Big City Plan Part 2

Transcription

34
the quarters / city core
The Quarters
35
ST GEORGE
AND ST CHAD
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
City Core
EASTSIDE
CITY
CORE
WESTSIDE AND
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
Birmingham’s City Core is the single biggest economic driver of the regional
economy. It is the centre of the region’s retailing, banking and financial services
and the civic and cultural heart of the city.
SOUTHSIDE
AND
HIGHGATE
About the quarter
•The £600 million New Street station
(Gateway Project), will deliver a bright,
modern 21st century transport hub for
the city.
• 40 million people visit the Bullring and
retail heart with over £2 billion spent
every year.
• The Colmore Business District supports
over 24,000 jobs.
• The Town Hall, Art Gallery and Museum
and Council House provide the civic
heart of the city.
• It is served by three main line train
stations with over 14 million people
using New Street station every year.
• House of Fraser is the largest
department store outside London.
• It is home to over 100 independent
shops.
The City Core is mainly defined by the
route of the former Inner Ring Road which
in the most part continues to create a
distinct change in character from the
surrounding city centre quarters.
The Core is densely built up with its
historic street layout largely intact. There
are several landmark buildings, the most
notable being Selfridges and the Bullring
development, the Rotunda, St Martins
Church, the Council House with the
adjoining Museum and Art Gallery and
the Town Hall - one of ten Grade I Listed
Buildings in the City Core.
GEORGE
sits underneath theSTPallasades
Shopping
AND ST CHAD
Centre and the block currently forms
a physical JEWELLERY
barrier
to pedestrian access
QUARTER
beyond.
EASTSIDE
CITY
the
west
CORE
At the centre of the Core is St Philips’s
Cathedral, around which the churchyard
provides a popular green space to form
one of the city’s most attractive squares.
The square and surrounding streets were
originally laid out as a Georgian planned
extension of the original medieval town
based around St. Martin’s Church and the
Bullring.
Victoria Square, to
of the
Cathedral,
is
the
centrepiece
of the civic
WESTSIDE AND
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
heart and
is overlooked by the impressive
Council House and Town Hall. The
pedestrianised square, SOUTHSIDE
together with the
AND
adjoining Chamberlain HIGHGATE
Square, forms one
end of the primary walking route along
New Street to the Bullring and hosts
markets and events throughout the year.
To the north-west of the square lies the
Colmore Business District, the heart of the
city’s business and financial sector, within a
historic and high quality setting, much of
which is protected by a conservation area
designation. Alongside more recent office
developments, some fine historic buildings
have been sensitively modernised to
provide a variety of spaces for the city’s
main office offer.
Much of the north-east area of the City
ST GEORGE
Core is dominatedAND
by ST
some
CHADfine historic
buildings forming
a
hub
of legal activity
JEWELLERY
around theQUARTER
Victoria Law Courts and the
Children’s Hospital complex.EASTSIDE
To the south-west, the older buildings
closest to St Philip’s Churchyard give
way to more modern, large scale retail
developments.
The heart of the city’s retail core is focused
upon Corporation Street, New Street, High
Street and the Bullring. New Street station
CITY
CORE
WESTSIDE AND
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
Vision for our
City Core is
to strengthen
its role as a
24 hour city.
SOUTHSIDE
AND
HIGHGATE
ST GEORGE
AND ST CHAD
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
EASTSIDE
CITY
CORE
bigcityplan.org.uk
WESTSIDE AND
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
Open spaces
36
The vision
The overall vision for the City Core is to
strengthen its role as a 24 hour city - a
thriving shopping, leisure, and business
destination which supports the civic
and cultural role of Birmingham within
a high quality, distinctive and vibrant
environment. Expanding the City Core
into the surrounding quarters will provide
long-term strength and stability for the city
centre.
Big ideas
The City Core accommodates a wealth of
activities; however it is relatively small for
the size of the city and its wider catchment
area. For many years, the ‘concrete collar’
of the former Inner Ring Road constrained
growth and concentrated activity. As a
result the central area of the city centre is
compact and walkable, yet often confusing
to navigate and bursting at the seams.
While areas outside the core have become
more mixed-use with offices, retail and
residential development alongside strong,
KEY
focused evening economies, much of the
Rail stations
City Core has not achieved the same 24
MspacesMetro stops
hour life and vitality. We want to see the Open
Open
Open
spaces
spaces
Access to rail stations
heart
of the city centre come alive at all
KEY
St.Philip’s
Churchyard
1 St.Philip’s
KEYKEY
Churchyard
Churchyard
1 1St.Philip’s
Existing
block structure
times with a greater
mix and choice of
Church
Street
public
realm
improvement
2
Rail
stations
Church
Street
Street
public
public
realm
realm
improvement
improvement
2 2Church
Rail stations
Rail stations
activities and uses within distinctive streets
Proposed
high speed rail
St.
Paul’s
Square
3
St. Paul’s
Square
Square
3 3St. Paul’s
Metro
stops
MMetroMetro
stops
stops
and
spaces.
MM
Square
4 VictoriaBlocks
within various major
4
5
The
station 6
(Gateway Project)
will high
generate
and
7
Proposed
speed
Proposed
highhigh
speed
rail
railrail
support Proposed
investment
andspeed
greater
visitor
8
Blocks
within
various
major
Blocks
Blocks
within
within
various
various
major
major
and commuter
numbers.
This
will be
transformation
area
9
transformation
transformation
areaarea
capitalised
upon
toforming
boost
the
Blocks
ofCity’s
other profile 10
Blocks
Blocks
forming
forming
part part
of part
other
of other
major
developments
major
major
developments
developments
and grow
the
economy.
11
Rail
viaducts
Rail viaducts
Rail viaducts
12
The 1990’s pedestrianisation
schemes and 13
Existing
open
spaces
Existing
Existing
openopen
spaces
spaces
public realm improvements transformed 14
New
open
spaces
New
open
open
spaces
spaces
the feel New
of Birmingham’s
key streets and 15
Primary
walking
routes
squares Primary
- giving
them
back
to people
16
Primary
walking
walking
routes
routes
Local
walking
routes
ratherKEY
than
cars
and
buses.
