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.
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.
We think that if Birmingham is to have a new city centre neighbourhood, then we must have the best schools near by. These should be multi-purpose buildings, which have a range of activities for all different people; adult education at night, sports facilities at the weekend, community meeting spaces, and library facilities.
If Birmingham is to accommodate a new urban neighbourhood then the best schools must be located close by. These should be multi-purpose buildings, which offer a range of activities for all sectors of the community; adult education at nights, sports facilities on the weekend, community meeting spaces, and library facilities.
Economic and cultural diversity – Birmingham’s city centre should have more and different types of buildings, cultural facilities (for example, art galleries, or theatres), public spaces, shops and services. Especially those that appeal to the young or minority ethnic groups.
Economic and cultural diversity – Birmingham’s city centre should become more diverse for residents or visitor in its architecture, public realm, cultural facilities, heritage, retail offer, services, especially for young and minority ethnic groups.
The first and best way is to make sure that buildings, spaces, land uses and transport work well together, and that we use technology (such as email, web meetings and using computers to work from home) to cut the need to travel.
The first and most effective method will be to ensure that buildings, spaces, land uses and movement networks are arranged in a complementary manner, and that opportunities for digital media communication are further exploited, since these are the best ways of reducing the need to travel by less sustainable modes.
The Big City Plan will think about the best ways that Birmingham can cut greenhouse gases and the use of fossil fuels (such as oil, coal and gas) and increase the variety of living things. We will do this by:
The Big City Plan will consider how Birmingham can best reduce greenhouse gases and the consumption of finite resources and enhance biodiversity. Measures will include building performance, more efficient means of energy, water supply and drainage, air quality improvements and opportunities for habitat creation
The most important way to improve how people see the city is to make it a nice place to live. This can be done by having:
The cities where people most want to live have a good economy and are attractive. They attract highly qualified people and investment. They make all of the people who live there feel valued. Table 2.1 shows where Birmingham is on the “Mercer liveability Index” (a chart of where people most want to live). The plan will focus on the aims of Birmingham becoming one of the most important cities in the world and also one of the cities where people most want to live. The plan will work with the way the city centre is set out now (the central part and the districts) and make a base on which Birmingham can grow and become a city where people want to live.
The most important factor in raising the city’s status is the city’s liveability. This includes a good physical environment to attract people and improve the city’s image, with well designed buildings, streets and spaces; a range of attractive homes and social facilities including schools, local centres and open space, attractive and safe walking routes, efficient and easy to use public transport. The most liveable cities are economically successful and desirable. People want to live there; they attract highly qualified people and hence investment. They promote social inclusion. Table 2.1 shows Birmingham’s position on the Mercer liveability index. Liveability is the essential ingredient in the recipe to raise Birmingham’s role as a world city. The plan will focus on the objectives of world city and liveability: the global city with a local heart. Working broadly with the grain of the existing city centre structure – the urban structure of core and quarters – the plan will create the foundation for Birmingham’s growth and its progress as a liveable city.
How can we have more and a bigger variety of buildings for offices and high value business activities?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What can we do to make sure that the changes in the city centre, such as new buildings and spaces are very high quality?
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?
How should Birmingham protect and make the most of its old buildings?
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?
Where and when should we encourage tall buildings?
Where and under what circumstances should tall buildings be encouraged?
Another idea would be to create the “Birmingham Boulevard”, that is we could make the area along the A38 (Bristol Road) into a nice route, not only for vehicles, but for people to walk along, with shops and entrances to buildings, and lined with trees to make a much nicer place to be.
Another possible approach would be to create the “Birmingham Boulevard” – the transformation of the A38 corridor into an attractive route not only for vehicles but for people to walk along, fronted by shops and building entrances and lined with trees to create a much more habitable environment.
Southside is the main way people get into Birmingham by national and international public transport (west coast main line, rail connection to airport and coach station).
It includes the area south of New Street down to and including the northern end of the Wholesale Markets. It takes in New Street Station, the Arcadian Centre, the Wholesale Markets, the Rag Market, the Ice Rink (currently closed), the Hippodrome, and the existing Chinese Quarter and Gay Village, with their bars, clubs and restaurants.
But at present we think that it does not have the image, quality or excitement of big city nightlife.
Southside has some other good features:
With its excellent transport connections and with New Street station about to be improved, we think that this is the area that might best be suited to more uses outside the Core.
The area offers the prospect of a vibrant district where offices, shops, houses and flats, culture, entertainment, restaurants and markets. To do this the road layout needs to be repaired to create a place that is much easier to move through.
The redevelopment of the Wholesale Markets will provide the opportunity to remove barriers to movement, create new open spaces and open up routes to the area from Park Central, Eastside, Digbeth and Highgate.
One possibility is to create a sizeable city square, “Moat Square”, together with a lake or major water feature, on the site of the medieval moated manor house to draw people down from the Bullring and into Southside. This would tie in with the idea of Birmingham as a “Water City”. The centre of activity in the area would be New Street Station, Hurst Street and “Moat Square”.
Southside (See image)
Should a new square be the focal point of Southside? (See image)
Should Southside become a new commercial centre and focus for tall buildings? (See image)
How could high density (a lot of homes in a small space), distinctive housing be accommodated in Southside? (See image)
A new direct route from Southside to Highgate could be created, like this street lined with shops, cafes and markets (See image)
Hurst Street could become lined with small cafes and shops (See image)
Southside is the main arrival location into Birmingham by national and international public transport (west coast main line, rail connection to airport and coach). It includes the area south of New Street down to and including the northern end of the Wholesale Markets. It takes in key sites such as New Street Station, the Arcadian Centre, the Wholesale Markets, the Rag Market, the Ice Rink, the Hippodrome, and the existing Chinese Quarter and Gay Village, with their bars, clubs and restaurants. But at present it does not have the image, quality or excitement of big city nightlife.
Southside has some good streets including one of Birmingham’s last surviving courtyards of back to back housing, now restored and run as a fascinating museum by the National Trust.
Southside has some other good urban features. The sinuous Ringway Centre, completed in 1961, catches the eye as it curves along Smallbrook Queensway and bridges Hurst Street. The Beetham Tower (the Radisson Hotel) contributes to Southside’s skyline. Crosby’s Southside is a recent award winning development on Hurst Street. It has also helped increase the number of shops in the area. The development built on a perimeter block principle has been successful in providing good enclosure, consistent street line and adding interest and variety to the area.
With its excellent transport connections and major arrival point, about to be improved, this is the area that has the greatest potential to accommodate a major expansion of central area uses outside the core. The area offers the prospect of a vibrant district where a number of land uses could successfully co-exist, such as office, retail, residential, culture, entertainment, restaurants and markets. In order to achieve this the street structure needs to be repaired to create a place that is much easier to move through. The redevelopment of the Wholesale Markets will provide the opportunity to remove barriers to movement, create new open spaces and open up routes to the area from Park Central, Eastside, Digbeth and Highgate. One possibility is to create a sizable city square, “Moat Square”, together with a lake or major water feature, on the site of the medieval moated manor house to draw people down from the Bullring and into Southside. This would further the theme of Birmingham as a “Water City”. The centre of activity in the area would be New Street Station, Hurst Street and Moat Square.
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Should a new square be the focal point of Southside? (Popup full image)
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Should Southside become a new commercial centre and focus for tall buildings? (Popup full image)
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How could high density, distinctive housing be accommodated in Southside? (Popup full image)
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A new direct route from Southside to Highgate could be created, like this street lined with shops, cafes and markets (Popup full image)
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Hurst Street could become lined with small cafes and shops (Popup full image)
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