Plain English Version
The Big City Plan will also look at the chance to create waterside and green spaces around the outside of the city that are enjoyable, exciting and the very highest quality. We will look at:
- making new and bigger green spaces (like parks) and improving how people move between them
- making the canals safer, more well-known and well-regarded
- making the River Rea visible
We want Birmingham to have a beautiful city centre.
Original Document
The Big City Plan will also explore opportunities to create a ‘necklace’ of urban waterside and green spaces that are enjoyable, exciting and the very highest quality. We will look at creating new and expanded green spaces and improving the links between them; raising the profile, safety and diversity of the canal network; revealing the course of the River Rea. We want Birmingham to have a beautiful city centre.
Plain English Version
The city centre must help to house the rise in people and households that we expect for the city. There are two important things:
- we must have balanced neighbourhoods with lots of facilities that will mean that families want to live in the centre
- we must have planning rules that mean we have the right kind of new housing.
A growing population needs more jobs, schools, shops, places to go, places to enjoy. This report has ideas about how we can make this happen.
Original Document
It is clear that whichever option is followed within the Core Strategy, the city centre must play its part in accommodating the big rise in population and households that is forecast for the city. This has important implications in two areas. Firstly, the need to create balanced communities with a full range of facilities that will encourage families to live in the centre; and secondly, the need to adopt planning policies that allow for the right kind of residential growth within the centre. A growing population will need more jobs, schools, more shops, places to go, places to enjoy. This report suggests ways in which these changes may be realised and delivered.
Plain English Version
This report suggests a number of choices for the ‘City Core’ central area and each of the districts. We recommend that the main areas for change are:
- the opening up of the Southside area south and west of New Street Station and linking with the redevelopment of the Wholesale Markets to create a new lively area that has a mixture of central area activities, with an important thing being a new lake where there used to be a moat;
- finishing the improvement of the Eastside area, including changing how the routes and spaces work to create an area where the city centre, university, research and media activities all fit together well;
- the renewal of Highgate and its improvement as a good example of a district where families live within walking distance of the city centre;
- the renewal of Ladywood as a good residential neighbourhood with a mixture of homes with Icknield Port Loop.
Original Document
This report suggests a number of options for the core and each of the quarters. The four recommended major areas of transformation are:
- the opening up of the Southside area south and west of New Street Station and linking with the redevelopment of the Wholesale Markets to create a new vibrant area containing a mixture of central area activities, with a major focus at a new lake based on the site of the original moat;
- the completion of the Eastside regeneration, involving the reconfiguration of routes and spaces to create a coherent area of city centre and university, research and media related uses;
- the renewal of Highgate and its regeneration as an exemplar quarter for family living within walking distance of the core;
- the renewal of Ladywood as high quality residential neighbourhood with a mixture of homes, connected with Icknield Port Loop.
Plain English Version
The number of people who live in Birmingham city centre is actually quite small. In 2001, it was about 23,000; since then there have been several housing developments which have raised it to around 30,000. Although the centre’s population is the size of a small town, it is tiny compared to the whole of Birmingham. The number of people living in the 800 hectares of the city centre is quite low and there is room for more.
Original Document
The residential population of Birmingham city centre is actually quite small. In 2001 it was about 23,000; since that date there have been several residential developments which have raised it to around 30,000. Although the centre’s population is the size of a small town, it is tiny compared with that of the city as a whole. Population density over the 800 hectares of the centre is relatively low and there is still great potential for residential growth in the centre.
Plain English Version
Birmingham’s young and varied population is one of the things its known for and we can use this to help the city centre be different. A city centre for young people should be family-friendly; its open spaces should be safe in the day and the evening; its culture should include activities for children of all ages. At the moment there is not enough to attract families. The main city centre housing areas do not have a good enough range of housing, schools, shops or local facilities; and ugly and empty industrial buildings, poor public areas and feelings of insecurity are also problems. By creating a special family city centre environment, Birmingham can set itself apart from other cities and get much higher in the charts of places where people most want to live.
Original Document
A young and diverse population is one of Birmingham’s defining characteristics and one that can be used to enhance the centre’s distinctiveness. A city centre for young people should be family-friendly; its open spaces should be safe during the day and into the evening; its cultural offering should include activities for children from toddlers to teenagers. At present there is not enough to attract families. The main city centre residential areas do not offer a good enough range of dwellings, schools, shops or local facilities, whilst the presence of unattractive and vacant industrial premises, a poor public realm and perceptions of insecurity are additional factors. The creation of an outstanding family city centre environment is an important way for Birmingham to distinguish itself among the core group of cities and to raise itself far above its current position on measurements of liveability.