There is now 17
LocalLocal
walking
walking
routes
routes
Access
to rail
stations
Access
Access
to rail
tostations
rail
stations
Existing
block
structure
transformation
of
New
Street
Existing
Existing
block
block
structure
structure
A38
Corridor
Rail
stations
a need to
revisit
those
streets, and other
A38
A38
Corridor
Corridor
Major
road
interventions
Major
Major
roadroad
interventions
interventions
andand
routes, to
consider
how
the and
primary
improved
pedestrian
crossing
Metro
stops
improved
improved
pedestrian
pedestrian
crossing
crossing
M
walking routes Access
and public
squares
to rail stations
could be lifted still further as world-class
Existing block structure
retail and business address streets and
destinations. Proposed high speed rail
Blocks within various major
transformation area
Blocks forming part of other
major developments
URBAN STRUCTURE
Rail viaducts
at present
Existing open spaces
URBAN STRUCTURE
URBAN
STRUCTURE
URBAN
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
atURBAN
present
present
at present
at at
present
New open spaces
URBAN STRUCTURE
URBAN
STRUCTURE
Primary walking routes
URBAN
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
in URBAN
20 years
years
Local walking routes
in 20
in in
years
2020
years
A38 Corridor
CITY CORE
Major road interventions and
improved pedestrian crossing
Victoria
Square
Square
4Victoria
transformation
Chamberlains
Squarearea
5 Chamberlains
Square
Square
5Chamberlains
Mailbox
underpass
6
Mailbox
underpass
underpass
6Mailbox
major developments
- New
Street
Station
Square
7 NEW
- NEW
New
- New
Street
Station
Station
Square
Square
7NEW
RailStreet
viaducts
Rotunda
Square
8
Rotunda
Square
Square
8Rotunda
open
spaces
- Existing
St.
Martin’s
and
Moat
Square
9 NEW
- NEW
St. -Martin’s
St.
Martin’s
and and
Moat
Moat
Square
Square
9NEW
NEWStation
Square
10
NEWNEWStation
Station
Square
Square
10
New
open spaces
Old
Square
11Old
Old
Square
Square
11
Colmore
Plaza
12Colmore
Colmore
PlazaPlaza
12
Snow
Hill
Plaza
13
Snow
Snow
Hill Plaza
Hill A38
Plaza
13
Corridor
Chad’s
public
realm
St.14
Chad’s
St. St.
Chad’s
public
public
realm
realm
14
Major
road
interventions and
pedestrian
crossing
- improved
Lancaster
Circus
open
space
interventions
15NEW
NEW
- NEW
Lancaster
- Lancaster
Circus
Circus
open
open
space
space
interventions
interventions
15
NEW
Corporation
Street
open
space
16
Open
spaces
NEWNEW
- Corporation
- Corporation
Street
Street
openopen
space
space
16
NEW
-key
other
opportunities
17
Churchyard
1 NEW
NEW
- St.Philip’s
other
- other
opportunities
keykey
opportunities
for forfor
17
open
spaces
open
spaces
spaces
Church
Street public realm improvement
2 open
3 St. Paul’s Square
4 Victoria Square
5 Chamberlains Square
6 Mailbox underpass
7 NEW - New Street Station Square
8 Rotunda Square
9 NEW - St. Martin’s and Moat Square
10 NEW- Station Square
Old Square
11
URBAN
STRUCTURE
in 20
yearsPlaza
Colmore
12
13 Snow Hill Plaza
14 St. Chad’s public realm
15 NEW - Lancaster Circus open space interventions
16 NEW - Corporation Street open space
17 NEW - other key opportunities for
open spaces
CITY CORE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
St.Philip’s Ch
Church Stree
St. Paul’s Squ
Victoria Squa
Chamberlain
Mailbox und
NEW - New S
Rotunda Squ
NEW - St. Ma
NEW- Station
Old Square
Colmore Plaz
Snow Hill Pla
St. Chad’s pu
NEW - Lanca
NEW - Corpo
NEW - other
open spaces
Quart
Busine
Increa
CITY
CORE
CITYCITY
CORE
CORE
CITY
CORE
CITYCITY
CORE
CORE
Pedes
Quarter
boundary
Quarter
Quarter
boundary
boundary
Metro
Business
District
and
New
Street
Station
Business
Business
District
District
and and
New
New
Street
Street
Station
Station
Major
Increased
permeability
and
access
Increased
Increased
permeability
permeability
and and
access
access
Centr
Pedestrian
connections
Pedestrian
Pedestrian
connections
connections
Metro
line
Metro
Metro
line line
Major
highways
barriers
Major
Major
highways
highways
barriers
barriers
URBAN STRUCTURE
at present
URBAN STRUCTURE
in 20 years
Central
nodes
Central
Central
nodes
nodes
37
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City Core masterplan
bigcityplan.org.uk
38
In order to achieve our ambitions for
the City Core we will need to address a
number of key issues including:
• The creation of more attractive,
distinctive streets and places within a
city centre that is easy to navigate.
• The provision of a unique and diverse
retail offer that can compete with other
major centres.
• The provision of a prestige office
location with a variety of high quality
development opportunities to meet a
wide range of business requirements.
• The opportunities created in the areas
of transformation - the redevelopment
of New Street station and around Snow
Hill.
Connected city
Attractive and convenient connections
within the Core are fundamental to the
quality of the visitor experience and to
its strength in attracting investment. We
want to transform the look and feel of the
City in light - Retail Birmingham lighting proposal
city centre’s retail core shopping streets
and make Birmingham the top retail and
cultural destination in the UK outside of
London.
Focusing and expanding on our two
key shopping streets, New Street and
Corporation Street, our retail strategy
proposes improvements to transform the
streetscape and activities in order to create
high-quality, well connected and unique
environments. Distinctive character areas
have been identified within the retail core
where the focus will be to promote their
individual characteristics and opportunities
as part of a diverse retail offer.
New Street will become one of the
world’s great streets. It is already the key
primary walking route linking the civic heart
of the city at Victoria Square to the Bullring
shopping centre and comes to life with
regular markets and events throughout
the year. The streetscape does however
need rejuvenating, particularly in order to
maximise the benefits of the proposed
transformation of the public realm around
New Street station.
Corporation Street will be re-discovered
as the grand street created by the
Victorians. It forms the second of the
Core’s primary walking routes between
New Street Station and Aston University.
Within the retail core, buses will be
removed to transform the pedestrian
and shopping environment allowing
introduction of the metro extension.
Beyond Old Square, towards Lancaster
Circus, the streetscape will be improved
to make the most of the area’s historic
buildings including the Law Courts and the
landmark Methodist Central Hall.
Navigation Street will extend the
pedestrian route from New Street
Station to the Mailbox through planned
improvements to the railway bridges
as part of the Gateway Project creating
opportunities for artwork and lighting that
could animate and provide a draw to the
route.
Along the primary walking routes,
rationalised market stalls and dedicated
space for street performers will be
important to create attractive and thriving
places between shopping destinations.
An improved, exciting pedestrian
environment along the streets within the
‘Cathedral Walks’ character area between
New Street and St Philip’s Cathedral will
be introduced. This area will become the
home of small-scale specialist boutique
and independent shopping, with Temple
Street also providing a key route between
the new Stephenson Street entrance
to New Street station and the Colmore
Business District.
There are a number of independent and
specialist retailers, particularly along
Smallbrook Queensway. The new southern
entrance to New Street Station and
John Lewis department store will help to
bring greater numbers of people to the
area. John Bright Street will become a
location in which to develop niche and
independent retailing.
Church Street will become part of
the primary walking route between
the Colmore Business District and the
Jewellery Quarter. With Big City Plan
Initiatives and Colmore Business District
funding in place, a new high quality public
square will visually link the focal points of
St Philip’s Cathedral in the Core with St
Paul’s Church in the Jewellery Quarter. The
remodelling of Great Charles Street will
be instrumental in completing the physical
link between the two churches.
complementary uses while respecting
the historic character and heritage of the
Jewellery Quarter.
