3 City centre activities – the issues

3.1.1 Introduction

Plain English Version

Further information on the subjects in this report is  contained in the Baseline Report, which can be found on the website – http://www.bigcityplan.org.uk

Original Document

Birmingham is a city with a huge number of assets; its economy is steadily growing; flagship projects have helped to raise the profile of the city; it has a vibrant, young and cosmopolitan population; there are strong centres of research and education, and good transport connections. But there are a great many issues and opportunities that need to be considered and addressed as part of the Big City Plan. These are considered under a number of headings within the following section. Further information on these subjects is contained in the Baseline Report, which can be found on the website – http://www.bigcityplan.org.uk

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3.2.1 Introduction

Plain English Version

Birmingham’s City Centre used to have a lot of manufacturing companies based there, but there is now a lot more office work and services. Some of the types of business are doing well; health and education, finance services, and creative (arts and design).

Surveys say that Birmingham is an attractive office location, and it does have the largest shopping centre in England (not including London).

New jobs created in Birmingham are likely to be in finance and business, but some will be in construction shops, software, radio, TV or live music.

Original Document

Birmingham’s city centre has undergone considerable change over recent years, shifting from a heavy reliance on manufacturing towards the higher value added service sector. This transition has had a number of successes; health and education, finance and business services and creative industries are demonstrating growth; the city centre is increasingly seen as an attractive office location; and Birmingham is the largest retail centre in England outside London. Currently, public administration, health and education, finance and business services, retail, hotels and restaurants, and manufacturing supply 86% of all city centre jobs. Creative industries with 5.2% of Birmingham’s jobs also have a modest but potentially growing role. The number of jobs in the construction and retail sectors is also growing, whereas the recent growth in public sector jobs is slowing down. In Birmingham 60% of new jobs are expected to be in finance and business services, and growth is predicted in software, radio and television and live music.

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3.2.2

Plain English Version

Birmingham still has fewer jobs that other cities in some high-pay areas like finance and some business types like research.

The people old enough to work in Birmingham have, fewer skills than people in some other cities — and are less skilled than average workers in the UK — we see that as a reason that Birmingham may not be as successful.

Universities and other education could help this.

Original Document

On the other hand, Birmingham remains under-represented in the higher value added sectors that generate greater wealth and pay higher wages. Its employment in the Financial and Business sector is still lower than the UK Core Cities’ average. It has fewer jobs in R&D and knowledge-intensive business services. The working age population in the city has lower skills than the national average and this is seen as inhibiting its growth potential. Universities and education generally are seen as one of the key tools for raising the city’s performance.

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3.2.3

Plain English Version

When the type of work available in a place changes, the amount of people who have a job is affected. For example the new jobs created do not necessarily match the skill sets of those who were formerly in manufacturing.

Birmingham as a whole has higher unemployment and less economic activity than the average for the UK – but as we have a lot of students this might be slightly better than that.

There are a lot of people in Birmingham that are out of work, and to try and get them jobs the council is spending money on computers and technology, and developing businesses run by the sorts of people who don’t run many businesses – such as  ethnic minorities and women, and social enterprise.

A series of high-tech business areas are planned  along the A38 (Bristol Road) running through the City Centre to Longbridge and beyond — we call this the “Central Technology Belt“.

Original Document

Economic change and the skills base have an impact on the level of worklessness, because the new jobs created do not necessarily match the skill sets of those who were formerly in manufacturing. For Birmingham as a whole unemployment rates are above the national average and economic activity rates are below the national average. The economic activity rate for Birmingham at 66% is around 8% below the national average, although some of this is accounted for by students. As a result there are a large number of individuals either claiming Job Seekers Allowance or who are economically inactive – people of working age who are not working, are not in full-time education or training and are not actively seeking work. To address this on a city wide scale the city is investing in ICT and research and development, under-represented businesses such as those run by ethnic minorities and women, and social enterprise. A series of high-tech developments are planned along the A38 running through central Birmingham to Longbridge and beyond known as the ‘Central Technology Belt’.

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3.2.4

Plain English Version

The population of Birmingham is expected to rise by 100,000 — which will mean 65,000 who will need jobs.  This means we have to create jobs just to make sure unemployment doesn’t get worse.

To make things better the ‘Big City Plan’ will aim to create even more jobs – by helping to train people, including those already living here and out of work.

Original Document

Overall the population of Birmingham is projected to increase by 100,000 and the working age population by 65,000. Thus jobs need to be created just to keep pace with this growth. But the city needs to go beyond that to raise its employment rate. Whilst preparing a higher skilled future for all its residents, the plan must seek to integrate the existing workless through providing a range of employment and occupational opportunities.

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3.2.5

Plain English Version

Building work that is planned already is mostly within the very centre of the city (known as the ‘Core’), with some in Eastside and Westside. This work would create 670,000 square meters of offices and 35,000 square meters of shops.

We need to make sure that the other areas of the city centre get enough new offices, factories and shops.

Original Document

An analysis of present development proposals clearly shows that the majority of city centre growth falls within in the core. 70% of currently proposed office development is located in the core. The only other significant areas of proposed development are Eastside (19%) and Westside (8%). The sum total of schemes currently in the development pipeline would generate 670,000 sq m of office and 35,000 sq m of retail. There is clearly a need to ensure that the other city centre quarters benefit from higher levels of economic activity and growth.

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3.2.6 Offices

Plain English Version

The choices in the Birmingham Core Strategy suggest most grow will be in the city Centre. There are already a lot of major office buildings in the centre, from Five Ways Edgbaston and in Brindley Place, Broad St, Snow Hill and Colmore Row. The last pieces of Brindley Place is being built and there are lots of buildings just or nearly finished in ‘Colmore Plaza’ and Snow Hill. Eastside and the south end of the Jewellery Quarter are also places that are seen as for offices. The Jewellery Quarter is often used by professional companies.

Original Document

The options in the emerging Birmingham Core Strategy focus office growth within the city centre. The city centre has a well defined belt of major office buildings, which stretches from the Fiveways area through Brindleyplace and Broad Street, to Snow Hill and Colmore Row, The last phase of Brindleyplace is under construction and there are several major schemes recently completed or under construction at Colmore Plaza and Snow Hill. Eastside and the southern end of the Jewellery Quarter are emerging parts of this office belt, with the latter forming a focus for professional offices.

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3.2.7

Plain English Version

The rents for offices in Birmingham are high compared to other cities in the World – which might be because there aren’t enough to go round.

It’s possible that new types of development – perhaps offices in buildings that are also something else (like the Mailbox or those in Brindley Place) – would be good.

Original Document

Birmingham prime office rents are high even on an international scale and suggest a historic constriction on supply. There may be a need to look at ways in which a range of new office accommodation can be brought on stream perhaps as part of mixed use schemes like Brindleyplace and Eastside to appeal to a variety of potential occupiers.

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3.2.8

Plain English Version

The Regional Spatial Strategy says Birmingham needs 590,000 square metres of new offices in the city centre by 2026. Because of the cost and performance of the economy, it’s likely that this won’t happen at a steady rate of 30,000 square meters a year. It’s possbile that more of it may have to wait until nearer 2026.

Original Document

The Plan needs to respond to the RSS requirements of 590,000 square metres of new office development by 2026 in the city centre. If Birmingham is looking to create a step-change in its economic performance it may take time to create the right conditions infrastructure and image to deliver this. Thus commercial office floor-space may not be delivered at an even rate throughout the plan period. Rather than an average of 30,000 sq m p.a., higher rates of development might be expected in the latter part of the period.

