Posts Tagged ‘Southside’

5.2 Uses of the city centre

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.

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2.1.7

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.

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3.2.9

Plain English Version

Creating too many office before they’re needed won’t work. We also need to back a choice over where the offices are built first, so that it’s clear to everyone what’s happening.

The ‘core’ (inner city centre) is a obvious first choice, but when should we add further offices in Eastside , Westside or Southside.

Original Document

Trying to create too much space before the market is ready will be counter-productive. Equally a choice may need to be made over the phasing of development areas so that they do not compete with each other and send out confused messages to the development market. For example whilst the core is the obvious first area for development a choice may need to be taken over when to bring forward development in Eastside, Westside and Southside.

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3.6.5

Plain English Version

The city needs more flexible indoor and outdoor space for events. The Southside area, and in particular the area of the wholesale markets, could provide the opportunity to create such space.

Original Document

The city needs more flexible indoor and outdoor space for events. The Southside area, and in particular the area of the wholesale markets, could provide the opportunity of creating such space.

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3.7.9

Plain English Version

The City Council tries to put all tall buildings along the ridge (from Fiveways to Lancaster Circus). There is room to develop a group of taller buildings in the centre, in Westside, around Snow Hill, in Eastside and around the rebuilding of New Street Station. There may also be room for taller buildings in Southside although this is below the ridge and we could have medium height buildings here instead. We need to take care where we put tall buildings to avoid harm to conservation areas and housing conditions and to avoid affecting air travel. The City Council will continue to develop its approach to tall buildings along with other organisations it affects including Birmingham International Airport and the Civil Aviation Authority.

Original Document

The City Council operates a tall buildings policy which seeks to group tall buildings along the ridge. There is scope to develop a cluster of taller buildings in the centre, in Westside, around Snow Hill, in Eastside, around the New Street Station redevelopment. There may also be scope for taller buildings in Southside although this is below the ridge and an alternative here would be mid-rise development. Care needs to be taken in the placing of tall buildings to avoid harm to conservation areas and residential living conditions and to avoid prejudicing the operational needs of aviation. The City Council will continue to develop its approach to tall buildings in consultation with stakeholders including Birmingham International Airport and the Civil Aviation Authority.

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4.6

Plain English Version

Centro have worked with Birmingham City Council and come up with four metro routes that will lead out from the city centre:

  • The existing Line 1 running between Snow Hill and Wolverhampton
  • The planned Line 1 extension leading through the city centre to New Street Station then heading along Broad Street to end at Edgbaston and later at Junction 3 of the M5.
  • A route to Birmingham International Airport extension running along Digbeth High Street

Key (Popup full image)

Centro has got hold of a Transport Works Act Order, which allows them to carry on with the extension of Line 1 along Bull Street, Corporation Street, through Victoria Square to Broad Street. This option would need us to remove the buses from Corporation Street in favour of the tram, but would not allow us to fully pedestrianise it. Centro thinks that doing this would mean that a lot more people would use Line1 because it creates a direct Metro link to the New Street Gateway. To pick up further routes, they suggest a one-way city centre loop to serve Southside, Eastside and Westside. (See Figure 4.1 for alternative metro routes)

Figure 4.1 shows the suggested future metro network developed by Centro in partnership with Birmingham City Council. As well as the Line1 extension mentioned above, a one-way city core loop is suggested serving the Eastside, Southside and Westside districts. The route, which runs around the south of the Bull Ring and immediately north of the international markets, will mean a lot more people can use the trams and will improve public transport in these areas. This loop would be needed to have the airport extension from Digbeth High Street. A further extension is planned out to Great Barr via New Town Row. The image also shows a route along Sherlock Street which would infill a route to the south.

Proposed Metro Routes (Popup full image)

For some routes, we could have ‘Bus Rapid Transit’ (BRT) instead of the Metro. Many modern cities have seen the benefits of trams in terms of transport and regeneration, setting them up is expensive and there are other practical issues. They can also affect other modes of transport (such as pedestrians in crowded streets). Bus Rapid Transport is halfway between buses and trams, with optional features such as better vehicles, priority through guideways, and not as many stops as normal buses. BRT may be a cheaper alternative to trams in some places and along some routes. Centro have suggested routes to Bartley Green, Chelmsley Wood and (as a pre-metro) to Perry Barr.