The Gateway Project will transform the
current 1960’s station into a modern
facility providing visitors with the arrival
experience they would be expecting of any
world-class city. New entrances opening
out to high quality public space to the
south, east and north will reconnect this
part of the city centre.
The proposal for High Speed 2 into
Eastside will need strong links from within
the City Core to capitalise on the benefits
presented by the regeneration of Eastside.
Walking links from New Street station will
be improved.
Bus travel will be transformed by Centro’s
proposed re-working of bus routes
into and around the City Core and the
provision of the City Centre Interchange
for buses on Moor Street Queensway.
Authentic city
The city’s civic heart is focused around
the Council House, Town Hall and the
Art Galleries and Museum. Here, some
of the finest showpiece buildings help
to define the image of Birmingham. The
redevelopment of the existing buildings
within Paradise Circus will reconnect Broad
Street and Centenary Square into the City
Core and also provide a fitting setting for
these world-class buildings and squares.
Much of the City Core is covered by
conservation areas and significant Listed
Buildings, such as the Victoria Law Courts,
that require improved settings and
management of the public realm in order
to really show off and make the most of
their fine heritage and authentic character.
Liveable city
The City Core should provide a place in
which people choose to shop, work, live
Creating safe, convenient and attractive
pedestrian/cycle routes across Great
Charles Street connecting the City core
with the Jewellery Quarter will be a key
priority. This will help enhance access to
the unique cultural and heritage offer
of the Jewellery Quarter and allow the
Colmore Business District to expand
supporting the renewal of those blocks
fronting directly onto Great Charles
Street. Within this corridor the scale of
development will be supported where
it enables the delivery of the expansion
of the Central Business District and
Cathedral walks improvement proposals (before and after)
bigcityplan.org.uk
39
Main roads
Street level crossing enhancement
Main roads
Secondary roads
Metro line
with
Secondary
roads
extension
Primary
routes
Metro
line walking
with extension
Primary
walking routes
Local walking
routes
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Snowhill District transformation area masterplan
Areas of transformation
Snow Hill District
The Snow Hill District is the natural
extension to the existing Business District,
and significant new office buildings are
planned, complete or under development.
The recognition of the Children’s Hospital
as an important national and regional
facility and its potential future need for
modern facilities could open up further
opportunities for new development.
This area of the City Core overlaps into the
Jewellery Quarter and its transformation
will bring the two quarters closer together
in terms of the transition from the City
Core and the physical connections.
Development opportunities will need to
be supported by the creation of a series
of new primary walking routes and open
spaces.
• Growth
The potential of a high speed rail link
terminating nearby significantly raises the
likelihood of major HQ relocations and
expansion of existing business needs.
The demand for the highest quality of
architecture incorporating cutting edge
sustainable design and construction
principles, a broad range of scale and
adaptable floorspace, environmental
quality and supporting infrastructure must
be met.
AY
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AS
New
spaces
Newopen
open
spaces
CH
UR
CH
The City Core has a relatively low number
of residential units compared to some of
the surrounding quarters, leaving the core
area quieter at times when it should still
be buzzing with life and activity. As part
of mixed-use developments or building
conversions, more residential apartments
will be encouraged in the City Core on
upper floors to create a larger resident
population that will support shops and
services, and enliven the heart of the city.
TER CIRCUS
AS
ENSWAY
NS
S QUE
S QUEE WAY
AD
AD
CH
CH
ST.
ST.
Keycity
city
landmarks
Key
landmarks
The Square shopping centre between
Bull Street and Priory Queensway currently
provides a range of value and niche retailers
including the Oasis Indoor Market. The
centre adds diversity to the city’s retail offer
in terms of choice and price and these
aspects will continue to be needed and
also promoted within the wider city centre.
Long-standing proposals to replace
The Square and surrounding blocks
as part of the Martineau Galleries
retail development are likely to adapt,
recognising the important link between
the Colmore Business District and the
Masshouse and Eastside developments
- these locations will become particularly
attractive for offices should the High
Speed 2 terminus come. The retail
component of the scheme will still need
to be significant in order to retain a
critical mass of shoppers to ensure the
revitalisation and vitality of High Street.
LAN
C
Building blocks
Building blocks
Building blocks within Snowhill District
Building blocks within Snowhill District
Transformation
Transformation
AreaArea
LAN
C
Expanding range and choice to create a
diverse retail offer will be a key priority.
Opportunities to further expand the
quantity and range of retailers at every
level will be supported. To make
Birmingham stand apart, the diversity
and choice of specialist and independent
trading will be promoted.
GR
40
and spend their leisure time. Different
needs should be catered for, and
opportunities to broaden the appeal of
the city should be grasped.
The district houses one of the country’s
most comprehensive, and respected
Children’s Hospitals. The masterplan seeks
to provide an opportunity for the hospital
to expand, and upgrade its facility to
modern efficient standards, while retaining
use and occupation of historic locally listed
Victorian buildings.
The growth of supporting leisure,
retail and commercial activities will be
accommodated and grouped at key
nodes.
• Public Realm
Snow Hill Square with its granite surfaces,
dynamic water feature, and high quality
planting and street furniture sets a
standard for public realm in this area which
should be matched in new public spaces
and revitalised streets throughout the
district.
Snow Hill Queensway could be radically
traffic calmed and boulevarded to give
greater priority to pedestrians.
A new link will lead to Lancaster Circus
where proposed redevelopment includes
filling in the subways and raising its levels
to create an attractive and usable public
space, accessed by street level crossings.
Post and Mail Square proposal
• Connectivity
Snow Hill station acts as a physical barrier
to the expansion of the Business District.
The redevelopment of the existing car
park, giving access over the railway via
ramps and escalator links through a new
station concourse to Snow Hill Square, the
new Metro extension, and the wider area
beyond will vastly improve connections.
The improvements to pedestrian routes
will establish vital, legible and necessary
links to the Jewellery Quarter, St George
and St Chad and the Learning Quarter of
Eastside.
The proposal for the High Speed 2
terminus at Moor Street Queensway
focuses the need to provide clear and
legible routes to the Snow Hill District,
with strong pedestrian routes through the
Martineau Galleries site and Masshouse.
A new pedestrian priority route through
the hospital site will open up access to new
non-hospital development and generate
further permeability across the area.
High quality streets with pedestrian
priority, well signed, and active throughout
the day and evening will be important.
The area links into major educational
centres and student accommodation.
Good clear cycle routes will encourage
sustainable travel, as well as serving office
workers.
• Massing
General storey heights in the area will
range from 6 to 12 storeys, with a stepping
up from Lancaster Circus along the
Queensway to St Chads to a cluster of
tall buildings grouped around Snow Hill
Queensway up to 30 storeys.