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3.2.9

Plain English Version

Creating too many office before they’re needed won’t work. We also need to back a choice over where the offices are built first, so that it’s clear to everyone what’s happening.

The ‘core’ (inner city centre) is a obvious first choice, but when should we add further offices in Eastside , Westside or Southside.

Original Document

Trying to create too much space before the market is ready will be counter-productive. Equally a choice may need to be made over the phasing of development areas so that they do not compete with each other and send out confused messages to the development market. For example whilst the core is the obvious first area for development a choice may need to be taken over when to bring forward development in Eastside, Westside and Southside.

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3.2.10 Industrial Activity

Plain English Version

Trends say that there will be less jobs in manufacturing and more in high-skilled jobs. The amount of industrial space that is being used in Birmingham as a whole and in the city centre in particular is expected to go down.

Forecasts vary, but Cambridge Econometrics suggest that for the city centre the overall loss will be about 80,000 square meters.

Original Document

<strong>3.2.10 </strong>The core of the city centre, and related areas such as Brindleyplace, are self-evidently successful, but this success is far from universal across the whole city centre. Future employment trends show a continued move away from manufacturing towards high skilled jobs including business and professional services, and in certain quarters the employment trend away from manufacturing is very rapid indeed. Overall the amount of occupied industrial space in Birmingham city as a whole and in Birmingham city centre in particular is expected to decline. Whilst there may be different views about the rate of decline the overall trend is clear. Forecasts of employment prepared by Cambridge Econometrics would suggest that for the city centre the overall loss is forecast to be around 80,000 sq m, with this loss being spread across the city centre quarters.

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3.2.11

Plain English Version

We don’t want to make companies move, but we will if it helps the city overall.

It is the job of the planning system to make sure that empty land or buildings are used.

Original Document

Whilst not seeking to drive out existing productive firms the city must plan to make best use of land and property. As industrial land and premises become vacant the task of the planning system is to recycle it back into productive use quickly.

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3.2.12

Plain English Version

The choice is to leave industrial work scattered around the city as it is now, or try to make it happen in one or two places.

Some firms might be in the city centre because that’s where they’ve always bee, but that might not be best for them. If we decide to move them they might be better near motorways, or in areas where there are cheaper factories. Some might need to be in the city centre, but the council could help them find better places there.

Original Document

Options are to leave industrial activity scattered around the city or to try and consolidate it in one or two key locations. Existing industrial premises may be in the city centre for historic reasons. But the firms there may not be occupying the optimal locations or premises for modern industrial activity. An active policy of managing this change may see firms requiring good access relocated closer to motorway networks, those requiring low cost premises relocated to other employment areas of the city, whilst those firms that need a city centre location for labour or product market reasons may stay where they are or move to more appropriate central area premises, assisted by environmental, urban design and public realm improvements.

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3.2.13

Plain English Version

The Gun Quarter lost almost a quarter of the jobs in manufacturing there in between 2003 and 2004. We can see that although there are lots of new offices being built and new shops there are areas of the City Centre with lots of empty factories and warehouses. This is especially obvious in the Gun Quarter, Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter.

There isn’t much manufacturing left, which makes parts of the city feel empty. There are enough spaces in the city centre for industry, but few new businesses to fill them.

Original Document

The Gun Quarter for example lost approximately 25% of its manufacturing jobs in the 3 years from 2003 to 2006 and the trend is continuing. This trend is already very clearly demonstrated ‘on the ground’ in the city centre. There is a very strong contrast between the ongoing major office construction projects and vibrant shopping streets of the core, and the substantial swathes of under-used and vacant industrial premises within certain sectors of the city centre, particularly the Gun Quarter, Digbeth and even the Jewellery Quarter. Genuine manufacturing has become the exception rather than the rule and parts of the centre lack activity and vibrancy. Despite the retention of employment premises through protective policies, the evidence is that business start-ups in the city centre are low in relative terms given the supply of potential premises.

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3.2.14

Plain English Version

Because some of the parts of the city centre look bad, which affects people’s desire to base firms there. In some areas there isn’t enough spending to keep the buildings looking good. Also if the areas aren’t used they may not feel or be safe.

The Big City Plan must think a new way these areas can be used and make plans to help make them better.

Original Document

The economic trends within certain city centre quarters also have a negative effect on the appearance of the city centre and its potential to attract inward investment: parts of the city centre outside the core have a depressed character in which the low level of economic activity fails to support the maintenance of the building stock. There may also be issues of poor street level security through the lack of activity and surveillance. The Big City Plan must anticipate a new role for the city centre’s manufacturing quarters and adopt the right policies to help improve their prospects.

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3.2.15 Creative sector and mixed use

Plain English Version

While we want to have more in ‘the Core’ we want to make sure that other areas get more development. Helping to grow the Creative Industry is one way we think we can achieve that.

Creative and cultural work is about 6% of the jobs in Birmingham but that is growing. It has also been shown that culture can help productivity.

Original Document

Whilst it is essential to encourage further development in the core, it is important to ensure that growth is generated within the areas around the core. The growth of the creative industry sector can be part of this growth. The creative and cultural industries are a particular sub-set of knowledge based industries. They currently account for around 6% of Birmingham’s employment and are a growth sector. They also have some wider spin-off in that links with social, cultural and infrastructure networks have been shown to have a positive correlation with productivity.

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3.2.16

Plain English Version

The ‘creative sector’ means things like jewellery making, architecture and the media amongst others. The Jewellery Quarter has a lot of these and Digbeth (around the Custard Factory) and Eastside are also starting to get more.

University-related research and development is another area that could be improved, at the moment there isn’t much of this. Eastside is in a good position to do this, as there is a plan to open a digital and arts academy (school) for 14-19 year olds.

Original Document

The creative sector covers a wide range of activities, from jewellery manufacture and the creation of decorative artefacts, through creative professional services such as architecture, to media-related activities. The Jewellery Quarter already has a concentration of such activities and Digbeth (with the Custard Factory particularly notable) and Eastside are emerging as creative areas (see Baseline Report for more detail). A further potential area for growth is spin-off from university-related research and development. At present these links are poorly developed and there is scope to improve on this for the future. Eastside is in a good position to capture growth in this area notably with proposals for creation of the digital and arts academy for 14-19 year olds.

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3.2.17

Plain English Version

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.

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.

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3.2.18

Plain English Version

New Draft PPS 4 (Planning Policy Statement) [pdf link] about economic development suggests that mixed-use developments (buildings where residential, offices and shops may sit side-by-side) are the best plan. Mixed-use is better in bigger buildings.

Small offices or workshops work best in mixed-use developments. Different types and sizes of these would allow different types of business to start, grown and even more to new places within the same buildings.

In most cases these types of buildings create more jobs that industrial use, as well as making more places for people to live.

Original Document

New Draft PPS 4 (Planning Policy Statement) on economic development recognises mixed use as a way forward for economic development. Indeed it advises against using single designations to ‘restrict’ economic development - arguing for more mixed use developments. Mixed use works better on a larger scale than in small sites. It needs to be possible to create a genuine mixed use character where both employment and residential happily co-exist and can even generate mutual benefits, giving a greater sense of security and vitality for both parties. Small office/workshop type uses are those that work best in a mixed use environment. Units with flexibility for a multitude of uses for different business types, including incubation and move-on space, will widen demand for space and enable businesses to grow within the same location. In most cases such development will generate higher levels of employment than low density industrial use, will increase the number of dwellings and improve the environment.

