Options D1 to D3

Option D1

Plain English Version

‘Start Up Digbeth’

Turn Digbeth into an area where people are encouraged to start new businesses.  A large number of existing buildings will be re-used to house these new businesses.  We will keep the industrial character of the area, re-using buildings where possible.  We will keep the mixture of small workshops and larger warehouses.  Buildings will be refurbished modestly to provide affordable, functional spaces for new businesses.  This will keep business rents down.

Original Document

Start-up Digbeth. This option would enable Digbeth to evolve as a neighbourhood where business ventures can begin. A significant proportion of the existing building stock would be protected as a way of harbouring creative and start up industries. The character of the area would continue to be derived from the industrial architecture, reusing buildings where possible, keeping the variety of small workshops interspersed with larger warehouses. Refurbishment would be confined to keeping the space operational in order to keep rents down. The streets would remain functional in character and the amount of new residential development under this option would be limited.

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Option D2

Plain English Version

‘Business Digbeth’

Digbeth becomes a large, modern business quarter.  The best buildings will be refurbished and the rest will be redeveloped.  It will target expanding small and medium businesses.  These will include manufacturing, media and services who want a city centre location.  Foreign businesses could be attracted to the area by Birmingham’s diverse workforce.  The businesses’ IT needs will be supported by a high-speed, fibre optic network for internet connections, etc.  Housing will play a less important role but could include conversions of historic buildings, development of live-work studios and other ways of creating a mix of industrial, creative and residential spaces.  Improving the streets and outdoor areas will be encouraged, especially the main Digbeth High Street.  This option could involve ring-fencing small areas for creative industries and developing more areas like the Custard Factory.

Original Document

Business Digbeth: Digbeth would become a modern city centre business quarter, involving refurbishment of the best buildings and redevelopment of the remainder. The emphasis would be on growing small to medium enterprises including high grade manufacturing, media and services which desire a city centre location. The area would become the focus for international business connected with Birmingham’s diverse working population and would be supported by a high speed next generation fibre optic network. Residential development would have a lesser role but it could include historic / iconic building conversions, live-work studios and other innovative means of enabling industrial, creative, and residential uses to work together. Improvements to the public realm would be encouraged, particularly along Digbeth High Street and High Street Deritend. This option could involve ring-fencing small areas for creative industries and developing more facilities like the Custard Factory.

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Option D3

Plain English Version

‘Living and Working Digbeth’

Poorer industrial areas will be developed to create a significant amount of housing.  There will still be distinct areas of business and housing but there will be an emphasis on developing housing.  This might include student housing if the current high demand for this continues, although it is predicted this will ease off in future.  The student population would support local activities such as the music scene and creative industries.  This option will bring more people to the area to support its local services.  Digbeth would go some way towards contributing towards Birmingham’s brownfield housing needs.

Original Document

Living and working Digbeth: Digbeth would accommodate a significant amount of housing as a result of the redevelopment of some of its poorer industrial areas. The area as a whole would retain distinct areas of housing and employment but there would be an increased emphasis on residential. This might include student housing (if there is a continuing demand for such accommodation; demand is forecast to ease somewhat), which would help to support local activities such as the music scene and other creative industries. This option would bring more people into the area to support its local services. Digbeth would go some way towards contributing towards Birmingham’s brownfield housing needs.

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