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 be an imaginative and ambitious city and a place that people would choose to hold big events. We should aim to host at least one extra big international event with the plan period (20 years), such as an international Expo (a large-scale public exhibition), winning and holding a Year of Culture or Architecture, or a world sports championship to encourage action in the city.
Original Document
Birmingham should be an imaginative and ambitious city and a natural choice for major events. The city should aim to host at least one additional major international event within the plan period, such as an international Expo, successful Year of Culture/Architecture bid, or world sporting championship to galvanise action in the city.
Plain English Version
We think that Birmingham should have a new Food district. Birmingham could also support the ‘Slow Food Movement‘ and should promote its different cultures in its eating places and events.
Original Document
Birmingham should have a new Food Quarter. Birmingham could also embrace the Slow Food Movement and should actively market its cultural diversity in its eating places and events.
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
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.
Original Document
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.
Plain English Version
To raise the city’s profile, several things need to happen. The plan must offer chances for high-quality offices and shops in the central area to expand and for the city to carry on holding important international events in modern, high-quality venues. It must also allow for culture to develop, including the idea of using the city itself as a gallery; for the city’s academic and research profile to be raised; and for businesses and specialist activites to be set up and developed. It must also do something that is not so easy to plan for, which is aim to create or increase the things that make the city interesting, exciting and varied. So the central area will spread out, and there will be an area around it that will have a mixture of city centre and more local activities, shown on Figure 5.2. The questions later on in this report ask you what you think we can do in the city centre to let us achieve these goals:
- one of the most important cities in the world for business and high value commercial operations
- important in arts and culture
- a leader in making and using digital technology
- a source of research, development and new enterprise from our universities
- a profitable and growing environment for new high technology and green industries
- famous for its entertainment and leisure facilities
- shopping and town centre services and surroundings that are suitable for one of the most important cities in the world
- the right conditions to develop creative and fringe activities
- very good open spaces and public places (such as parks and squares)
- nice city centre surroundings where a variety of people live, especially families
- a city that is easy to get to and around with good transport and stations and that is good for telecommunications (such as phones, internet and cable services)
Original Document
To raise the city’s status, a number of factors need to come together. plan will need to provide opportunities for central area uses such as prime offices and shops to expand and for the city to continue to stage high level international events in modern, quality facilities. It will need to create the right conditions for the further development of the cultural assets of the city including developing the concept of the city itself as a gallery; the raising of the city’s academic and research profile; and for starting and growing central area businesses and niche, specialist activities. Less easily planned for, it must aim to create or foster the conditions that add human interest, excitement and diversity to the city. The central area will therefore expand further out of the core, and there will be a transition zone outside this area which will contain a mixture of city centre and more local activities, shown on Figure 5. 2. questions in the later sections of this report ask what can be done in the city centre to enable to realise the following ambitions as a global city:
- A world player in business and high value commercial operations
- A big international presence in arts and culture
- A leader in the development and application of digital technology
- A major seed bed for spin-off research, development and new enterprise from the universities
- A profitable and growth-oriented environment for clusters of emerging high technology and green industries
- A famed range of entertainment and leisure facilities
- Shopping and town centre services and environment commensurate with global city status
- supportive conditions for the strong development of creative and fringe use and activities
- Outstanding open spaces and public places
- An attractive city centre living environment for a diverse range of residents, especially families
- Outstanding accessibility, both physical and virtual, through high quality sustainable transport and user-friendly transport interchanges and high speed next generation telecommunication
Plain English Version
While we want to have more in ‘the Core’ we want to make sure that other areas get more development. Helping to grow the Creative Industry is one way we think we can achieve that.
Creative and cultural work is about 6% of the jobs in Birmingham but that is growing. It has also been shown that culture can help productivity.
Original Document
Whilst it is essential to encourage further development in the core, it is important to ensure that growth is generated within the areas around the core. The growth of the creative industry sector can be part of this growth. The creative and cultural industries are a particular sub-set of knowledge based industries. They currently account for around 6% of Birmingham’s employment and are a growth sector. They also have some wider spin-off in that links with social, cultural and infrastructure networks have been shown to have a positive correlation with productivity.
Plain English Version
How can we support creative and cultural industries? What type of space do they need and where? How could have something similar to the Custard Factory in other parts of the city centre?
Original Document
How can creative and cultural industries be supported, what type of space is needed and where? How might the Custard Factory model be delivered in other parts of 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
Birmingham has a thriving cultural, sport and leisure sector which serves local and regional needs. The city centre is home to a number of venues, including Symphony Hall, St. Philip’s Cathedral, the Hippodrome Theatre, the Birmingham Rep Theatre, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, the National Indoor Arena and the Ikon Gallery amongst many others. We also have plans to move the Library of Birmingham from Chamberlain Square to a site next to the Birmingham Rep.
Original Document
Birmingham has a thriving cultural, sports and leisure sector which serves local and regional needs. The city centre is home to a number of venues, including Symphony Hall, St. Philip’s Cathedral, the Hippodrome Theatre, the Birmingham Rep Theatre, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, the National Indoor Arena and the Ikon Gallery amongst many others. Plans for relocating the Library of Birmingham from Chamberlain Square adjacent to the Birmingham Rep site in Centenary Square are well advanced.
Plain English Version
The city centre is also host to a variety of events, most notably the International Jazz Festival, ArtsFest, the St. Patrick’s Day parade, the St. George’s party, Birmingham Pride, the Birmingham Carnival. The Council’s cultural strategy promotes waht we call ‘Culture at Heart’, culture in the city centre.
Original Document
The city centre is also host to a variety of cultural events, most notably the International Jazz Festival, ArtsFest, the St. Patrick’s Day parade, the St. George’s party, Birmingham Pride, the Birmingham Carnival and a number of other multicultural events. The Council’s cultural strategy promotes ‘Culture at Heart’, supporting culture in the city centre.
Plain English Version
The Big City Plan will consider further investment in culture and sport. This should promote the city’s national and global reputation and support local creative industry and sporting excellence. This may even present opportunities for new facilities, for example a contemporary museum of modern art within one of the new developments, potentially New Street Station.
Original Document
The Big City Plan will consider further investment in culture and sport as a means of promoting the city’s national and global reputation and supporting local creative industry and sporting excellence. New development may open up opportunities for locating new cultural and leisure facilities. An example might be the location of a contemporary museum of modern art within one of the new developments, potentially New Street Station.
Plain English Version
The Big City Plan will also explore how we could use the whole city centre as a gallery with exhibits and art in the streets and squares and on prominent parts of buildings.
Original Document
The Big City Plan will also explore the concept of using the whole city centre as a gallery: getting exhibits and works of art into the streets and squares of the city and into prominent locations on buildings.
Plain English Version
What extra cultural and arts facilities (such as theatres, art galleries and so on) might we need?
Original Document
What further cultural and arts facilities might be needed in the city centre to promote the national and global image of Birmingham?
Plain English Version
Magnet Southside
A major new public square the size of Victoria Square would be created on the site of the former moated manor (I’m sorry I can’t find a reference to exactly where this was).
The area would also contain a lake and water feature.
Southside would attact people using the city centre and would host a wide range of activities from open air events to markets, and have theatres and cafes. It could also be the location of a new large cultural building.
Original Document
Magnet Southside. A major new public square of the scale and quality of Victoria Square would be created on the site of the former moated manor. The area would also contain a lake and water feature. Southside would be come a magnet for people using the city centre and would host a wide range of activities from open air events to markets, theatres and cafes. It could also be the location of a landmark cultural building.