6.9 Eastside
Plain English Version
Eastside is already going through change. The removal of the barrier created by the Queensway road has meant the centre is now able to expand Eastwards. This is being guided by a number of documents. The aim is to develop Eastside as an attractive area with a distinctive character. The emphasis is on learning and technology related activities, a good outdoor environment, good pedestrian and cycle connections, strong public transport routes and attractive entrances into the area.
Millennium Point is a science, technology and learning centre and includes:
- Thinktank museum of science and discovery.
- The Hub, Millennium Point’s central public entrance space.
- The IMAX cinema
- Birmingham City University’s Technology Innovation Centre (tic), helping students and businesses get to grips with new technology.
- University of the First Age.
- A number of other organisations – educational institutions and commercial tenants.
Eastside also contains a significant area of research and development. Aston University is next to Aston Science Park, a 9-hectare site with offices and incubation units. Aston University is small but a lot of research in key areas such as health, nature, business, new technology and the global environment takes place there. Eastside also falls within the Central Technology Belt, an initiative to economically improve the area running from Birmingham, through Worcester, to Malvern along the A38. Aston University also includes the Businerss Partnership Unit, which connects businesses to academics. Birmingham City University is also developing in Eastside. The Digital Media and Performig Arts Academy, the first UK Academy entirely for pupils with aptitude in the performing arts, will be built close to Millennium Point. This will complement the creative focus developing in Eastside. Eastside is therefore a natural focus for the development of the ‘UNIVERCITY’ global area.
Curzon Street Station is a fine Grade I listed building which remains unused with poor surroundings. It needs a new use and an improved setting. Also, Eastside still seems separated from the city core. The buildings do not enclose spaces and streets, partly because the roads look like a highway route rather than a network of city streets. These things will improve under the Big City Plan.
The new Eastside City Park is the focus for Eastside. It will extend over about 9 acres from Park Street Gardens through to the canal at Curzon Street. It will be integrated with new developments and the new pedestrian walkway network. The park will be an important link between the cit centre and Eastside. The design of the park will be decided after a detailed consultation in the future.
There are also a number of development proposals for Eastside:
- Curzon Gateway student accommodation complex, which is now under construction.
- City Park Gate mixed-use development of housing, offices, shops and a hotel. This has been granted planning permission.
- Curzon Park mixed-use development of offices, housing, shops and leisure space with a hotel and medical centre. This is subject to an outline planning permission.
- Eastside Locks mixed-use development of office space, apartments, shops, leisure space and a hotel. Planning permission has been applied for.
- A masterplan for the Aston University campus, which will see much of the campus redeveloped with better pedestrian, cycle and transport links.
Eastside therefore already has a lot of development planned. But there are some options about the emphasis future developments should have, which are set out below.
Original Document
Context and analysis
Eastside is an area that is already in transition. The removal of the barrier created by Queensway has paved the way for the eastwards expansion of central area uses into Eastside. This is being guided by a number of documents. The aim is to develop Eastside as a successful and attractive quarter in its own right, with a distinctive character and sense of place. The emphasis is on learning and technology related activities, a high quality public realm, good pedestrian and cycle connections, strong public transport routes and attractive gateways.
Millennium Point is a science, technology and learning resource, and includes the Thinktank museum of science and discovery, the Hub, the IMAX cinema, the Technology Innovation Centre and the University of First Age, together with a number of other educational institutions and commercial tenants. Eastside also contains a significant area of research and development, with Aston University adjacent to the Aston Science Park, a 9-hectare site with services offices and incubation units. Aston University is relatively small but research intensive and key areas of research include health, nature and effectiveness of organisations, application of leading edge technology, and the global environment. Eastside also falls within the Central Technology Belt. Aston University also includes the Business Partnership Unit, which help to connect businesses and academics in different and innovative ways. Birmingham City University is also developing in Eastside, and the area will be the home of the Digital Media and Performing Arts Academy, close to Millennium Point, which will complement the creative focus that is being developed in this area. Eastside is therefore a natural focus for the development of the ‘Univercity’ global idea.
Curzon Street Station is a fine Grade I listed building which remains unused and in a poor setting. It needs a new use and ideas for improving its setting. In addition, Eastside still gives the impression of being separate from the city core, and the buildings do not properly enclose the spaces and streets. This is partly because the road system still has the character of an engineered highway solution rather than a network of city streets. These things will improve as the proposals for Eastside are rolled out.
The new City Park is the focus for Eastside and will extend over about 9 acres from Park Street Gardens through to the Canal at Curzon Street. It will be integrated with all the new surrounding developments and the new pedestrian route network. The park will provide an important link between the city centre and Eastside. The physical design of the park will be subject to detailed consultation at a later date.
In addition there are a number of development proposals currently in the pipeline. These include Curzon Gateway, which is under construction, the City Park Gate scheme, which already has planning permission for a mixture of apartments and office space; Curzon Park which is subject to an outline planning permission; Eastside Locks, for which planning permission has been sought; and a masterplan for the Aston University campus.
Eastside therefore already has a strong development framework. There are however some options in terms of the future emphasis of development and these are set out below.