Original Document

Centro, in partnership with Birmingham City Council, has identified four metro routes that will radiate from the city centre:

  • The existing Line 1 running between Snow Hill and Wolverhampton.
  • The planned Line 1 extension heading through the city centre to New Street Station then heading along Broad Street to terminate at Edgbaston and later at Junction 3 of the M5.
  • A route to Birmingham International Airport extension running along Digbeth High Street.
  • A route to Great Barr, using the alignment of New Town Row.

Centro has obtained a Transport Works Act Order, enabling them to progress with the extension of Line 1 along Bull Street, Corporation Street, through Victoria Square to Broad Street. This option would require the removal of buses from Corporation Street in favour of the tram, but would not permit its full pedestrianisation. Centro predicts that this alignment will lead to major increases in Line1 patronage simply through creating a direct Metro link to the New Street Gateway. To pick up further routes a one-way city centre loop is proposed to serve Southside, Eastside and Westside. (See Figure 4.1 for alternative metro routes)

Figure 4.1 shows the proposed future metro network developed by Centro in partnership with BCC. As well as the Line 1 extension referred to above, a one-way city core loop is proposed serving Eastside, Southside and Westside quarters. The route, running around the south of the Bull Ring and immediately north of the international markets, will greatly improve tram system capacity and improve public transport accessibility in these areas. This loop would be required to deliver the airport extension from Digbeth High Street. A further extension is planned out to Great Barr via New Town Row. A route along Sherlock Street is also shown, which would infill a route to the south.

Proposed Metro Routes (Popup full image)

An alternative to Metro for some routes would be to implement ‘Bus Rapid Transit’. While the transport and regeneration benefits of trams are well understood in many modern cities, the costs and practical issues surrounding their implementation are considerable, while they can have adverse impacts on other modes (e.g. on pedestrians in crowded streets). Bus Rapid Transit is an intermediate mode between buses and trams, with optional features such as better vehicles, enhanced priority through guideways, and less frequent stops than conventional buses. BRT may be a more cost-effective alternative to tram in certain locations/corridors. Centro have suggested routes to Bartley Green, Chelmsley Wood and (as a pre-metro) to Perry Barr.

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Question CON8

Plain English Version

What do we need to do to make sure that the New Street Gateway project greatly improves access to the station from all sides, especially Southside? How can we make the Snow Hill, Moor Street and Jewellery Quarter stations fit in with their surroundings? (and also a new Bordesley station, which we need to move because of the suggested rail chords).

Original Document

What steps need to be taken to ensure that the New Street Gateway project radically improves access to the station from all points, especially Southside. How can we best integrate Snow Hill, Moor and Jewellery Quarter stations with their surroundings (and a relocated Bordesley station, which would need to be moved as a result of the proposed rail chords).

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5.1

Plain English Version

Birmingham city centre has a core surrounded by distinct quarters and we are using this a framework for our proposals.

The Core contains offices for international and national businesses, shops with attract people from across the region,  leisure facilities, a major museum, art gallery and library all of which contain important collections. The core also has key tourist attractions and top theatre and concert venues. It includes the Colmore Row Conservation Area, civic buildings and spaces, several listed buildings, and the main public transport interchanges.

Around the outside of the historic Core we find the distinctive quarters and neighbourhoods of Birmingham. These quarters are largely based on historic clusters of common businesses, some of which continue to this day. We want to protect these distinct qualities whilst planning to allow the quarters scope to change in the future.

Some of the quarters are more defined and historically established than others, and there are more opportunities for change in certain quarters than in others. Some will be transformed whilst others need their exiting qualities to be improved.  Where roads and canals form a boundary between the areas it is important to make that both sides of roads and canals are treated in similar ways.

