3.7 The built and natural environment

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.

Comments Off


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.

Comments Off


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.

Comments Off


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.

Comments Off


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.

Comments Off


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.

Comments Off


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.

Comments Off


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