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3.2.19

Plain English Version

The Jewellery Quarter already has a lot of mixed-use development — and we could encourage more.

Original Document

The Jewellery Quarter already exhibits some of the characteristics of a mixed use area and could be developed further along these lines.

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Question B1

Plain English Version

How can we have more and a bigger variety of buildings for offices and high value business activities?

Original Document

How can we improve the amount and range of accommodation for offices and high value business activities that will further Birmingham’s ambitions as a global city?

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Question B2

Plain English Version

What do we need to do to attract a wide range of companies to Birmingham that would mean a variety of business types and jobs?

Original Document

What steps are needed to make Birmingham highly appealing to a variety of occupiers to encourage diversity in business and employment? What delivery mechanisms are required to encourage such variety?

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Question B3

Plain English Version

Where should we make this new area for offices and businesses, so that we have more variety in places for different types of business?

Original Document

Where should this new office and business development be accommodated, to create a more diverse range of locations for different types of business?

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Question B4

Plain English Version

What kind of brand new businesses should we encourage in the city centre? What can we do to make sure that these brand new businesses have the support they need?

Original Document

What kinds of new business start-ups should be encouraged in the city centre? What mechanisms and steps are required to create a supportive environment for these activities?

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Question B5

Plain English Version

How can we make the most of the fact that the universities are nearby to help skills and business?

Original Document

What can be done to capitalise on the closeness of the Universities as a driver for skills raising and business?

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Question B6

Plain English Version

How can we support creative and cultural industries? What type of space do they need and where? How could have something similar to the Custard Factory in other parts of the city centre?

Original Document

How can creative and cultural industries be supported, what type of space is needed and where? How might the Custard Factory model be delivered in other parts of the centre?

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Question B7

Plain English Version

How can we give support to groups of businesses involved in:

  • technology to do with the environment
  • medical/biosciences
  • advanced engineering
  • digital media?

Original Document

How can support best be given to the potential growth clusters in environmental technologies, medical/biosciences, advanced engineering and digital media?

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Question B8

Plain English Version

Should the plan support manufacturing and industrial use (such as factories) in the city centre and, if so, how?

Original Document

To what extent and how should the plan support the continuation of manufacturing and other B2 uses in the city centre?

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3.3.1

Plain English Version

Birmingham is the biggest shopping centre in the country outside of central London. It has about 300,000 square metres of shopping floor space. Our shops are mainly around the High Street, New Street, the Bull Ring and Corporation Street. The city centre also has lots of shopping centres like the Bull Ring, the Pallasades, Priory Square, the Mailbox, Martineau Place and Pavillion Central. New shopping areas have been agreed like Phase 2 of Martineau Galleries (about 85,000 square metres), The Cube (about 7,800 square metres) and the Jewellery Box (about 5,500 square metres). Also, in the new Birmingham New Street Station, about 34,830 square metres of shopping area will be made better.

Original Document

Birmingham is ranked the largest retail centre in the country outside of central London and has about 300,000 sq m retail floor-space. Retail provision within the city centre is focused around High Street, New Street, the Bull Ring and Corporation Street. In addition, the city centre has a high proportion of managed retail floor-space including the Bull Ring, the Pallasades, Priory Square, the Mailbox, Martineau Place and Pavillion Central. There are a number of planning permissions for further retail development in the city centre such as Phase 2 of Martineau Galleries (85,000 sq m approx), The Cube (7,800 sq m approx) and the Jewellery Box (5,500 sq m approx). In addition, the Birmingham New Street Station redevelopment involves the refurbishment of approximately 34,830 sq m of retail floor-space.

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3.3.2

Plain English Version

Although Birmingham has had a lot of good new shopping areas opened, and more are planned we need to keep working at it as we are in competition with other places like Merry Hill.

The Regional Spatial Strategy says that Birmingham must have and extra 225,000 square metres of non-food retail floor-space between 2006-2021 and an additional 130,000 square meters between 2021-2026.

Original Document

Despite the recent success and pipeline development, Birmingham will need to continue to invest in the quantity and quality of its retail offer to maintain its leading position and respond to threats posed by its competitors such as the Merry Hill Shopping Centre in Dudley. The Regional Spatial Strategy requires Birmingham city centre to plan for an additional gross non food retail floor-space of 225,000 sq m between 2006-2021 and an additional 130,000 sq m between 2021-2026. This is a substantial requirement to accommodate, reflecting Birmingham’s ambitions as a global city.

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3.3.3

Plain English Version

Where should we put these new shop-units?

We could put them at the oposite end of the High Street to the Bull Ring (Dale End) — or we could look at extending the Bull Ring area southwards towards Digbeth and where the Wholesale markets are now.

Original Document

There are major issues about where such growth should be accommodated. One approach would be to consolidate around the opposite end of the High Street from the Bull Ring to create another magnet of attraction. Another would be to recognise the shift in gravity that has occurred as a result of the Bull Ring development and look at expanding the shopping area southwards.

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3.3.4

Plain English Version

Birmingham has a good number of chain stores and popular clothes shops, but not enough independent or small shops when compared to other cities. This can make the shopping areas of Birmingham feel bland.

In some cities there are several areas that specialise in different things, such as fashion, furnishings or food. These shopping areas can provide  very upmarket shopping or can provide affordable and interesting alternatives to chain stores.

The Big City Plan is a chance to see what we could do to encourage these areas, and where they should be.

Original Document

Birmingham has an excellent shopping offer in terms of mainstream fashion outlets and multiple retailers but independent and niche retailers are not strongly represented compared with some other cities. This results in a degree of blandness in the city centre’s shopping streets. A city of Birmingham’s size should have one or more areas of interesting specialist and niche shops. In some cities there are several of these areas each specialising in different things, such as fashion, furnishings or food. These shopping areas can cater for very upmarket shopping requirements or can provide affordable and interesting alternatives to the usual multiple shops. The Big City Plan provides an opportunity to think about how Birmingham can harbour and encourage these specialist areas and where they might go.

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3.3.5

Plain English Version

Developing a street market or markets around the edges of the City Centre could make the areas we’re redeveloping more lively.

Different markets could specialise in different ranges of produce, from ethnic foods to antiques. There is an opportunity for more edgy, fringe, ethnic, music or student related markets or specialist retailers that would be popular with Birmingham’s young and diverse people.

Original Document

The same applies to Birmingham’s markets. Developing a street market or markets within the fringe or transitional areas around the city core will greatly help to enliven the city streets. As with specialist retailing, different markets can specialise in different ranges of produce, from ethnic foods to antiques. There is huge scope for more edgy, fringe, ethnic, music or student related markets or specialist retailers reflecting Birmingham’s youthfulness and diversity.

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Question R1

Plain English Version

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?

Original Document

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?

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Question R2

Plain English Version

Where can we have more shops in the city centre and specialist shopping areas for particular types of product?

Original Document

Where can shopping activity expand within the city centre and niche shopping areas for particular types of product be developed?

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Question R3

Plain English Version

How can we develop more specialist shops?

Original Document

How can the city develop a larger specialist retail sector?

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Question R4

Plain English Version

Should we have street markets and if so, should we make them into a tourist attraction?

Original Document

Is there a role for street-based markets and can market streets be developed as a tourist destination?

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Question R5

Plain English Version

What should we do to the city centre’s shopping streets to make them nicer?

Original Document

What improvements should be carried out to the City Centre’s shopping streets to create a more attractive environment and enhance the city’s global reputation?