We define the city centre as stopping at the Ring Road, however we also need to find ways to improve the ways the city centre connects to outlying neighbourhoods.  This particularly applies to sites such as Birmingham Wheels and Icknield Port Loop.

The part of the Big City Plan which deals with the layout of the newly enlarged city centre will be based on the following areas (see Figure 5.1):

Image 5.1 Existing quarters and proposed new quarters. Click on the map for a larger image.

Image 5.1 Existing quarters and proposed new quarters. Click on the map for a larger image.

  • The City Core
  • Southside
  • Highgate
  • Westside
  • Ladywood
  • Jewellery Quarter
  • Gun Quarter
  • Eastside
  • Digbeth

Some of these policy areas are neighbourhoods people will largely recognise,  such as the Jewellery Quarter, the Gun Quarter, Highgate and Ladywood. Others are newly defined neighbourhoods. For example Southside includes the Chinese Quarter, Gay Village and the Entertainment District around the Hippodrome. Westside includes Brindleyplace, the Convention Quarter, Attwood Green and Park Central plus Broad Street as far as Fiveways. Digbeth includes the Irish Quarter.

The individual quarters that make up these new areas still exist and will continue to do so.

Before we look at these areas in more detail first let us look at how we should deal with the general expansion of  Birmingham city centre:

Existing quarters and proposed policy areas (Popup full image)

Original Document

The urban structure of Birmingham city centre is uniquely characterised by distinct quarters around the core. The Big City Plan will use this urban structure as a framework for its proposals and policies.

The Core is at the heart of the city. It contains office space for international and national businesses, a varied retail offer catering to a supra-regional catchment area, leisure facilities, a major museum and art gallery and major library containing important arts, cultural and heritage collections, key tourist attractions, and top theatre and concert venues. It also contains the Colmore Row Conservation Area, major civic buildings and spaces, several listed buildings, and the main public transport interchanges.

Located around the outside of the historic Core are the distinctive quarters and neighbourhoods of Birmingham. These quarters are largely based on historic clusters of related business uses, some of which continue to this day. This distinctiveness must be maintained as it is part of the essential character of the city. At the same time the quarters must change and adapt to meet future needs and to support Birmingham’s global city agenda. Some of the quarters are more defined and historically established than others, and there are more opportunities for change in certain quarters than in others. Some will see transformational change and others a strengthening and enhancing of their existing character. Physical edges such as roads and canals form a natural boundary between the areas although it is important to ensure that opposite sides of roads and canals are treated consistently.

Although the defined city centre stops at the Ring Road, it will be important to consider how connections from the centre to the neighbourhoods outside can be enhanced. This particularly applies in the case of the important potential development sites outside the centre, such as Birmingham Wheels and Icknield Port Loop.

The spatial structure of the Big City Plan will be based on the following policy areas (see Figure 5.1):

  • The City Core
  • Southside
  • Highgate
  • Westside
  • Ladywood
  • Jewellery Quarter
  • Gun Quarter
  • Eastside
  • Digbeth

Some of these policy areas relate directly to existing quarters and neighbourhoods – such as the Jewellery Quarter, the Gun Quarter, Highgate and Ladywood. Other policy areas are an amalgamation of quarters and neighbourhoods. For example, the Southside policy area includes the Chinese Quarter, the Gay Village and the Entertainment District around the Hippodrome. Westside includes Brindleyplace, the Convention Quarter, Attwood Green and Park Central and Broad Street as far as Fiveways. Digbeth includes the Irish Quarter. The individual quarters of course still exist, and will continue to do so. The structure, which is shown in Figure 5.1, will form the framework for a more detailed masterplan.

Later stages of this report set out the issues and options for these quarters and neighbourhoods. However, before discussing these in more detail, it is necessary to consider how the growth of the city centre and the expansion of central area uses should be dealt with. This is addressed in the following section.

Existing quarters and proposed policy areas (Popup full image)

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6.3 Southside

Plain English Version

Southside is the main way people get  into Birmingham by national and international public transport (west coast main line, rail connection to airport and coach station).

