Introduction from Mike Whitby
Plain English Version
This is an unofficial ‘plain English’ version of the section of the Big City Plan Work in Progress, originally entitled “Foreword“.
The ‘Big City Plan’ is a city-wide development project to plan for the next 20 years of change in Birmingham. We aim to be one of the top 20 cities in the world where people most want to live.
We started this process in 2006 when we asked Professor Michael Parkinson from Liverpool John Moores University to do a study [link to PDF document]. We took the next step in 2007, when we named the project the “Big City Plan” and asked some Birmingham experts their opinions. We wrote a report containing their thoughts and ideas, which came out at the start of 2008. I am very excited about the work that has happened so far. We won an award for the best city plan in the world, beating Singapore and Abu Dhabi.
The ‘Big City Plan’ deals with the area within the ring road (the pink line on this map) and covers the physical environment (such as buildings, roads, transport, and so on), the economy, culture and creativity (such as art, design, music, dance, and so on). We need everyone’s help to acheive this, by discussing the ‘Work in Progress Report’.
We have split up the ‘Work in Progress Report’ to match areas within the ring road. We have come up with ideas about housing, creative workplaces, more shops and offices, and more public areas (such as parks). We also have ideas about transport, how different types of places fit together and how to make sure we can keep them going. We want you to help decide the future of Birmingham. How do you see Birmingham becoming an exciting and attractive place to live and work? What sort of culture do you think Birmingham should have? How do you and your family want to use the city and travel around it? We need to think about these questions and many more and I hope that the information in the Work in Progress Report will help you have your say.
We don’t just want your opinions on the things in the Work in Progress Report, we want to hear about anything that you think is important to include in our plans. We think that these plans will also help the whole of the city of Birmingham (not just the parts within the ring road) – see our ‘Core Strategy‘ plan for more information. We will ask for more feedback from the public and permission from the Planning Committee in the future, and that will be affected by what you tell us now. We hope to officially start work on the ‘Big City Plan’ during 2009.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts about what we can achieve in the city centre and the whole of Birmingham. I am excited about the ideas in the ‘Big City Plan’ for Birmingham and the choices we are thinking about to make it happen. The finished plan will be something very special and will let everyone involved with Birmingham (including the Government and the Council) know exactly what we plan to do for Birmingham in the future to make sure it continues to do well.
Original Document
The ‘Big City Plan’ is the most ambitious and far-reaching citywide development project ever undertaken in the UK: to create a world class city centre by planning for the next 20 years of transformation, to be in the top 20 most liveable cities in the world and to ultimately progress the city’s continued regeneration, in the spirit of Birmingham, as ‘a global city with a local heart’.
The process for a new masterplan for Birmingham began in 2006 when Birmingham City Council commissioned a visioning study led by Professor Michael Parkinson. During 2007, the framework for a city centre masterplan, known as the ‘Big City Plan’ was taken to the next stage, by engaging leading thinkers in Birmingham to help shape the future of the city. Their initial thoughts and ‘Big Ideas’ were captured in a charter which we launched earlier this year as the council’s statement of intent. I am very excited about the progress that has been made to date and highly impressed that accolades are now following our work in progress. An example of this was winning the award for the best emerging city master plan in the world, beating Singapore and Abu Dhabi to the accolade.
Covering the greater city centre, within the ring road, the ‘Big City Plan’ will create the foundation for Birmingham’s future growth, to shape and revitalise the city; physically, economically, culturally and creatively. Extensive engagement with colleagues, partners, stakeholders and citizens will be required to help achieve this: the Work in Progress Report is the catalyst for debate.
In the Work in Progress Report, we have matched relevant themes and ideas to specific areas within the ring road, identifying proposals to address city living, creative industries, expansion of the retail and commercial offers and creating and connecting public spaces. These are supported by recommendations about connectivity and transportation, sustainability and cultural development. We want you to help shape the city’s future. How do you see Birmingham developing as an exciting and attractive place to live and work? How would you like to see Birmingham’s cultural offer expanded? How would you and your family want to use the city and travel within it? These and many other issues need to be addressed and I hope that the information contained within the Work in Progress Report will encourage you to take part in the debate.
I want to assure you that the options within the Work in Progress Report are by no means exhaustive: your views are welcome on any other issues which you feel are relevant to the production of the ‘Big City Plan’. Similarly, while our initial proposals sit alongside the City’s Core Strategy and its review of the options for the wider city of Birmingham as a whole, there will be obvious synergy and economies of scale to be gained as both initiatives progress. Your response to this consultation will help inform the preferred options on which further public consultation and Planning Committee approval will be sought. We hope to formally adopt the ‘Big City Plan’ during 2009.
What we can achieve in the city centre and Birmingham as a whole, I look forward to receiving your thoughts. I for one am excited by the prospects presented by the ‘Big City Plan’ for Birmingham and the options currently being considered to realise and deliver our vision!The prize will be something that is quite exceptional, and none the least providing clarity, certainty including and consistency for everyone , investors, developers, funders, Government and ourselves at the City Council for the long term context for continued growth and revitalisation of our great city in these challenging economic time.