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3.4.1

Plain English Version

The number of people who live in Birmingham city centre is actually quite small. In 2001, it was about 23,000; since then there have been several housing developments which have raised it to around 30,000. Although the centre’s population is the size of a small town, it is tiny compared to the whole of Birmingham. The number of people living in the 800 hectares of the city centre is quite low and there is room for more.

Original Document

The residential population of Birmingham city centre is actually quite small. In 2001 it was about 23,000; since that date there have been several residential developments which have raised it to around 30,000. Although the centre’s population is the size of a small town, it is tiny compared with that of the city as a whole. Population density over the 800 hectares of the centre is relatively low and there is still great potential for residential growth in the centre.

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3.4.2

Plain English Version

The Core Strategy suggests three options for the growth of Birmingham as a whole. All three of these options involve a big increase in population. All need a lot of growth in the city centre. Having a lot of housing in the city centre needs a new and fresh look at planning proposals and policies.

Original Document

The emerging Core Strategy proposes three options for the growth of Birmingham as a whole. All three of these options involve a significant increase in population. All will require substantial growth in the city centre. Accommodating significant numbers of new dwellings throughout the city centre will require a new and fresh look at planning proposals and policies.

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3.4.3

Plain English Version

The need for more housing can bring a lot of benefits to the city centre. Birmingham’s younger-than-average population and its ethnic mix are assets for the city. But outside the core shopping and office areas and outside working hours, much of the city centre is not lively partly because of a lack of people living there to support local activities and also because the way the land is used does not attract people there in the evenings. In the evenings, much of the city centre, including most of the main shopping areas are quite deserted. If the Big City Plan is to make the wider centre more interesting  and lively, it must raise the city centre’s population and use the land in a wider variety of ways.

Original Document

The requirement for more housing can bring substantial benefits to the city centre. Birmingham’s younger than average population and its ethnic mix are assets for the city. But outside the core shopping and office areas and outside working hours, much of the city centre lacks vibrancy owing partly to an absence of city centre residents to support local activities combined with an pattern of land use which does not attract people in the evenings. In the evenings, much of the centre, including most of the main shopping areas, are all but deserted. If the Big City Plan is to improve the interest and vibrancy of the wider centre it must bring about an increase in the city centre’s population and a more diverse pattern of land use.

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3.4.4

Plain English Version

The city centre includes several areas of distinct character which used to be mainly industrial, such as the Gun Quarter, Jewellery Quarter and Digbeth. One of the clear trends from the economic analysis (see above) is less manufacturing and lots of empty and under-used buildings in these areas as a result. Some of the nicer buildings have been converted into housing and there has also been some new housing built. However, there is still a lot of empty and under-used floor space and some empty sites and these could be a good opportunity for more housing very close to the city core.

Original Document

The city centre comprises several areas of distinct character which were formerly largely industrial, such as the Gun Quarter, Jewellery Quarter and Digbeth. One of the clear trends from the economic analysis (see above) is the reducing level of manufacturing and the resultant stock of vacant and underused buildings within these quarters. Some of the more attractive building stock has been converted to residential use and there has also been some residential development. However, there is still a lot of vacant and under-used floor-space and some vacant sites and these could present a major opportunity for residential growth on brownfield land within a stone’s throw of the city core.

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3.4.5

Plain English Version

One of the main challenges when wanting to raise the city centre’s population is the need to have a good mix of housing in the city centre, including a range of good family housing with supporting facilities. At the moment, the centre does not have a good range of quality housing and related facilities.

Original Document

One of the main challenges in seeking to increase the city centre’s population is the need to create a satisfactory mix of housing in the city centre, including a range of good family housing with associated social infrastructure. The centre currently does not have a balanced, good quality stock of housing and related residential facilities:

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3.4.6

Plain English Version

The residential areas of Ladywood, Highgate and part of the Gun Quarter mainly have 20th Century social housing (such as council housing and that managed by housing associations) and layouts with not many people per area and have an inward-looking, self contained feel that does not relate to the city’s core. As a general rule, their outsides and public spaces are not nice, the buildings are not ageing well, their layouts do not follow good town design rules and they do not house a wide range of people. These areas are likely to need rebuilding or improving.

Original Document

The residential areas of Ladywood, Highgate and part of the Gun Quarter are dominated by 20th Century social housing stock and layouts at relatively low densities and have an inward-looking, self-contained feel that does not relate to the city’s core. As a general rule, their public realm and public spaces are not attractive, their housing stock is not ageing well, their layouts do not follow good urban design principles and they do not house a broad social mix. These areas are likely to require renewal or improvement.

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3.4.7

Plain English Version

The new Park Central housing area with its town size, nice park (Sunset Park) and it’s range of housing is a much more successful housing area, although its design is not very individual. We might need more flexible approaches to design, size, the balance between public and private space and a range of ways that people can buy and rent their homes in the city centre to make mixed city centre communities that can attract a wide range of people.

Original Document

The new Park Central residential quarter with its urban scale, attractive park (Sunset Park) and its range of accommodation is a much more successful residential environment although its design displays a functionality of appearance that does not speak of diversity or individuality. More flexible approaches to design, scale, public/private space and tenure may need to be developed in the city centre to create mixed city centre communities that are capable of attracting a broad range of people.

2 comments


3.4.8

Plain English Version

The city centre has a growing number of apartment developments of studios, one and two bedroom homes. These are important and help make the city more lively. However, the centre cannot rely on apartments to deliver all of its housing needs because they do not give enough variety of housing.

Original Document

The city centre has a growing number of apartment developments of studios, one and two bedroom homes. These are an important part of the housing stock and help to contribute to the vibrancy of the centre. However, the centre cannot rely on apartment developments for delivering all its housing requirements because they do not provide a broad enough range of accommodation.

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3.4.9

Plain English Version

Birmingham’s young and varied population is one of the things its known for and we can use this to help the city centre be different. A city centre for young people should be family-friendly; its open spaces should be safe in the day and the evening; its culture should include activities for children of all ages. At the moment there is not enough to attract families. The main city centre housing areas do not have a good enough range of housing, schools, shops or local facilities; and ugly and empty industrial buildings, poor public areas and feelings of insecurity are also problems. By creating a special family city centre environment, Birmingham can set itself apart from other cities and get much higher in the charts of places where people most want to live.

Original Document

A young and diverse population is one of Birmingham’s defining characteristics and one that can be used to enhance the centre’s distinctiveness. A city centre for young people should be family-friendly; its open spaces should be safe during the day and into the evening; its cultural offering should include activities for children from toddlers to teenagers. At present there is not enough to attract families. The main city centre residential areas do not offer a good enough range of dwellings, schools, shops or local facilities, whilst the presence of unattractive and vacant industrial premises, a poor public realm and perceptions of insecurity are additional factors. The creation of an outstanding family city centre environment is an important way for Birmingham to distinguish itself among the core group of cities and to raise itself far above its current position on measurements of liveability.

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3.4.10

Plain English Version

As part of this process we will look at how Birmingham homes should be designed in the future. We need to make sure that future homes can meet peoples changing needs as their family grows up and also make sure that these homes last a long time. The Big City Plan will contain ideas for an area of very high quality environmentally smart homes that we can adapt to a wide range of people.

Original Document

Part of this process will be to look at how Birmingham homes should be designed in the future. We need to ensure that future homes are able to meet people’s changing demands throughout the lifecycle of the family and also embody the principles of sustainable development. The Big City Plan will contain proposals for an exhibition-quality development of environmentally smart homes adaptable to a diverse range of occupiers.