There is potential for a taller building up to
16 storeys at the point within the Children’s
Hospital site where Corporation Street
meets Lancaster Circus, ensuring that
views through to the historic towers of the
main hospital building would be retained.
If it is possible to develop over Snow Hill
station, mass will step up from Livery Street
with an overall height not exceeding 8
storeys, and retaining views through from
Cornwall and Edmund Streets.
Building heights and proximity will need to
take account of allowing good daylight to
activity areas and public spaces.
Indicative option for transformation areas - Snow Hill District
bigcityplan.org.uk
41
active and lively, sitting above new retail
shops on Hill Street and Station Street.
Mainroads
Mainroads
Secondaryroads
Streetlevelcrossingenhancement
Secondaryroads
Metrolinewithextension
Primarywalkingroutes
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• Public Realm
The southern station plaza will provide
a substantial public space as well as an
active arrival and departure space. The
station entrance ‘electronic eye’ will
provide information and visual interest. A
grand staircase, lift and ramp gives access
to Station Street and Hill Street, and new
granite paving, wall treatments, street
furniture and lighting to the surrounding
DU
DL streets are part of the station renewal
EY
ST
RE
ET
programme.
John Bright Street is a pleasant
pedestrianised street with some fine
buildings. It is intended that this street
encourages niche retail occupants and
extends its cafe/bar offer.
N
Keycitylandmarks
RE
SW
AY
Keycitylandmarks
BuildingblockswithinNewStreet
StationTransformationArea
Newopenspaces
CO
RP
OR
AT
IO
BuildingblockswithinNewStreet
Buildingblocks
StationTransformationArea
A small number of local sites and buildings
will be subject to new mixed development
or redevelopment.
W
RO
E
OR
LM
CO
W
O
R
RE
O
LM
CO
Localwalkingroutes
Localwalkingroutes
Buildingblocks
EN
42
• OConnectivity
O
R
LB
New
Street station will have six access
SM
points, and a pedestrian route around the
entire perimeter. The route through the
station concourse from north to south will
be open 24 hours giving easy connection
from the retail and civic core to the
entertainment district, Chinese Quarter
and Gay Village.
K
New Street Station transformation area masterplan
AL
HO
LL
Immediately to the south of New Street
station, large-scale office and hotel
redevelopment took place between the
1950s and 1970s on sites cleared to build
the former Inner Ring Road. However 50
Y
WA
LO
OL
H
T
REE
LST
ISTO
BR
New Street Station
Sequential views will be carefully managed
to enhance the character of the district
and provide landmark reference points to
journeys through the area.
years on and the blockage to pedestrian routes created by New Street station has
resulted in several vacant
and underused
WAYCI
O
sites, with major recent investment
limited to the landmark Radisson Hotel at
Holloway Circus and residential apartments
D
around John HBright
Street.
EA
US
RC
• Heritage
The area is covered in part by two
Conservation Areas and has a number of
Listed and Locally Listed Buildings. These
are integral to the character of the district,
and architectural design which responds in
terms of quality of materials, appropriate
scale and detailing is vital to promoting an
historic district which can incorporate the
best in contemporary design.
• Growth
The redevelopment of New Street station
will have a profound impact on the whole
of the City Core, but the new street level
link, from the north at Stephenson Street,
through a new concourse and public
space, to a grand entrance to Station
Street and Hill Street will, along with
the new John Lewis department store,
galvanise the regeneration of the station’s
southern neighbourhood.
This area will be the hub of taxi drop-off
and pick-up. The public space will be
Pedestrian links across the Smallbrook
and Suffolk Street Queensways are poor,
particularly at Holloway Circus, and need
improvement. This will achieve strong
links between Southside, the residential
communities of Bath Row, and the
Mailbox, CUBE and canalside.
The Hill Street link to Southside will see
significant environmental improvement
and the introduction of new activity and
better public transport.
The area will benefit from the introduction
of the metro extension and Rapid Transit.
• Massing
There is potential for tall buildings
between 16 and 20 storeys on other
redevelopment sites in the area. Care
must be taken to avoid overshadowing the
public realm and residential uses.
43
• Heritage
Station Street has a fine traditional
frontage with some listed buildings, which
needs to be retained and enhanced by a
sensitive design and active frontage to the
station side. John Bright Street has good
buildings some of which are locally listed.
The character should be retained and
enhanced by appropriate active uses at
ground floor, with residential above.
Planned John Lewis Department Store above New Street Station
Indicative option for transformation area - New Street Station
bigcityplan.org.uk
44
the quarters / eastside
Eastside
45
ST GEORGE
AND ST CHAD
ST GEORGE
AND ST CHAD
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
Eastside is a central focus for regeneration activity in the city centre that has
EASTSIDE
brought about the removal of the ‘concrete
collar’ at Masshouse and the
CITY
emergence of the area as a locationCORE
for knowledge, skills and innovation. It has
WESTSIDE
AND
both great potential for
accommodating
the DIGBETH
expansion of City Core uses through
LADYWOOD
major mixed-use development alongside the established science, technology
and learning activities. The proposalsSOUTHSIDE
for high speed rail will bring both major
AND
opportunities and challenges for the future
of the quarter.
HIGHGATE
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
EASTSIDE
CITY
CORE
WESTSIDE AND
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
SOUTHSIDE
AND
HIGHGATE
About the quarter
• Home to a number of educationalST GEORGE Eastside consists of three distinct character
AND ST CHAD areas. The area north of Jennens Road,
institutions including Birmingham
known as The Aston Triangle, consists
Metropolitan College, Ormiston
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
of the Aston University campus with
Academy, the 40 acre Aston
University
EASTSIDE
Birmingham Science Park Aston. The area
campus with its 9,500 students and the
CITY
is dominated by large individual buildings
proposed Birmingham City University
CORE
dating from the 1960s - 1980s set within
campus bringing anWESTSIDE
additional
5,000
AND
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
open
spaces.
students.
The spread of City Core
uses has
ST GEORGE
ST CHAD
seen developmentAND
activity
around the
MasshouseJEWELLERY
area that is more reflective in
QUARTER
scale and character
to buildings within the
EASTSIDE
City Core.
• An estimated one million people a
SOUTHSIDE
This pattern of development is
year visit Millennium Point - England’s AND
complemented by the more recently
HIGHGATE
largest millennium project outside of
completed structures around Jennens
London.
Road including the distinctive Millennium
• Alongside modern developments sit a
Point building. From here down to the
number of historical buildings including
Victorian viaducts and east of Millennium
the fine Grade I Listed Curzon Street
Point much of the land is cleared, but
ST GEORGE
Station - the original terminus forAND
theST CHAD interspersed with historical buildings
Birmingham to London rail
line.
including Curzon Street Station. Some of
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
the historic Victorian street pattern remains
• Occupying a 22 acre campus,
and with the Digbeth Branch Canal, which
EASTSIDE
Birmingham Science Park Aston is aCITY
runs along the eastern side of the quarter,
focus for innovation-led knowledgeCORE
the area retains links to its industrial
based businesses. WESTSIDE AND
heritage.
