Option D3
Original Document
Living and working Digbeth: Digbeth would accommodate a significant amount of housing as a result of the redevelopment of some of its poorer industrial areas. The area as a whole would retain distinct areas of housing and employment but there would be an increased emphasis on residential. This might include student housing (if there is a continuing demand for such accommodation; demand is forecast to ease somewhat), which would help to support local activities such as the music scene and other creative industries. This option would bring more people into the area to support its local services. Digbeth would go some way towards contributing towards Birmingham’s brownfield housing needs.
Plain English Translation
‘Living and Working Digbeth’
Poorer industrial areas will be developed to create a significant amount of housing. There will still be distinct areas of business and housing but there will be an emphasis on developing housing. This might include student housing if the current high demand for this continues, although it is predicted this will ease off in future. The student population would support local activities such as the music scene and creative industries. This option will bring more people to the area to support its local services. Digbeth would go some way towards contributing towards Birmingham’s brownfield housing needs.
My main worry about this option is that, with increased housing in the area, more problems like those the Spotted Dog (http://www.keepdigbethvibrant.co.uk/) and The Rainbow are facing with noise abatement orders and the like. This is a problem relevant to the whole theory of having more people living in the city, and one that needs sorting before they move here. Local music pubs and clubs give the place life and character. Half the people who come here of a Saturday night do so to visit The Rainbow – they can take credit for a great deal of current footfall through Digbeth. The Council and developers need to find a way of preventing the type of problems like the Abacus flats on Bradford St have thrown up (ensuring decent pre-development checks, noise insulation, etc.), and work with businesses when they arise rather than admonishing them and threatening their livelihood.
At the moment, I think security is an issue. Digbeth is very dark, lot of cars get broken into, a lot of people don't feel safe there, despite a police station being vaguely near, it doesn't stop people getting mugged or vandalism occurring on the streets. There isn't a cashpoint about, so it's a 15 minute walk from the popular Rainbow in order to get free withdrawal of cash from a bank. There is such a demand for this I can't get over why this hasn't happened yet.
its vital that whatever development happens it isnt allowed to infringe on the activities of the few good cultural spots in the area such as The Spotted Dog and The Rainbow – both of which businesses have found themselves under threat from noise abatement.