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3.4.11

Plain English Version

How can Birmingham raise the quality of housing development within the city centre? How many new homes should we leave room for? What type of homes should they be? Where should they be? How can we encourage family living?

Original Document

Several questions arise as to how Birmingham can raise the quality of residential development within the city centre, how many new dwellings should be allowed for and of what type, where these should be, and how family living can be encouraged.

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Question COM1

Plain English Version

How much extra housing should we have in the city centre and where should it go?

Original Document

How much extra housing should be located in the city centre and where should it go?

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Question COM2

Plain English Version

How much and what types of housing should we have alongside the small businesses and creative industries in districts such as the Jewellery Quarter, Digbeth and the Gun Quarter?

Original Document

How far and in what ways can we accommodate more housing within mixed use quarters and traditional industrial quarters like the Jewellery Quarter, Digbeth and the Gun Quarter whilst retaining small businesses and creative industries in those areas?

1 comment


Question COM3

Plain English Version

What do we need to do to encourage a wider range of people to live in the city centre? What are the important things for creating family-friendly surroundings? What type of homes and housing do we need?

Original Document

What needs to be done to encourage a wider range of people to live in the city centre? What are the essentials for creating a family-friendly environment? What type of homes and residential environment are needed?

1 comment


Question COM4

Plain English Version

How can new design help make housing better to help more people live in the city centre and raise their families?

Original Document

What innovative design approaches to homes and the home environment could be developed to enable more people to live in the city centre and stay and grow their families?

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Question COM5

Plain English Version

How many people do we need to support local shops and facilities?

Original Document

What living densities and populations are required to support local shops and facilities in the wider centre?

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Question COM6

Plain English Version

How could we improve the housing areas that we have at the moment in Highgate, Ladywood and the Gun Quarter?

Original Document

How might we improve the existing city centre residential areas in Highgate, Ladywood and the Gun Quarter?

1 comment


3.5.1

Plain English Version

We have three well-regarded major universities in the city plus others in the region so Birmingham should be in a good position to provide the skilled graduates business needs.  Yet, as the West Midlands Skills Partnership notes, “The region is poor at retaining graduates – more than half take a job outside the West Midlands. Many of the graduates we do hold on to are employed in low level jobs that do not fully exploit their potential”.

Original Document

Universities are key tools for future success and with three well-regarded major universities in the city plus others in the region, Birmingham should be well placed to deliver the graduate skills base the city needs. Yet as the West Midlands Skills Partnership notes, “The region is poor at retaining graduates - more than half take a job outside the West Midlands. Many of the graduates we do hold on to are employed in low level jobs that do not fully exploit their potential”.

1 comment


3.5.2

Plain English Version

The main reason Birmingham loses it’s graduates is that the city doesn’t provide the range and quality of jobs it takes to tempt these skilled workers to stay.

Original Document

There may be a number of reasons why graduates find Birmingham unattractive, but the extent to which highly skilled labour moves between cities depending on the cultural, social or environmental offer of a city is limited. Rather it is the job offer that matters. Employment is the main determinant of migration patterns. Birmingham does not provide the range and quality of jobs necessary to attract these skilled workers.

2 comments


3.5.3

Plain English Version

We need to improve education and skills for people with all levels of academic achievement.  This includes schools, workplace training and lifelong learning.

We can plan to use the city centre as a focus for this learning.  This may be through some physical form such as a new school or college or through a change in culture and outlook that the city centre plan is working to bring about. A skills strategy for Birmingham will only work where employers and workers buy into it for the long term. This means we need a culture of learning across the board, but especially one that most helps the least educated, those trapped in cycles of low achievement and aspiration.

Original Document

But education and skills need to be developed across the range of occupations and skills levels, not just for the higher level qualifications. This includes schools as well as facilities for workplace training and lifelong learning. A spatial plan for the city centre can help this process by providing a focus for this activity. This may be through some physical form such as a new educational facility or through the change in culture and outlook that the city centre plan is working to bring about. A skills strategy for Birmingham will only work where employers and workers buy into it on a long term and continual basis. A culture of learning is something that is required across the range of skills but impacts disproportionately on those at the bottom end of the skills market who are disengaged from education at an early age and are trapped in inter-generational cycles of low attainment and low aspiration.

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3.5.4

Plain English Version

Birmingham’s city centre is has a strong and developing reputation for research in higher education, particularly in medical, bioscience and biomedical engineering. This is supported by the universities – Aston University, the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University and University College Birmingham (formerly Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies) and Newman University College. There are also Matthew Boulton College and South Birmingham College.

All of these have an important role to play in improving skills and nurturing spin-off and start-up industries. Things need to get better though as higher education qualifications within the city centre are still well below government targets.

Original Document

Birmingham’s city centre is a strong and developing higher education and research base, particularly in medical, bioscience and biomedical engineering. This is supported by the universities – Aston University, the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, University College Birmingham (formerly Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies) and Newman University College. There are also significant colleges which include Matthew Boulton College, and South Birmingham College. These establishments have an important role to play in improving skills levels and nurturing spin-off and start-up industries. Whilst the city centre is therefore benefiting from an increasingly skilled supply of labour with improvements in educational attainment, there are still improvements to be made. Indeed, higher education qualifications within the city centre are still well below government targets.

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3.5.5

Plain English Version

We predict that the city centre will see  a steady increase demand for primary and secondary school places.  At the moment there are more than enough primary school places in Birmingham city centre, especially when allowing for plans to extend some city centre schools.  However if Birmingham city centre is to have more family homes in the future there may also be a need for more schools.

Original Document

Forecasts by the City Council’s Children, Young People and Families Directorate show a steady increase in the number of primary and secondary school places within city centre wards. There is currently no shortage of primary school places in Birmingham city centre and some of the future needs can be provided within existing schools and plans for further extension of some city centre schools. However if Birmingham city centre is to accommodate more family oriented housing in the future, there may be a need in the future for more schools and a more diverse range of schools.

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3.5.6

Plain English Version

Transforming Education is a programme that aims to meet the councils target of ensuring that every child gets a job, either paid or voluntary, once they finish school. To do this, they must leave school with the appropriate skills and qualifications necessary for further education. The Transforming Education programme includes: Building Schools for the Future (Transforming Secondary Education); Birmingham Academies; Special Provision; Primary Capital Programme; Information and Communications Technology and the 14-19 Curriculum.

Original Document

Transforming Education is a programme that, in line with the Council’s priorities, aims to ensure that every child gets a job, either paid or voluntary, once they finish school. To do this, they must leave school with the appropriate skills and qualifications necessary for further education. The Transforming Education programme includes: Building Schools for the Future (Transforming Secondary Education); Birmingham Academies; Special Provision; Primary Capital Programme; Information and Communications Technology and the 14-19 Curriculum.

1 comment


3.5.7

Plain English Version

The Government have a plan called Building Schools for the Future (BSF) that aims to refurbish or rebuild all secondary schools over the next ten years. None of the schools in the City Centre is scheduled to be developed  yet (scheduling has been done up to 2011)

Original Document

There is an opportunity for Birmingham to rebuild or refurbish all of its secondary schools over the next decade as part of Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Birmingham is the largest urban Building Schools for the Future project in the country. This programme will take place over six phases with the priority based on factors such as pupil attainment and the degree of disadvantage. None of the priority schools to be developed in the first phase (2009-11) is located in the city centre.