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
The overall vision for Eastside is to
SOUTHSIDE
maximise its unique and
extensive
AND
development potential HIGHGATE
to create a
quarter supporting the best in learning,
technology and science with opportunities
for expanding the City Core with new
commercial, residential, leisure and
entertainment uses.STResponding
to the
GEORGE
ST CHAD
proposals for highAND
speed
rail will transform
Eastside into
a key arrival destination,
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
unlocking development
opportunities and
linking the area into the City EASTSIDE
Core.
SOUTHSIDE
AND
HIGHGATE
The vision
WESTSIDE AND
CITY
CORE
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
CITY
CORE
WESTSIDE AND
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
SOUTHSIDE
AND
HIGHGATE
On the doorstep of the City Core, Eastside offers major
redevelopment opportunities and an established learning
and technology focus.
ST GEORGE
AND ST CHAD
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
EASTSIDE
CITY
CORE
WESTSIDE AND
LADYWOOD
bigcityplan.org.uk
DIGBETH
46
Big ideas
Connected city
On the doorstep of the City Core,
Eastside offers major redevelopment
opportunities and an established learning
and technology focus. The area has
all the attributes to drive forward our
ambitions for Birmingham as a place of
fantastic connections and a driver of the
knowledge economy. The role of the
Birmingham Science Park Aston and the
educational establishments will be central
in creating a hub for research, learning and
technological advances. The heart for the
city’s digital revolution will be Eastside. We
will address a number of key issues so we
can realise the full potential for Eastside.
• The huge opportunities that the
proposals for high speed rail will bring.
• Quality of the connections with the City
Core and Digbeth.
• The strength and position of the
education establishments in delivering
learning and research.
• How the area can become a leading
driver in technology, science and digital
connectivity.
URBAN
STRUCTURE
URBAN
STRUCTURE
URBAN
URBAN
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
at present
atatpresent
present
at present
KEY
Moor Street and Eastside rail stations
Improved
pedestrian connections, both
Open spaces
KEY
Open
Open
spaces
spaces
KEY
KEY
into the quarter and in forming the links
1 NEW - Station Square
Moor
Street
and
Eastside
rail
stations
NEW
NEW
Station
Station
Square
Square
between activities and open spaces, will
1 1
CurzonCity
Street
ParkStation
Moor
Moor
Street
Street
andand
Eastside
Eastside
rail stations
rail stations
2 NEW - Eastside
Access tovisitors,
rail stations
be vital in attracting
customers,
NEW
- Eastside
- Eastside
CityCity
ParkPark
2 2NEW
Square
3 NEW - Curzon
Access
Access
to rail
to stations
rail stations
Birmingham
residents and Curzon
further
investment.
NEW
- Curzon
- Curzon
Square
Square Science Park Aston
3 3NEW
Street
Station
4 NEW - Masshouse public realm
NEW
- Masshouse
- Masshouse
public
public
realm
realm
4 4NEW
Existing
block structure
Point public
realm
5 Millennium
The
Millennium
Point
Point
public
public
realm
realm
5 5Millennium
6 NEW - Pound
BlocksSquare
within Eastside major
Jennens RoadExisting
will create
new local
block structure
NEW
- Pound
- Pound
Square
Square
6 6NEW
transformation
area
Existing
Existing
block
block
structure
structure
7
Lakeside
walking routesBlocks
and within
spaces
bringing direct 7 7Lakeside
Eastside major
Lakeside
openrail
space
8 Aston University
High speed
viaduct
Blocks
Blocks
within
within
Eastside
Eastside
major
major
transformation
area
and convenient
links
between
Eastside,
Aston
University
University
open
open
space
space
8 8Aston
transformation
transformation
areaarea
NEW
Corporation
Street
open space
9
the City Core High
and speed
Digbeth.
The detail
rail viaduct
Blocks
forming
part
of other
NEW
- Corporation
- Corporation
Street
Street
open
open
space
space
9 9NEW
High
High
speed
speed
rail
viaduct
rail
viaduct
major
developments
NEW
Lancaster
Circus
open
space
10
of these links is
set
out
in
the
Area
of
NEW
NEW
- Lancaster
- Lancaster
Circus
Circus
open
open
space
space
10 10
Curzon
Curzon
Street
Street
Station
Station
Birmingham Science Park Aston
areaBirmingham
ofBirmingham
transformation
south
of
Science
Science
Park
Park
Aston
Aston
Blocks
Blocks
forming
forming
partpart
of other
of other
Transformation
section
(page
49). It will
major
developments
major
major
developments
developments
be vital that the
Railnetwork
viaducts of local walking
Rail
viaducts
viaducts
routes is Rail
extended
north beyond Jennens
Road to Existing
connect
the
whole
Existing
open
open
spaces
spaces quarter. We will
support improvements
to the pedestrian
New open spaces
NewNew
open
open
spaces
spaces
environment
along
these
routes and seek
Primary
Primary
walking
walking
routes
routes
to prioritise
their
Localrole.
walking routes
Local
Local
walking
walking
routes
routes
Major roads
Major
Major
roads
roads
Enhancements
to the canal corridor as
Major
Major
road
road
interventions
interventions
andcrossing
and
improved
pedestrian
a walking/cycling
route
will be
central
to
improved
improved
pedestrian
pedestrian
crossing
crossing
Canal
encouraging movement within the quarter
Canal
Canal
and between the different parts of the
KEY
city centre. Improving connections to and
beyond theMoor
RingStreet
Road
will
be important.
and
Eastside
rail stations
Curzon Street Station
URBAN
STRUCTURE
URBAN
STRUCTURE
URBAN
URBAN
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
URBAN
STRUCTURE
Birmingham Science Park Aston
in 20
years
in20
20
years
inat
inpresent
20
years
years
High speed rail viaduct
major developments
LEARNING
New open
QUARTER
spaces
Major roads
Canal
New open spaces
Major roads
Canal
Open spaces
1 NEW - Station Square
2 NEW - Eastside City Park
3 NEW - Curzon Square
4 NEW - Masshouse public realm
URBAN
STRUCTURE
Point public realm
5 Millennium
in 20 years
6 NEW - Pound Square
7 Lakeside
8 Aston University open space
9 NEW - Corporation Street open space
10 NEW - Lancaster Circus open space
CE
N
IE
LEARNING
QUARTER
LEARNING
LEARNING
QUARTER
QUARTER
Rail viaducts
SC
AM
GH N
IN STO
RM A
BI RK
PA
E
NC
IE
E CE
SC
NC N
AM
IE IE
GH N SC SC
IN STO M M CE
A A EN
RM A
I
BI RK NGH GOHNSO
CN
ST M
PA RMI MAIN
ST
HAA N
BI BIRRK GK
NR TO
PAPIA
S
RM A
BI RK
PA
E
NC
IE
SC
CE
AM
EN
I
GH N SC
IN TO M
CE
S
A
RM A
EN
BI RK NGH ONSCI
PA RMI AST M
A
BI RK GH N
PA IN STO
RM A
BI RK
PA
Blocks within Eastside major
transformation area
Rail viaducts
LEARNING
QUARTER
LEARNING
LEARNING
QUARTER
QUARTER
Open spa
Quarter
boundaries
LEARNING
Quarter
Quarter
boundaries
boundaries
QUARTER
Key characteristic areas with
KeyKey
characteristic
characteristic
areas
areas
withwith
significant
boundaries
significant
significant
boundaries
boundaries
Pedestrian connections
Pedestrian
Pedestrian
connections
connections
Rail line
RailRail
lineline
Proposed HS2 line
Proposed
Proposed
HS2HS2
lineline
Major highways barriers
Major
Major
highways
highways
barriers
barriers
Central nodes
Central
Central
nodes
nodes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
Mille
NEW
Lake
Asto
NEW
NEW
47
MI
ST R
TH
EE T
OU
M
RT
DA
COR
POR
Y
WA
LE
ATIO
N
DD
8
10
YM
LE
W
LA
7
4
6
2
3
2
1
MO
OR
ST
RE
ET
Q
UE
EN
SW
AY
5
AY
EW
DL
ID
9
N
Eastside masterplan
bigcityplan.org.uk
48
Knowledge city
In today’s increasingly knowledge based
society, economic success will be derived
from the exploitation of the knowledge,
skills and innovation potential of the city.