It includes the area south of New Street down to and including the northern end of the Wholesale Markets. It takes in  New Street Station, the Arcadian Centre, the Wholesale Markets, the Rag Market, the Ice Rink (currently closed), the Hippodrome, and the existing Chinese Quarter and Gay Village, with their bars, clubs and restaurants.

But at present we think that it does not have the image, quality or excitement of big city nightlife.

Southside has some other good  features:

With its excellent transport connections and with New Street station about to be improved, we think that this is the area that might best be suited to more uses outside the Core.

The area offers the prospect of a vibrant district where offices, shops, houses and flats, culture, entertainment, restaurants and markets. To do  this the road layout needs to be repaired to create a place that is much easier to move through.

The redevelopment of the Wholesale Markets will provide the opportunity to remove barriers to movement, create new open spaces and open up routes to the area from Park Central, Eastside, Digbeth and Highgate.

One possibility is to create a sizeable city square, “Moat Square”, together with a lake or major water feature, on the site of the medieval moated manor house to draw people down from the Bullring and into Southside. This would tie in with the idea of Birmingham as a “Water City”. The centre of activity in the area would be New Street Station, Hurst Street and “Moat Square”.

Southside (See image)

Should a new square be the focal point of Southside? (See image)

Should Southside become a new commercial centre and focus for tall buildings? (See image)

How could high density (a lot of homes in a small space), distinctive housing be accommodated in Southside? (See image)

A new direct route from Southside to Highgate could be created, like this street lined with shops, cafes and markets (See image)

Hurst Street could become lined with small cafes and shops (See image)

Original Document

Southside is the main arrival location into Birmingham by national and international public transport (west coast main line, rail connection to airport and coach). It includes the area south of New Street down to and including the northern end of the Wholesale Markets. It takes in key sites such as New Street Station, the Arcadian Centre, the Wholesale Markets, the Rag Market, the Ice Rink, the Hippodrome, and the existing Chinese Quarter and Gay Village, with their bars, clubs and restaurants. But at present it does not have the image, quality or excitement of big city nightlife.

Southside has some good streets including one of Birmingham’s last surviving courtyards of back to back housing, now restored and run as a fascinating museum by the National Trust.

Southside has some other good urban features. The sinuous Ringway Centre, completed in 1961, catches the eye as it curves along Smallbrook Queensway and bridges Hurst Street. The Beetham Tower (the Radisson Hotel) contributes to Southside’s skyline. Crosby’s Southside is a recent award winning development on Hurst Street. It has also helped increase the number of shops in the area. The development built on a perimeter block principle has been successful in providing good enclosure, consistent street line and adding interest and variety to the area.

With its excellent transport connections and major arrival point, about to be improved, this is the area that has the greatest potential to accommodate a major expansion of central area uses outside the core. The area offers the prospect of a vibrant district where a number of land uses could successfully co-exist, such as office, retail, residential, culture, entertainment, restaurants and markets. In order to achieve this the street structure needs to be repaired to create a place that is much easier to move through. The redevelopment of the Wholesale Markets will provide the opportunity to remove barriers to movement, create new open spaces and open up routes to the area from Park Central, Eastside, Digbeth and Highgate. One possibility is to create a sizable city square, “Moat Square”, together with a lake or major water feature, on the site of the medieval moated manor house to draw people down from the Bullring and into Southside. This would further the theme of Birmingham as a “Water City”. The centre of activity in the area would be New Street Station, Hurst Street and Moat Square.

Should a new square be the focal point of Southside? (Popup full image)
Should Southside become a new commercial centre and focus for tall buildings? (Popup full image)

How could high density, distinctive housing be accommodated in Southside? (Popup full image)
A new direct route from Southside to Highgate could be created, like this street lined with shops, cafes and markets (Popup full image)

Hurst Street could become lined with small cafes and shops (Popup full image)

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Option S1

Plain English Version

Southside for offices.

A major new office quarter would be located near New Street Station and around the area of the Wholesale Markets.

To make sure that the area isn’tdeserted in the evenings and at weekends, there would also be residential apartments and active ground floor uses, such as restaurants and cafés.