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3.5.8

Plain English Version

Birmingham’s academy schools (state schools set up with the help of outside spponsors) are an important part of the Transforming Education programme in the city and by 2012 seven academies are planned throughout Birmingham. Of these St Albans CE (Angelina Street) is located in the city centre, Heartlands High School (Great Francis Street, Nechells) is close to the city centre and the Digital Media and Performing Arts Academy will be located in Eastside by Millennium Point. This Academy will take pupils from across the West Midlands and is walkable from New Street Station.

Original Document

Birmingham’s academies are an important part of the Transforming Education programme in the city and by 2012 seven academies are planned throughout Birmingham. Of these St Albans CE (Angelina Street) is located in the city centre, Heartlands High School (Great Francis Street, Nechells) is close to the city centre and the Digital Media and Performing Arts Academy will be located in Eastside by Millennium Point. This Academy will take learners from across the West Midlands and is walkable from New Street Station.

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3.5.9

Plain English Version

We need more nursery places and schools for younger and pre-school age children within the BCity Centre area,  if it is to have more family-friendly housing in the future.

Original Document

Education provision also needs to be improved for younger and pre-school age children within the Big City Plan area, especially if the city centre is to accommodate more family-friendly housing in the future.

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Question ED1

Plain English Version

How should the Big City Plan make sure that it supports more education at all levels in the city centre?

Original Document

What provision should the Big City Plan be making for the expansion needs of education at all levels in the city centre?

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Question ED2

Plain English Version

What can the Big City Plan do to help people have better skills and qualifications at all ages and so helping the city to grow?

Original Document

What can the Big City Plan do to assist in raising skills and qualifications at all ages and thus improving the future growth prospects of the city?

1 comment


3.6.1

Plain English Version

Birmingham has a thriving cultural, sport and leisure sector which serves local and regional needs. The city centre is home to a number of venues, including Symphony Hall, St. Philip’s Cathedral, the Hippodrome Theatre, the Birmingham Rep Theatre, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, the National Indoor Arena and the Ikon Gallery amongst many others. We also have plans to move the Library of Birmingham from Chamberlain Square to a site next to the Birmingham Rep.

Original Document

Birmingham has a thriving cultural, sports and leisure sector which serves local and regional needs. The city centre is home to a number of venues, including Symphony Hall, St. Philip’s Cathedral, the Hippodrome Theatre, the Birmingham Rep Theatre, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, the National Indoor Arena and the Ikon Gallery amongst many others. Plans for relocating the Library of Birmingham from Chamberlain Square adjacent to the Birmingham Rep site in Centenary Square are well advanced.

3 comments


3.6.2

Plain English Version

The city centre is also host to a variety of events, most notably the International Jazz Festival, ArtsFest, the St. Patrick’s Day parade, the St. George’s party, Birmingham Pride, the Birmingham Carnival. The Council’s cultural strategy promotes waht we call ‘Culture at Heart’,  culture in the city centre.

Original Document

The city centre is also host to a variety of cultural events, most notably the International Jazz Festival, ArtsFest, the St. Patrick’s Day parade, the St. George’s party, Birmingham Pride, the Birmingham Carnival and a number of other multicultural events. The Council’s cultural strategy promotes ‘Culture at Heart’, supporting culture in the city centre.

3 comments


3.6.3

Plain English Version

We have the NIA, a top sports venue and also close are two major football clubs and the Warwickshire County Cricket Ground in Edgbaston.

The only places in the city centre to play sport are private gyms and a bowling alley.

Original Document

The NIA is a premier sporting venue accommodating more than 30 different types of sport within the city centre. Also in close proximity are two major football clubs and Warwickshire County Cricket Ground. In terms of participatory sport however, the only venues are private gyms and a bowling alley.

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3.6.4

Plain English Version

The Big City Plan will consider further investment in culture and sport. This should promote the city’s national and global reputation and support local creative industry and sporting excellence.  This may even present opportunities for new facilities, for example a contemporary museum of modern art within one of the new developments, potentially New Street Station.

Original Document

The Big City Plan will consider further investment in culture and sport as a means of promoting the city’s national and global reputation and supporting local creative industry and sporting excellence. New development may open up opportunities for locating new cultural and leisure facilities. An example might be the location of a contemporary museum of modern art within one of the new developments, potentially New Street Station.

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3.6.5

Plain English Version

The city needs more flexible indoor and outdoor space for events. The Southside area, and in particular the area of the wholesale markets, could provide the opportunity to create such space.

Original Document

The city needs more flexible indoor and outdoor space for events. The Southside area, and in particular the area of the wholesale markets, could provide the opportunity of creating such space.

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3.6.6

Plain English Version

The Big City Plan will also explore how we could use the whole city centre as a gallery with exhibits and art in the streets and squares and  on prominent parts of buildings.

Original Document

The Big City Plan will also explore the concept of using the whole city centre as a gallery: getting exhibits and works of art into the streets and squares of the city and into prominent locations on buildings.

1 comment


3.6.7

Plain English Version

Privately owned leisure and nightlife within the city centre has largely been concentrated along Broad Street, at Fiveways and around the Hippodrome and Arcadian Centre. More recently, the development of Brindleyplace, the Bullring and the Mailbox has helped to create a more thriving leisure scene with bars and restaurants within the heart of the city centre. These areas tend to host leisure and restaurants run by the largers brands. There is also a cluster of bars and clubs in the Digbeth area around the Custard Factory, and around Hurst Street.

Original Document

Commercial leisure facilities and nightlife within the city centre have largely been concentrated along Broad Street and at Fiveways and around the Hippodrome and Arcadian Centre. More recently, the development of Brindleyplace, the Bullring and the Mailbox has helped to create a more thriving leisure scene with bars and restaurants within the heart of the city centre. Being part of major developments, these areas tend to host leisure and restaurant ‘multiples’. There is also a cluster of bars and clubs in the Digbeth area around the Custard Factory, and around Hurst Street.

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3.6.8

Plain English Version

However, Birmingham still need to developed a leisure scene with distinct and differentiated areas and it’s own independent leisure centres and restaurants. This is perhaps a surprise in a big city with a young age structure and with several universities and colleges.

Original Document

However, unlike some cities, Birmingham does not have a highly developed leisure scene with distinct and differentiated leisure areas. There is also a need for more leisure and restaurant independents to give Birmingham a more distinct identity. This is perhaps a surprise in a big city with a young age structure and with several universities and colleges.

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Question CUL1

Plain English Version

What extra cultural and arts facilities (such as theatres, art galleries and so on) might we need?

Original Document

What further cultural and arts facilities might be needed in the city centre to promote the national and global image of Birmingham?

35 comments


Question CUL2

Plain English Version

How could we use outdoor leisure or tourism events to make the city centre economy and image better? How can we use the spaces we have now or make new spaces for holding events? How can we support different types of events? How can we have more flexible outdoor and indoor space: should we, for example, put it into the wholesale markets area?

Original Document

How might the city centre economy and image be enhanced through outdoor leisure/tourism events and how might existing spaces be used or new spaces created to accommodate such events? How can the city go about creating the right conditions for formal, free and spontaneous outdoor events? How can more flexible outdoor and indoor space be provided: should it, for example, go onto a future development of the wholesale markets?

1 comment


Question CUL3

Plain English Version

What can we do to give the city centre a livelier street scene?

Original Document

What steps can be taken to give the city centre a livelier street scene?

3 comments


Question CUL4

Plain English Version

Where and how could the city get new space for arts exhibitions within big new developments, such as New Street Station?

