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.
Plain English Version
Birmingham could be the UK’s best city for walking. It’s often the quickest way to get around, especially when you can walk from one side of the city centre to the other in under 20 minutes. However the routes can be poorly signed and difficult or unpleasant to use, something we need to change.
Original Document
Birmingham has the potential to have the UK’s most walkable big city centre. Many cross-centre trips are achievable on foot within 15-20 minutes, making walking the quickest door-to-door option. However, the quality, directness and ease of understanding of the routes involved often leave a lot to be desired. New and improved crossings, better information, greater levels of pedestrian priority in key locations and the removal of key barriers all need to form part of the picture.
Plain English Version
As a start we could create a network of really good walking routes, starting with the the ones people will use the most. These would link Birmingham’s key activities, destinations and urban/open spaces. One thing we need to plan for is how redevelopment schemes that straddle important routes (such as Paradise Circus) accomodate the paths where people would most naturally want to walk.
Original Document
To begin addressing the problem, one approach might be to identify and roll out a network of outstanding walking routes, starting with the highest priority routes where early intervention should be targeted for maximum return. These would link Birmingham’s key activities, destinations and urban/open spaces and could incorporate a mix of street-based links, pedestrian-only routes and public spaces. They could include core pedestrian ‘spines’ which would make pedestrian journeys to, from and within the city centre more viable and attractive. One issue is the need to ensure that redevelopment schemes that straddle important routes (such as Paradise Circus) accommodate fully all pedestrian desire lines in an attractive and inclusive manner.
Plain English Version
In addition we could find the important streets and routes where pedestrians currently find it hard to walk and make sure these places are better for walking.
Original Document
In addition, streets/routes could be identified where pedestrians need to be given higher priority than at present, especially those that are deprived of the most basic facilities.
Plain English Version
All of this needs to be supporting by really good signs and a change in the way we design the city so it’s more obvious how to get to key places. This can be supported by the new digital tools described in section 4.10. Signs would also make it easier to understand how people can combine walking with cycling and public transport.
Original Document
These initiatives could be supported by a comprehensive signage and legibility strategy to support journeys to key activities, destinations and urban/open spaces through conventional signage and through public realm design, supported by virtual tools (see section 4.10 on digital connectivity) that provide more comprehensive guidance on how to experience and move around the city centre. Signage would integrate pedestrian journeys with cycling and public transport.