D!
Glad to read Stuart's second comment, as this was my least favorite option! I felt it would go against what's going on here and turn the place into some weird, massive business park. I hate the idea of 'ring-fencing small areas for creative industries' – creative ghettoes amongst larger corporate premises?!
This option gets my vote, as it is the one that best suits Substrakt, a growing new media business based in Digbeth. It is the only way i can really see significant development in this area, encouraging SMEs to work in the area would in turn eventually increase the residential potential. improvements to the streets are essential, and would alone make a huge impact on the area. Ring fencing already exists and continues to be developed, offering start-ups a platform. A Business Digbeth encouraging the larger businesses will give the start-ups access to an invaluable network. Iconic building conversions will really help get Digbeth on the map and generate the footfall that it is so desperately in need of. I believe this development would encourage restaurants, good bars and cash points! to the area the fastest.
all is good with ideas of development digbeth has much to offer and there is already a hub of underground activity all creatives
that need areas, workspaces and creative venues need to be looked at, sport like boxing, basketball all these things influence the people around
this is not unusual in many places in europe there are lots of youth clubs, ball courts, gyms, skateparks etc but it seems that the general input that goes to the youth in birmingham is neglected. the reprecussions of this will come back to haunt.
the money should be injected into young creatives as they are the people that will live for tomorrow when we are old.
for example music and art thrive in digbeth its what the people know best so help them develop. times are hard with money a lot of people struggle and need guidance and support
cycling on bikes is also something overlooked and should be encouraged which will be good for envrironment aswell
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