Original Document

Where and how might the city seek to get new arts exhibition space and venues incorporated into major new developments (for example, like New Street Station)?

4 comments


Question CUL5

Plain English Version

We think that the city should use more of its streets and spaces to exhibit works of art. What can we do to make this happen?

Original Document

The city would like to use more of its streets and spaces for the exhibition of works of art. What steps can the city, and the Big City Plan, take to bring this about?

2 comments


Question CUL6

Plain English Version

How can we have more, better and a greater range of commercial leisure facilities?

Original Document

How can the Plan address the need to improve the commercial leisure offer to develop a larger and more diverse leisure economy?

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3.7.1

Plain English Version

The very centre of the city has a a lot of civic buildings built by generations of civic leaders. Further out the centre has neighbourhoods and quarters, each with a different character and function.

The Jewellery Quarter, for example, is a wonderful example of historic buildings and small scale design and manufacturing. Digbeth contains some very good industrial buildings, and Eastside is to be associated with learning institutions and scientific research.

We talk about each area separately later in the report.

Original Document

Birmingham’s city centre has a strong and characterful urban and natural environment, rooted in the city’s historic legacy. The core of the city has a fine array of civic buildings representing the initiatives of generations of civic leaders, Beyond the core, the centre comprises a series of neighbourhoods and quarters, each with a distinctive character and function. The Jewellery Quarter, for example, is a wonderful example of historic building stock married to small scale design and manufacturing, whilst Digbeth contains some very good, high quality industrial buildings, and Eastside is associated with learning institutions and scientific research. These neighbourhoods and quarters will be explored in more detail throughout the remainder of this report.

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3.7.2

Plain English Version

There are a lot of buildings with historic and architectural interest within the city centre, many of which are located within the five conservation areas (areas that get special planning protection, there are 27 in Birmingham in total, and five in the City Centre) and are statutorily (protected by the Government) or locally (protected by the local Council) listed.

Highlights are the Town Hall, Curzon Street Station, the early 18th century Church of St. Philip, the Victorian Law Courts, and the College of Art.

The best of Birmingham’s 20th Century buildings should also be conserved. The Telecom Tower, Alpha Tower, the Rotunda, the Mailbox, the New Street signal box and the Ringway Centre (the linear building on Smallbrook Queensway) are just some of the  buildings from this period.

Original Document

There are numerous buildings of both historic and architectural interest within the city centre, many of which are located within the five conservation areas and are statutorily or locally listed. Highlights are the Town Hall, Curzon Street Station, the early 18th century Church of St. Philip, the Victorian Law Courts, and the College of Art. Birmingham’s 20th Century growth has also given the centre a distinctive character which will in due course prove to be an asset, if the best of the period is conserved. The Telecom Tower, Alpha Tower, the Rotunda, the Mailbox, the New Street signal box and the Ringway Centre (the linear building on Smallbrook Queensway) are just some of the iconic buildings from this period. Later buildings such as Selfridges can be added to the list of iconic landmarks.

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3.7.3

Plain English Version

The core of the city centre has a good network of public squares. The older squares including St. Philips and St. Pauls have been complemented by  modern projects including Centenary Square, Victoria Square, Brindley Place, St. Martins Square, and Millennium Point. They link attractions such as the Ikon Gallery, Symphony Hall, the REP theatres, and the Library.

These together with the pedestrian routes down New Street to the Bull Ring create a pleasant walking environment through the centre.

There are less public spaces near New Street Station and the south side of the city centre.

Original Document

The core of the city centre has a distinctive network of public squares. The older spaces including St. Philips and St. Pauls have been complemented by successful modern public realm projects including Centenary Square, Victoria Square, Brindleyplace, St. Martins Square, and Millennium Point, linking several attractions such as the Ikon Gallery, Symphony Hall, the REP theatres, and the Library of Birmingham. These together with the pedestrian routes down New Street to the Bull Ring create a pleasant walking environment along a central spine through the centre, although the areas around New Street Station and the south side of the city centre are less well endowed with public spaces.

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3.7.4

Plain English Version

In other parts of the city centre however, the quality of the streets and surroundings aren’t so good. The worst examples fall broadly into two categories.

Original Document

In other parts of the city centre however, the quality of the street environment is less satisfactory. The worst examples fall broadly into two categories.

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3.7.5

Plain English Version

There are the areas which were built as part of the Queensway construction and other road building in the 1960s.

Looking at “before” and “after” pictures shows how many good street connections and streets lined with fine buildings were lost. (There are some in the book “Birmingham Past and Present: In my Father’s Footsteps” by Mark Norton)

This has meant is that walking connections between the Core and the other parts of the city centre are poor – Ludgate Hill, Newhall Street, Paradise Circus and Digbeth High Street are examples.

Some of the buildings are uninteresting when seen from the ground and in some cases undeveloped sites still remain, as between Great Charles Queensway and Lionel Street.

Original Document

Firstly, there are the areas which were redeveloped as part of the Queensway construction and other highway constructions in the 1960s. Any examination of “before” and “after” pictures 1 demonstrates graphically how many good street connections and streets lined with fine buildings were lost. The concept of the walking street was replaced with the concept of the individual building accessed by car from an engineered highway. The legacy of this era is that the walking connections between the core and the other -parts of the city centre are poor – Ludgate Hill, Newhall Street, Paradise Circus and Digbeth High Street are examples – whilst the buildings themselves fail to address the streets and provide little interest at the pedestrian scale. In some cases undeveloped sites still remain, as between Great Charles Queensway and Lionel Street.

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3.7.6

Plain English Version

Secondly, some of the areas with that used to house factories have poor quality street surroundings. Because there aren’t many people around and the buildings aren’t looked after people feel unsafe. The large amount of on-street parking makes the streets look cluttered.

Original Document

Secondly, some of the areas with an industrial legacy have a poor quality street environment. Low levels of activity and poor building maintenance give rise to poor street surveillance and feelings of insecurity. Extensive on-street parking detracts from the street scene.

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3.7.7

Plain English Version

Public open space within the city centre is limited. The largest area of open space is Highgate Park — we’ve bid for some money to improve it (along with CSV) from the Parks for People lottery fund.

We could extend Highgate Park so it was big enough for all the people that might be living in the city centre to use.

Other  parks in the city centre include St. George’s Park and Sunset Park which forms the centrepiece of the new Park Central development.

There are plans for a new park for Eastside, which will occupy an area of  0.032 square kilometres (0.0124 square miles, about 4 and a half football pitches) and will stretch from Park Street, past Millennium Point and through the Digbeth Branch Canal.

The cemeteries in the Jewellery Quarter provide green space and could be improved.

If we build more houses, we will need more parks and other open space.

Original Document

Public open space within the city centre is limited. The largest area of open space is Highgate Park, which has been subject of a Parks for People lottery bid following extensive consultation. There is potential, however, for the extension of Highgate Park to serve a growing residential population within the city centre. Other notable parks in the city centre include St. George’s Park and Sunset Park which forms the centrepiece of the new Park Central development. In addition, there are plans for a new park for Eastside, which will occupy an area of 3.2 hectares and will stretch from Park Street, past Millennium Point and through the Digbeth Branch Canal. Otherwise, many of the quarters outside the core have very little open space. The cemeteries in the Jewellery Quarter provide green space and have considerable potential for improvement. The potential of the city centre to accommodate more housing will require the creation of more open space and the improvement of existing open spaces.