Birmingham Science Park Aston will
be a key component in driving the city’s
knowledge economy.
The Science Park will act as a hub
promoting enterprise and innovation
by bringing together people with
ideas and technologies, people with
expertise and experience and people
with funds to invest. Located close to
the City Core the Science Park is easily
accessible and aspirations for remodelled
accommodation will be supported. A new
Innovation Village will enhance this facility
with additional work space and high tech
infrastructure.
Eastside aerial view
As part of the development proposals
within this area the new Engineering
Academy will create a new focus
on engineering and manufacturing
emphasising business enterprise and
developing the skills necessary for
Birmingham to capitalise on opportunities
in engineering. It will enable a new
generation of innovative and talented
engineers.
Eastside’s role in the knowledge economy
is boosted by the concentration of
educational establishments in the area.
Based around the activity at Aston
University, Birmingham Metropolitan
College, the new campus for Birmingham
City University, Millennium Point and
Ormiston Academy is where the creation
of a learning/knowledge quarter will be
achieved.
Undergoing a period of transformation
Aston University will provide a new and
improved campus, becoming a centre
for excellence in learning, research
and community engagement. Future
development will focus on delivering
improved facilities, enhanced spaces and
improved links.
Birmingham Metropolitan College and
Ormiston Academy provide further focus
for learning and research. The planned
Birmingham City University Campus will
provide 35,000 to 45,000 square meters of
accommodation acting as the new home
for media, arts and engineering learning.
Smart city
Area of transformation
Digital technology will be central to the
future knowledge economy allowing links
to be created which are not defined by
geography. Such technology will connect
people around the world instantly.
Birmingham Science Park Aston has the
potential to create a ‘digital port’ for
Birmingham at the heart of the Digital
District. The city’s digital capabilities will
ensure connectivity without boundaries,
reducing the need to travel and
contributing to reducing carbon emissions.
Eastside
49
Eastside has long been seen as an area in
which to expand the City Core, delivering
major change through mixed-use
developments in the area south of Jennens
Road.
Mainroads
Secondaryroads
TR
EE
T
N S
AT
IO
OR
RP
RO
S
EN
AD
RO
N
JE
N
JE
N
N
S
EN
AD
CO
TR
EE
T
N S
AT
IO
OR
RP
MAS
SHO
USE L
A NE
T
REE
NST
RZO
CU
MAS
SHO
USE L
A NE
STR
EET
RD
ES
LE
YS
TR
EE
T
BO
RD
ES
LE
Y S
TR
EE
T
Eastside transformation area masterplan
N
NEW
CAN
ALS
TRE
ET
BO
NEW
CAN
AL
EET
ST R
A N
CO
D IG
CAR
Locationfornewopenspaces
Y
WA
Locationfornewopenspaces
Y
WA
NS
Keycitylandmarks
NS
U EE
Buildingblocks
BuildingblockswithinEastside
Keycitylandmarks
TransformationArea
U EE
JAMESWATTQ
Buildingblocks
Localwalkingroutes
BuildingblockswithinEastside
Canal
TransformationArea
AY
EW
DL
ID
YM
LE
W
LA
Mainroads
Localwalkingroutes
Secondaryroads
Canal
JAMESWATTQ
bigcityplan.org.uk
EET
STR
ON
Z
R
CU
50
With the proposals for high speed
rail the focus on Eastside as an area
of transformation has been further
strengthened and its position as a major
arrival destination is now at the fore. The
area bounded by Jennens Road, Moor
Street Queensway, Lawley Middleway
and the viaduct has great opportunity to
deliver both a new terminus station for
High Speed 2 route with opportunities for
landmark developments and attractive
spaces.
• Connectivity
Integrating this area into the wider city
centre will be an important aspect for its
future transformation. Strong attractive
walkable routes will be created within the
area allowing easy circulation for people
accessing the station and beyond.
The viaduct arches will create a distinctive
environment, enhanced with lighting,
and space for temporary uses to provide
attractive connections into Digbeth.
The new Station Square will provide a focal
point for those arriving from the station,
dispersing people onto walkable routes.
Our approach to the future of this area sets
out a clear framework to guide change,
which will ensure that the city centre
capitalises upon the opportunities that
this major investment in infrastructure
will bring. This approach will be
flexible, reflecting uncertainties over
eventual delivery of High Speed 2 line.
Transformation of this part of Eastside will
be planned for the short, medium and
long term and come forward in a number
of elements linked together.
From the station concourse a series of
new access routes through and out into
Eastside, Digbeth and out to Moor Street
Queensway for the City Core.
Street furniture and distinctive lighting of
places and buildings will provide visual
interest, enhance safety and create a sense
of place.
• Public Realm
New public spaces will be created to
provide focal points and key nodes to
generate meeting places and guide
people through the quarter to their
destination.
• Growth
Core uses including office, leisure and
residential are likely to expand as a
result of the High Speed 2 terminus and
improved connections to New Street
Station.
Indicative option for transformation area - Eastside
Eastside City Park will create a key focal
point for the area providing a catalyst
for regeneration. The park will create a
pleasant and walkable route connecting
the different elements of Eastside to the
City Core and eastwards to beyond the
Middleway. The delivery of the Eastside
City Park will be a priority.
Mixed-use blocks will create a vibrant 24/7
feel to the area with visitor attractions,
employment opportunities, leisure and city
living accommodation.
Enhancing the new spaces and walking
routes with active ground floor uses will be
encouraged. Activity should spill out onto
the streets to create a lively and interactive
atmosphere.
• Massing
Expanding City Core uses into the area will
see opportunities for a range of building
heights from 6 to 10 storeys rising to 16
storeys to mark key views.
