Plain English Version
This report also suggests choices based on policy for the districts whose economic activity is staying still or falling such as the Gun Quarter, Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter. These choices include ideas to expand business, the creative industries and housing in these areas.
Original Document
This report also suggests policy-based options for the quarters that have experienced stagnating or declining economic activity including the Gun Quarter, Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter, which include ideas for the expansion of business, creative industries and housing within these areas.
Plain English Version
Central areas include (among many things) expensive offices and other businesses, a large variety of shops, flats, leisure, tourism and cultural facilities. Mostly these are in the very centre of the city, within the Queensway (inner ring road).
However, the city can change and as it develops, we will need a larger central area. In fact, this has already been happening. Changes to the Queensway have made it for the central area to expand and in the last 10 years, it has spread out to the west around Brindleyplace. If we look at the large office area at Fiveways, we could say that changes to the central area have been happening for almost 50 years. Recently, the central area has started spreading out to the east.
Brindleyplace has been very successful and is an easy walk from New Street. The Mailbox, Baskerville House and the leisure uses along Broad Street have also expanded the central area to the west. The Bullring to the south has helped improve people’s knowledge and opinion of Birmingham. It fits in well with the shops on New Street.
The central area will expand further while the Big City Plan is happening. The Plan will help make the central area bigger and better quality. The next place that the central area will spread out into is Eastside. The Masshouse development and Millenium Point have already started this process.
We have a great chance to improve the area to the south of the Historic Core, starting with the re-building of New Street Station. The new station will be very important in improving people’s knowledge and opinion of Birmingham and will make the experience of visitors arriving in the city much better.
Also, the Wholesale Markets are a very large site near the central area. These two areas will make up a large part of changes to the south of the traditional Historic Core. They can be used to improve the quality of the streets, spaces and transport links in the whole of the southern part of the city centre. We should think about the areas of New Street Station and the Wholesale Markets together.
So, even though the way the Big City Plan is organised is based on the existing central area, it will expand into nearby areas particularly Eastside, Westside and Southside. We want these areas to have lively and different features: for example the Gay Village and Chinese Quarter in Southside, leisure uses in Westside, the learning district in Eastside and food and specialist services and markets in Southside.
So, when you are reading the following sections, please remember that although the policy areas are set up by lines on a map, the activities in the city are changing and the central area activities will not really be limited by these boundaries.
Original Document
Central areas include (among many things) high value offices and commercial uses, a varied and large retail offer, high density city centre living, leisure, tourism and cultural provision. Traditionally these were contained within the Historic Core at the heart of the city, an area mostly bounded by the Queensway.
However, the city is not static and Birmingham’s growing role as a global city will require a wider area to accommodate these central area uses. In fact, this has already been happening for some time. The Queensway has become more permeable in recent years, and in the last 10 years central area uses have expanded to the west around Brindleyplace. Arguably, this process has been going on for almost 50 years if the large scale office development in the Fiveways area is taken into account. More recently, central area functions have begun to expand to the east.
The expansion to the west in the form of Brindleyplace has been very successful and is easily walkable from New Street. The Mailbox, Baskerville House and the leisure uses along Broad Street have also expanded the city’s central area functions westwards. The iconic Bullring development to the south has made a very positive contribution towards raising the profile of Birmingham. It integrates well with the retail offer in New Street.
During the life of the plan, there will be further expansion of the central area functions beyond the historic core. The Big City Plan will be the catalyst for expanding the scale and improving the quality of these functions. The next location for central area expansion is Eastside. The Masshouse development and Millennium Point have already started this process.
There is also huge potential to improve the built environment to the south of the Historic Core, beginning with the redevelopment of New Street Station. This transformational development will be fundamental to raising the profile of Birmingham as a global city. The proposals for New Street Station will be immensely beneficial to improving the arrival experience into the city.
In addition, the Wholesale Markets are a very large site close to the heart of the city. These two big opportunities will form the basis of a major transformation to the south of the traditional Historic Core. They form two poles of growth which can be used to transform the quality of the streets, spaces and transport links in the whole of the southern part of the city centre. To get the most out of these opportunities, New Street Station and the Wholesale Markets must be considered together.
Thus although the structure of the plan is based on the defined policy areas for the sake of convenience, central area uses will expand beyond the historic core into neighbouring areas of the city centre, and in particular into Eastside, Westside and Southside. The intention is that these areas will develop vibrant distinctive characters: for example the Gay Village and Chinese Quarter in Southside, leisure uses in Westside, the learning quarter within Eastside and food and specialist functions and markets in Southside.
In reading the following sections, therefore, it is important to bear in mind that, whilst the policy areas are defined by lines drawn on a plan, the activities within the city are changing and dynamic and the central area functions will not be confined by these boundaries. An important part of the Big City Plan will be to allow for the growth and expansion of Birmingham’s central area functions.
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.
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.
Plain English Version
How can we have more and a bigger variety of buildings for offices and high value business activities?
Original Document
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?
Plain English Version
What do we need to do to attract a wide range of companies to Birmingham that would mean a variety of business types and jobs?
Original Document
What steps are needed to make Birmingham highly appealing to a variety of occupiers to encourage diversity in business and employment? What delivery mechanisms are required to encourage such variety?
Plain English Version
What kind of brand new businesses should we encourage in the city centre? What can we do to make sure that these brand new businesses have the support they need?
Original Document
What kinds of new business start-ups should be encouraged in the city centre? What mechanisms and steps are required to create a supportive environment for these activities?
Plain English Version
How can we make the most of the fact that the universities are nearby to help skills and business?
Original Document
What can be done to capitalise on the closeness of the Universities as a driver for skills raising and business?
Plain English Version
How can we give support to groups of businesses involved in:
- technology to do with the environment
- medical/biosciences
- advanced engineering
- digital media?
Original Document
How can support best be given to the potential growth clusters in environmental technologies, medical/biosciences, advanced engineering and digital media?
Plain English Version
We think that Birmingham should encourage new business. We should look into ways that people can work close to home and give people a wide range of places to work.
Original Document
Birmingham should master the art of fostering new enterprise. The potential for working close to home should also be explored and the widest range of employment space should be provided.
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.