Original Document

Southside as a prime office destination. A major new office quarter would be located near New Street Station and the area of the Wholesale Markets with ancillary independent retail, cafés and restaurants. In order to maintain activity in the area in the evenings and at weekends, the offices would be supplemented by residential apartments and active ground floor uses, such as restaurants and cafés.

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Option S2

Plain English Version

Southside for shopping.

Southside would be developed as an addition to Birmingham’s shopping centre. Hoping to draw shoppers from the Bull Ring towards new shops on the area currently occupied by the Wholesale Markets.

Original Document

Southside as an important shopping destination. Southside would be developed as a major mainstream extension to Birmingham’s shopping centre, to draw shoppers down from the Bull Ring towards the area currently occupied by the Wholesale Markets.

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Option S3

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.

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Option S4

Plain English Version

Southside for specialist shops.

Niche retailing and leisure would be developed around Hurst Street, with smaller units than can be found elswhere. There would be independent shops, cafés, restaurants and housing.

Birmingham’s shopping area would be expanded to the south of New Street Station. This would create a “retail loop” or trail from the Mailbox, through Southside, the Bull Ring, along New Street and back to the Mailbox.

Original Document

Southside for specialist shopping. Niche retailing and leisure would be developed around Hurst Street, with smaller units reflective of the historic grain, including independent shops, cafés, restaurants and residential. Birmingham’s retail offer would be expanded to the south of the station which would create a retail loop from the Mailbox, through Southside, the Bullring, along New Street and back to the Mailbox.

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Option S5

Plain English Version

Southside for food.

Southside would be the location of outdoor food markets, bringing together the markets, shops and restaurants together into a food quarter, potentially centred around “Moat Square” (See Option 3).

Original Document

Southside as a food quarter. Southside would be the location of outdoor food markets, retaining the legacy of food in the area by bringing together the markets, shops and restaurants together into a food quarter, potentially centred around Moat Square (See Option 3).

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Option S6

Plain English Version

Southside for theatre and entertainment

Entertainment would be the focus of Southside to go alongside the existing Hippodrome, Back-to-backs museum, Electric Cinema and the home of Birmingham Royal Ballet.

A large square would be created on the site of the Wholesale Markets, large enough to stage major outdoor events.

This would be the focus for a much enlarged leisure and theatre sector, with close links with the Hippodrome and Gay Village.

Original Document

Southside as a theatre and entertainment district. A major entertainment quarter would be developed to complement the existing Hippodrome, back-to-back museum, Electric Cinema and Birmingham Royal Ballet. A large square would be created on the site of the Wholesale Markets, large enough to stage major outdoor events, and make this a focus for a much enlarged leisure and theatre sector, with close links with the Hippodrome and Gay Village.

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Option S7

Plain English Version

Southside for living

A high-density residential (many people in the same ground space) neighbourhood would be developed.  It would contain one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses of generous proportions, where as most apartments in the city centre now are smaller.

There would be  local shops, cafés and restaurants.

Original Document

Southside living. A high-density residential neighbourhood would be developed, with ancillary local retail, cafés and restaurants and one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses of generous proportions, distinguishing it from existing developments in the city centre.

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Option S8

Plain English Version

Southside for tall buildings

The two towers proposed to the south of New Street Station would be the centre of more tall buildings. (It’s possible that these are the buildings proposed)

Very tall buildings would be encouraged on the Wholesale Markets site.

Original Document

Southside High. Southside would become a focus for a cluster of tall buildings. The two towers proposed to the south of New Street Station would be the focus of a larger cluster of tall buildings. Very tall buildings would be encouraged on the Wholesale Markets site.

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Option S9

Plain English Version

Southside for medium rise buildings

Southside would become a high density but medium rise area  6 to 8 floors high. With buildings based on a perimeter block system. A perimiter block system is one where the buildings enclose semi-private “courtyards”. The ground floor of these buildings would have space for shops and cafés.

Original Document

Southside medium rise. Southside would become a high density but medium rise area of 6 to 8 storeys based on a perimeter block system, with mixed uses on the ground floor.

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