1 comment


3.7.8

Plain English Version

The view of the city centre varies depending on where you are in the city. It looks impressive where there are landmarks, such as the BT Tower, Beetham Tower and the Rotunda, rising above other large buildings. This happens with the distant views from the M6 motorway; indeed, we could say that Birmingham is in the best place of any UK city in having a dramatic view close to a main national transport route. There are other good views from several places including the entrance to the city along the Aston Expressway and more close-up views in Highgate and Digbeth. The night time views of tall lit-up buildings are impressive when you enter Navigation Street from the back exit of New Street Station. On the other hand, entering the city by rail gives a poor view of the city – although Eastside will try and change this – and it is not impressive for people arriving at the station and catching taxis.

Original Document

The city centre’s visual image and presence varies depending on the viewpoint. The image is at its most impressive where the centre displays a strong baseline of large buildings above which rise a number of landmarks, such as the BT Tower, the Beetham Tower and the Rotunda. This is particularly the case in distant views from the M6 Motorway; indeed, Birmingham is arguably in the best position of any UK city in having a dramatic presence close to a major national transport route. Other significant images are gained from several locations including the approach along the Aston Expressway and in nearer views such as from Highgate and Digbeth. Night time views of tall illuminated buildings are especially impressive on emerging into Navigation Street from the rear exit of New Street Station. On the other hand, the rail approach into New Street Station gives a poor image of the city – although the Eastside proposals will go some way to change this – and the taxi arrival experience from the station is unimpressive.

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3.7.9

Plain English Version

The City Council tries to put all tall buildings along the ridge (from Fiveways to Lancaster Circus). There is room to develop a group of taller buildings in the centre, in Westside, around Snow Hill, in Eastside and around the rebuilding of New Street Station. There may also be room for taller buildings in Southside although this is below the ridge and we could have medium height buildings here instead. We need to take care where we put tall buildings to avoid harm to conservation areas and housing conditions and to avoid affecting air travel. The City Council will continue to develop its approach to tall buildings along with other organisations it affects including Birmingham International Airport and the Civil Aviation Authority.

Original Document

The City Council operates a tall buildings policy which seeks to group tall buildings along the ridge. There is scope to develop a cluster of taller buildings in the centre, in Westside, around Snow Hill, in Eastside, around the New Street Station redevelopment. There may also be scope for taller buildings in Southside although this is below the ridge and an alternative here would be mid-rise development. Care needs to be taken in the placing of tall buildings to avoid harm to conservation areas and residential living conditions and to avoid prejudicing the operational needs of aviation. The City Council will continue to develop its approach to tall buildings in consultation with stakeholders including Birmingham International Airport and the Civil Aviation Authority.

1 comment


3.8.1

Plain English Version

The City has grown around the banks of the River Rea and the canal network.

The theme of Birmingham as a “Water City” could transform these and use of water throughout the streets, squares, parks and buildings of the City Centre in water installations and fountains.

Original Document

The City has grown around the banks of the River Rea and the canal network. The theme of Birmingham as a “Water City” could build from opportunities to transform these existing features and extend the imaginative use of water throughout the streets, squares, parks and buildings of the City Centre with water installations and fountains.

1 comment


3.8.2

Plain English Version

A lot of Birmingham’s canals are currently hidden from view. Parts of the network have been  improved over recent years, at the Mailbox, Gas Street Basin and Brindley Place, but some other parts are unattractive and do not feel secure.

The canals could attract more people and activities and act as a safe alternative way to get around the city cenre (by walking or cycling alongside).

Original Document

Birmingham’s canal network is an important part of the city’s historic legacy. But much of the canal network is currently hidden from view. Parts of the network have been substantially improved over recent years, most notably at the Mailbox, Gas Street Basin and Brindleyplace, but other parts are unattractive and do not feel secure. The canal network has the potential to attract more people and activities and act as a safe alternative movement network, whilst maintaining the industrial character.

4 comments


3.8.3

Plain English Version

The River Rea is hidden under Birmingham. It is in a trench restricted by industrial buildings. We could work with the Environment Agency to open up the river, make it easier to get to and encourage wildlife along it.

Original Document

The River Rea is another part of the hidden environment under Birmingham. It is in a deep cutting and hemmed in by industrial buildings. In conjunction with the Environment Agency there is scope for opening out and improving access to the river and for developing it as a wildlife corridor.

2 comments


Question ENV1

Plain English Version

What can we do to make sure that the changes in the city centre, such as new buildings and spaces are very high quality?

Original Document

What steps should be taken to ensure that new development in the city centre, including urban design, buildings and spaces, is of the highest quality, and furthers Birmingham’s aims as a a global city?

1 comment


Question ENV2

Plain English Version

How should Birmingham protect and make the most of its old buildings?

Original Document

What approach should be taken to enable Birmingham to protect and enhance its historic environment and maintain the best of its buildings of all periods?

1 comment


Question ENV3

Plain English Version

How can we make sure that new development, especially around New Street Station, fits in with the network of public spaces we already have?

Original Document

How can new development particularly around New Street Station link in with the existing network of public spaces?

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Question ENV4

Plain English Version

What can we do to make the area along the A38 (Bristol Road) nicer for people who live, work and visit there? How can we connect this area better with other parts of the city?

Original Document

What investments and environmental measures can be taken to make the city centre’s street network including the A38 corridor more attractive to residents, visitors and workers? What should be done to improve the connections to the wider city centre?

1 comment


Question ENV5

Plain English Version

What can we do around the canal and river areas to attract more people? How can we make them a focus for leisure and commercial activities? How can we make them a safe way of getting round the city? How can we do all this without changing what they look like and their historic character?

Original Document

How can the canal and river environment be developed to attract more people, become a focus for leisure and commercial activities and provide a safe movement network giving access to the wider city centre, whilst at the same time maintaining its historic character and appearance?

2 comments


Question ENV6

Plain English Version

Could we have a big new water feature in the city centre, such as in the wholesale markets area, to act as a new focus for the streets and buildings there? How could we develop this idea?

Original Document

Is there scope for a major new water feature in the centre, such as on the site of the wholesale markets, to act as a new focus for the streets and buildings in the area? How might this concept be developed?

1 comment


Question ENV7

Plain English Version

How can we make the open space in the city centre better to make the centre nice and make more people want to live here? How can we have more open space? Are there any new ways we can have open space, such as on rooftops? How should we plan for more outdoor events? How should we manage and look after the city centre’s outside spaces?

Original Document

How can the quality of open space in the city centre be improved to make the centre more liveable and attractive and how can the amount be increased? Are there any innovative ways in which this can be achieved, such as providing rooftop spaces? How should we plan for more outdoor events? How should the city centre’s open spaces be maintained and managed?

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Question ENV8

Plain English Version

What can we do to boost the natural environment and wildlife of the city centre, including the River Rea?

Original Document

What steps can be taken to enhance the natural environment and biodiversity of the city centre, including the River Rea?

1 comment


Question ENV9

Plain English Version

How much, and in what ways, can we make the streets greener (such as by planting more trees) to make housing and business areas nicer, give shade and help improve air quality? Can, and should, we do this in the traditional industrial districts as well?

Original Document

How far, and in what way, can the streets be made greener (for example by encouraging more tree planting) to create a more attractive residential and business environment, provide shade and assist in improving air quality? Can and should this approach be extended to the traditional industrial quarters?

2 comments


Question ENV10

Plain English Version

Where and when should we encourage tall buildings?

Original Document

Where and under what circumstances should tall buildings be encouraged?

2 comments