Global themes

Centricity

Plain English Version

We think that more people should live in Birmingham city centre, its economy should become stronger and there should be a wider range of culture. We think that there should be more big businesses in the core and wider central area (see map), as well as one of the world’s best centres for shopping, cultural and leisure facilities (such as theatres, art galleries, sports centres and parks). We want these activities happening in the centre to spread out into the areas next to the city centre.

Original Document

Birmingham city centre should grow in population, economic strength and cultural diversity. The core and wider central area should house more major businesses and world class retail and cultural and recreational facilities. These central area activities will expand out of the core into neighbouring parts of the city centre.

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Audacity

Plain English Version

We think that Birmingham should be an imaginative and ambitious city and a place that people would choose to hold big events. We should aim to host at least one extra big international event with the plan period (20 years), such as an international Expo (a large-scale public exhibition), winning and holding a Year of Culture or Architecture, or a world sports championship to encourage action in the city.

Original Document

Birmingham should be an imaginative and ambitious city and a natural choice for major events. The city should aim to host at least one additional major international event within the plan period, such as an international Expo, successful Year of Culture/Architecture bid, or world sporting championship to galvanise action in the city.

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Liveable city

Plain English Version

We think that Birmingham should raise the quality of life for people living in the city centre, so that it can attract more visitors, investors from outside the area, new businesses and new citizens.

Original Document

Birmingham should seek to raise the quality of life for individuals living within the city centre, in order to attract visitors, inward investors, new businesses and new citizens.

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Diverse city

Plain English Version

We think that Birmingham should try to show the range of different people living here through its projects, businesses and housing, and through its buildings, food, music, theatres and art.

Original Document

Birmingham should actively seek to reflect the diversity of its population, through its enterprises, businesses and housing, and through the built environment, food, music, theatres and art.

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Authenticity

Plain English Version

We think that Birmingham must remember its roots and history while planning for the future, and concentrate on acheiving excellent design quality and a feeling that it is unique right across the city centre.

Original Document

Birmingham needs to find expressions of the future that reflect its roots and history and concentrate on achieving excellent design quality and a sense of unique place right across the city centre.

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Univercity

Plain English Version

We think that Birmingham must understand how important its universities and colleges are and help graduates to stay in Birmingham and use their skills in business. We should encourage technology businesses by having new types of workspace, flexible learning and living space and support (such as advice and grants).

Original Document

Birmingham must value its strong academic base and turn it into city-based enterprise if it is going to compete better on the world stage. Technological enterprise should be encouraged by new forms of workspace, flexible learning and living space and business support.

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Family city

Plain English Version

We think that there should be a lot more families living in the city centre, to balance out the recent increase in small apartments and help us have a wider range of activities in the city centre.

Original Document

Birmingham should seek to increase radically the number of families living in the city centre, to balance out the recent growth in small apartments and to support a wider range of city centre activities.

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Complex city

Plain English Version

We think that Birmingham’s agencies (such as health trusts, education authority and council departments) should work together to provide the things that are needed for families to live in the city centre – new parks, schools, health centres, meeting places, local workplaces – all provided at the same time as new homes.

Original Document

Birmingham’s agencies should work together to deliver the essentials for city centre family living – new parks, schools, health centres, meeting places, local workplaces – all delivered in tandem with new homes.

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Smart city

Plain English Version

We think that Birmingham must be one of the best cities at finding ways to become better and richer, while at the same time causing less damage to the environment. This is called ‘smart growth‘. This means finding new ways to cut carbon produced by transport; to manage electricity and gas in buildings; to make good use of water; and to create as little waste as possible.

Original Document

Birmingham must lead the field on achieving smart growth. This means finding new ways to reduce transport carbon; to manage energy in buildings; to make good use of water; and to minimise waste.

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Connected city

Plain English Version

We think that Birmingham should support the idea of a high-speed rail network to the city centre.

Original Document

Birmingham should actively promote the development of the high-speed rail network to the city centre.

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