Around the new squares blocks and
buildings should be of a human scale, well
articulated and visually diverse to reflect
the mix of use and intimate character.
A range of new buildings fronting the
Eastside City Park will form an integral
part of the new terminus building and be
of a scale and height in keeping with the
station.
• Heritage
The area still retains some distinct
character and a number of attractive
buildings and features. New developments
will take a sensitive and responsive
approach to incorporating such assets
through reuse and retention in the context
of delivering wider benefits for the area.
Curzon Street Station will become the focal
point, acting as one of the key accesses for
the High Speed 2 terminus but as a feature
in its own right reflecting its historical
importance and architectural quality. It
will be set within a new hard-landscaped
square.
The rail arches and other distinct industrial
features, including the canal environment,
will play an important role in guiding an
authentic environment complementing the
modern structures.
51
The proposed
High Speed 2 set
to deliver journey
times of 49
minutes between
Birmingham and
London could be
worth £1.5 billion
a year to the
West Midlands
economy.
The new City Park (Eastside)
bigcityplan.org.uk
52
the quarters / digbeth
AND
HIGHGATE
Digbeth
53
ST GEORGE
AND ST CHAD
From the earliest beginnings as part of the city’s industrial development, the
Digbeth area has evolved to meet changes, constantly reinventing itself and
adapting the built environment to meet the needs of new uses. Today although
the majority of the factories have gone and the canal is no longer carrying cargoes
it still has a certain creative buzz about it.
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
EASTSIDE
CITY
CORE
WESTSIDE AND
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
SOUTHSIDE
AND
HIGHGATE
About the quarter
•The Custard Factory is home to a
dynamic community of 500 artists and
small creative enterprises based within
the 5 acre complex of riverside factories
built 100 years ago by Sir Alfred Bird.
• The Grand Union Canal, Digbeth
Branch Canal and River Rea flow
through the area.
• Home to the Irish Quarter, a focus for
related cultural and entertainment
activities centred around Bradford
Street and Digbeth High Street
Deritend.
• The area has been at the heart
of Birmingham’s history from the
earliest known settlement to the
industrial revolution and planned
developments of the 21st century. The
important heritage is protected in two
conservation areas: Warwick Bar and
Digbeth, Deritend, Bordesley High
Streets.
Sandwiched between, and running in the
blocks along, the railway viaducts are the
historical core of Digbeth, characterised
by a range of warehouse complexes and
purpose-built works dating from the mid
19th to the mid 20th century.
Within this core area the streetscape is
wholly derived from the area’s industrial
past as a warehouse and industrial quarter.
Street blocks are compact and composed
of building plots which vary in shape and
size.
The Gun Barrel Proof House (built 1813),
set slightly apart on Banbury Street, is
STan
GEORGE
the sole example of
early 19th century
AND ST CHAD
works and remains in its original use. There
JEWELLERY
are very few
surviving domestic properties
QUARTER
in the area.
EASTSIDE
CITY
CORE
public
house on Deritend
The Old Crown
WESTSIDE
AND in the late 15th century,
High Street,
built
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
provides one of the earliest remaining
buildings in the city.
SOUTHSIDE
AND
HIGHGATE
environment
Much of the historic
is protected by conservation area
designations which aim to preserve and
enhance the character and appearance of
the heritage assets.
ST GEORGE
AND ST CHAD
Running through and across the area,
JEWELLERY
the canal and
railway structures provide
QUARTER
examples of late 18th and 19th
century
EASTSIDE
transport engineering.CITY
These structures
CORE
add to the hard industrial appearance
WESTSIDE AND
createdLADYWOOD
by the traditional building
types
DIGBETH
with the viaducts dominating the area.
SOUTHSIDE
AND
Beyond this core area more
modern
HIGHGATE
industrial premises exist along the
Middleway and parts of Digbeth High
Street. The High Street also acts as the key
spine running through the quarter from the
Middleway into the City Core.
View towards Eastside Station from Fazeley Street
bigcityplan.org.uk
54
The masterplan vision
The ambition for the area is to use its
historic roots as a foundation for growing
its established creative businesses and
developing a vibrant urban community
with entertainment, living and cultural
opportunities. By embracing the existing
building fabric and delivering a high
quality, exciting, and safe public realm
Digbeth will become a flourishing creative
and cultural hub for the city.
• Responding to the opportunities and
KEY
challenges
that
the
proposal
for
High
Open spacesMoor Street and Eastside rail stations
KEY
Speed 2 in Moor
neighbouring
Eastside
willOpen spaces
Street and Eastside
rail stations
Open
KEY KEY
NEW - St Martin’s and Moat Square
1 spaces
bring.
Access
to
rail
Birmingham
Coach Station
Moor Street
Moor
and
Street
Eastside
andstations
Eastside
rail stations
rail stations
- Station
Square
StNEW
Martin’s
- St
Martin’s
and Moat
andSquare
Moat Square
1 NEW
1 2- NEW
Coach Station
AccessAccess
toBirmingham
rail stations
to rail stations
NEW
Beorma
public
realm
3
Station
- Station
Square
Square
Existing
block structure
2 NEW
2 - NEW
Connected
city
Birmingham
Birmingham
Coach
Coach
Station
Station
NEW
- public
Connaught
Beorma
- Beorma
realm
publicSquare
realm
3 NEW
3 4- NEW
Proposed high speed rail viaduct
Custard
Factory
public
realm
5
NEW
NEW
Connaught
Connaught
Square
Square
4
4
Existing
Existing
block
structure
block
structure
Improved
pedestrian
connections
both
Proposed
high
speed rail viaduct
Blocks within Southern Gateway major
NEW
Digbeth
viaduct
park
6
Custard
Custard
Factory
Factory
public
realm
public
realm
5
transformation area
into the quarter and between activities 5
Blocks
within
Southern
Proposed
Proposed
high speed
high speed
rail
viaduct
railGateway
viaduct major
Blocks
forming
part
NEW
Typhoo
Factory
Basin
and open spaces
will be vital
Digbeth
- Digbeth
viaductviaduct
park park of other
transformation
area in attracting 6 NEW
6 7- NEW
major developments
Blocks Blocks
within
Southern
within
Southern
Gateway
Gateway
major major
Blocks
forming
part
of
other
NEW
-Factory
Warwick
Bar public
visitors, transformation
customers,
residents
Typhoo
- Typhoo
Factory
Basin
Basin realm
7 8- NEW
transformation
area
area and further 7 NEW
major developments
Rail viaducts
investment.
NEW
other
key
opportunities
Blocks Blocks
formingforming
part of part
other
of other
NEW
NEW
Warwick
Warwick
Bar
public
Bar
realm
public
realm for
8
8 9 open spaces
Rail viaducts
major developments
major developments
Big ideas
In Digbeth the fundamentals are all
there to create a thriving, active and
authentic part of the city centre. With
some enhancements to the physical
infrastructure of the area, the potential
can be truly fulfilled. To facilitate the
renaissance we will address a number of
key issue, including:
• Providing safe and convenient
connections into and through the
quarter.