Plain English Version
How can Birmingham raise the quality of housing development within the city centre? How many new homes should we leave room for? What type of homes should they be? Where should they be? How can we encourage family living?
Original Document
Several questions arise as to how Birmingham can raise the quality of residential development within the city centre, how many new dwellings should be allowed for and of what type, where these should be, and how family living can be encouraged.
Plain English Version
The Core Strategy suggests three options for the growth of Birmingham as a whole. All three of these options involve a big increase in population. All need a lot of growth in the city centre. Having a lot of housing in the city centre needs a new and fresh look at planning proposals and policies.
Original Document
The emerging Core Strategy proposes three options for the growth of Birmingham as a whole. All three of these options involve a significant increase in population. All will require substantial growth in the city centre. Accommodating significant numbers of new dwellings throughout the city centre will require a new and fresh look at planning proposals and policies.
Plain English Version
The need for more housing can bring a lot of benefits to the city centre. Birmingham’s younger-than-average population and its ethnic mix are assets for the city. But outside the core shopping and office areas and outside working hours, much of the city centre is not lively partly because of a lack of people living there to support local activities and also because the way the land is used does not attract people there in the evenings. In the evenings, much of the city centre, including most of the main shopping areas are quite deserted. If the Big City Plan is to make the wider centre more interesting and lively, it must raise the city centre’s population and use the land in a wider variety of ways.
Original Document
The requirement for more housing can bring substantial benefits to the city centre. Birmingham’s younger than average population and its ethnic mix are assets for the city. But outside the core shopping and office areas and outside working hours, much of the city centre lacks vibrancy owing partly to an absence of city centre residents to support local activities combined with an pattern of land use which does not attract people in the evenings. In the evenings, much of the centre, including most of the main shopping areas, are all but deserted. If the Big City Plan is to improve the interest and vibrancy of the wider centre it must bring about an increase in the city centre’s population and a more diverse pattern of land use.
Plain English Version
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.
Original Document
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.
Plain English Version
One of the main challenges when wanting to raise the city centre’s population is the need to have a good mix of housing in the city centre, including a range of good family housing with supporting facilities. At the moment, the centre does not have a good range of quality housing and related facilities.
Original Document
One of the main challenges in seeking to increase the city centre’s population is the need to create a satisfactory mix of housing in the city centre, including a range of good family housing with associated social infrastructure. The centre currently does not have a balanced, good quality stock of housing and related residential facilities:
Plain English Version
The city centre has a growing number of apartment developments of studios, one and two bedroom homes. These are important and help make the city more lively. However, the centre cannot rely on apartments to deliver all of its housing needs because they do not give enough variety of housing.
Original Document
The city centre has a growing number of apartment developments of studios, one and two bedroom homes. These are an important part of the housing stock and help to contribute to the vibrancy of the centre. However, the centre cannot rely on apartment developments for delivering all its housing requirements because they do not provide a broad enough range of accommodation.
Plain English Version
We could change the area along the A38 (Bristol Road) in the city centre quite a lot to make the city centre surroundings better and improve pedestrian and cycle crossing links between the core and the rest of the city centre. If we restructure it, the areas to the west of it could fit in better with the rest of the city centre. We could make Great Charles Street lower, take apart the Suffolk Street viaduct or change its slip road and we could fill in the Holloway Circus underpass. The road would still be important to carry traffic. However, the changes could mean that it can’t cope with as much traffic and this could mean more traffic jams, so we would need to do some testing to find out how this affects accessibility and design.
Original Document
The A38 corridor within the city centre could be radically reconfigured to greatly enhance the city centre environment and improve pedestrian/cycle crossing links between the core and the rest of the city centre. Comprehensive restructuring would enable areas to the west of the corridor to fulfil their full potential as integral parts of the city centre. Lowering Great Charles Street, dismantling the Suffolk Street viaduct or changing its slip road arrangements and filling in the Holloway Circus underpass are all major engineering projects that could be pursued. The road would still retain an important traffic carrying function. However, depending on the extent of the changes to the road infrastructure, capacity could be reduced and this could have an effect on congestion, so any proposals would require modelling to establish the impact on accessibility and design.
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 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.
Plain English Version
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.
Original Document
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.
Plain English Version
We think that Birmingham should have a great new family neighbourhood in the city centre. We should also have a range of housing types and different ways of buying or renting over varying amounts of time.
Original Document
Birmingham should accommodate a great new family neighbourhood within the city centre. Birmingham should also provide for a range of housing types and tenures.
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 should the Big City Plan make sure that it supports more education at all levels in the city centre?
Original Document
What provision should the Big City Plan be making for the expansion needs of education at all levels in the city centre?