Posts Tagged ‘homes’

Complex city

Plain English Version

We think that Birmingham’s agencies (such as health trusts, education authority and council departments) should work together to provide the things that are needed for families to live in the city centre – new parks, schools, health centres, meeting places, local workplaces – all provided at the same time as new homes.

Original Document

Birmingham’s agencies should work together to deliver the essentials for city centre family living – new parks, schools, health centres, meeting places, local workplaces – all delivered in tandem with new homes.

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2.1.3 Improving Liveability

Plain English Version

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:

  • well-designed buildings, streets and spaces
  • a range of nice homes
  • social facilities including schools, local centres and open space
  • nice and safe walking routes
  • public transport that is easy to use and works well.

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.

Original Document

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.

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3.4.10

Plain English Version

As part of this process we will look at how Birmingham homes should be designed in the future. We need to make sure that future homes can meet peoples changing needs as their family grows up and also make sure that these homes last a long time. The Big City Plan will contain ideas for an area of very high quality environmentally smart homes that we can adapt to a wide range of people.

Original Document

Part of this process will be to look at how Birmingham homes should be designed in the future. We need to ensure that future homes are able to meet people’s changing demands throughout the lifecycle of the family and also embody the principles of sustainable development. The Big City Plan will contain proposals for an exhibition-quality development of environmentally smart homes adaptable to a diverse range of occupiers.

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Option JQ2

Plain English Version

Jewellery Quarter: a desirable residential and mixed use quarter.

With this option we want to create a highly desirable and fashionable residential quarter whilst keeping keeping the existing character of the Jewellery Quarter. We would want people living in the upper floors of buildings throughout the Quarter (with parking) while small manufacturing carries on at the street level.  New homes will also be created in larger, newly built sites.   This option would also help us meet targets in the Regional Spatial Strategy.

Original Document

Jewellery Quarter: a desirable residential and mixed use quarter. This option would encourage, where appropriate, residential development and conversion on the upper floors of buildings throughout the Jewellery Quarter, with parking, whilst maintaining the existing character of the area on ground floor level with small manufactories. Larger new build sites would be developed mostly for residential. The aim would be to create a highly desirable and fashionable residential quarter (see also Option 3). This option would still maintain the existing character of the Jewellery Quarter whilst encouraging more residential development to help towards meeting the targets of the Regional Spatial Strategy.

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