• Supporting its gritty and authentic
character.
• Balancing the needs of local
businesses, residents, cultural and
creative activities.
URBAN STRUCTURE
atSTRUCTURE
present
URBAN
URBAN
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
URBAN
present
at present
atatpresent
9
RailStreet
viaducts
Rail
viaducts
The High
(including
Digeth
Existing
open spaces
10
High Street
Deritend
and
High
Street
ExistingExisting
open
spaces
openspaces
spaces
New open
Bordesley) currently acts as a major block
New open
New
spaces
openand
spaces
to movement
in
and
through
quarter.
Canals
River Reathe
space
interventions
We will support
the
remodelling
of
this
Canals Canals
and
River
and
Rea
River
space
Rea
interventions
space interventions
Primary
walking
routes
road to reduce car dominance, introducing
Local
walking
routes
PrimaryPrimary
walkingwalking
routesenvironment
routes
an improved
pedestrian
and
Canal
Local walking
Local walking
routes routes
create space for
activity
along its length.
River
Rea
KEYCanal Canal
River Rea
River
Rea
Moor
Street and Eastside rail stations
Action to rationalise the gyratory at the
rail stations
top end of theAccess
HightoStreet,
at the Bullring,
Coach
Station
will be central Birmingham
to drawing
people
across
from the City Core into the area. The
transformation of the Wholesale Markets
highredesign.
speed rail viaduct
will play a key Proposed
role in the
Links
will be significantly
between
Blocks enhanced
within Southern
Gateway major
transformation
area
Digbeth, the City
Core and
Southside.
major developments
URBAN STRUCTURE
Rail viaducts
at
present
URBAN
STRUCTURE
in STRUCTURE
20 STRUCTURE
years
URBAN
URBAN
STRUCTURE
URBAN
in in
20 20
in
years
20
years New open spaces
years
Existing
open spaces
NEW - NEW
other -key
other
opportunities
key opportunities
for
for
910spaces
NEW
- Curzon Square
open
open
spaces
New open
spaces
NEW
Curzon
- Curzon
Square
Square
10 - NEW
Open spaces
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
NEW - St M
NEW - Stati
NEW - Beor
NEW - Con
Custard Fac
NEW - Digb
NEW - Typh
NEW - Warw
NEW - othe
open space
NEW - Curz
Canals and River Rea space interventions
Canal
River Rea
Open spaces
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
NEW - Station Square
NEW - Beorma public realm
NEW - Connaught Square
Custard Factory public realm
NEW - Digbeth viaduct park
NEW - Typhoo Factory Basin
NEW - Warwick Bar public realm
- other key opportunities for
9 NEW
URBAN
open STRUCTURE
spaces
in
years
- Curzon Square
1020NEW
Canals and River Rea space interventions
Canal
River Rea
Qua
Quarter boundaries
Key
characteristic
QuarterQuarter
boundaries
boundariesareas with
significant boundaries
Key characteristic
Key characteristic
areas with
areas with
Pedestrian
connections
significant
significant
boundaries
boundaries
Pedestrian
Pedestrian
connections
connections
Major
highway
barriers
Major highway
Major highway
barriersbarriers
River Rea
River Rea
River
Rea
Canals
Canals Canals
Central nodes
CentralCentral
nodes nodes
URBAN STRUCTURE
at present
URBAN STRUCTURE
in 20 years
Key c
signi
Pede
Majo
River
Cana
Cent
MO
OR
ST
RE
ET
QU
EE
NS
W
AY
55
10
8
2
FA
Z
9
EL
EY
7
ST
9
9
9
9
3
9
E
AT
DI G
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H
DG
O
O
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HIG
4
9
ST
9
9
H ST.
9
5
DERITEN
D
9
6
9
CH
EA
PS
9
ID
E
BR
AD
MIDDLEWAY
ESLEY
BORD
1
FO
RD
ST
RE
ET
N
Digbeth masterplan
bigcityplan.org.uk
56
The High Street will become a primary
walking route from which a network of
local walking routes, will run north-south
and east-west. Along these routes a
series of pocket parks and larger open
spaces will be created. Street furniture and
distinctive lighting of places and buildings
will provide visual interest, enhance safety
and create a sense of place.
The network of local walking routes
includes Bradford Street and Fazeley
Street linking east-west, New Canal
Street running north into Eastside,
Meriden Street linking south toward
Southside; and Floodgate Street running
south.
Bradford Street performs a central
role in linking the City Core and Irish
Quarter. Public realm improvements
along its length are set to enhance the
attractiveness of this street.
Fazeley Street performs an important
role as an east-west route connecting
westwards to Eastside and eastwards to
Liverpool Street and Adderley Street and
onto the Ring Road. It has a strategic
role which will be reinforced through
improvements to lighting, materials and
spaces.
The link from Digbeth into Eastside is
also supported by New Canal Street
- Meriden Street forming a useful
north-south link. In particular this route
will play a key role in connecting the
redevelopment at Eastside and the High
Speed 2 terminus to Southside and the
Southern Gateway. The design principles
for this street follow those for the other
local walking routes with a focus on shifting
the balance from vehicular movement to
pedestrians, while still acknowledging the
importance in the wider road network.
Floodgate Street is a particularly
distinctive route due to its straightness,
meaning there are long views along the
entire length of the road. Passing under
the railway viaduct provides a significant
landmark on this route, reinforcing the
industrial character of this area. Our
approach will be to support improvements
so that the distinct character along this
road is enhanced.
The canal corridor will also form part of this
network of routes acting as an ideal means
to aid pedestrian movement.
The River Rea and the canals will be
opened up further as part of the reuse, development and/or conversion of
buildings and plots along their length. The
focus will be on enhancing lighting and
access to the canal frontage creating a
lively and safe atmosphere that is attractive
for pedestrians and cyclists.
At Typhoo Basin an attractive mixed-use
development opportunity around a central
water feature will become a key focal point
and see the conversion of the existing
complex of buildings. Extending out onto
the canal network further opportunities will
be supported along the canal corridor for
mixed-use developments incorporating
live/work units at Warwick Bar.
The opportunity presented by the proposal
for High Speed 2 and the new station on
the northern edge of the quarter offers
great potential to connect Digbeth to the
City Core and bring a renewed focus to
the north of the quarter for a mix of uses.
The shared concourse with the southern
station entrance, accompanied by a public
square, will be a key arrival destination into
Digbeth.
The traditional building types and
strong street grid patterns are vital to
local distinctiveness and sense of place.
Such assets will be used to create strong
character for new developments. Keeping
the mix of small properties and larger
industrial buildings will be important
allowing experimentation in space and
place.
We will support the utilisation of these
assets to form an inspirational and truly
authentic place that offers an alternative to
other areas in the city centre.
We aspire to create an elevated linear
park along the disused viaduct, running
broadly from Upper Trinity Street to
Montague Street. This will provide an
exciting ‘viapark’ consisting of high quality
public space combining planting, paving
and events areas. The Cattle Station is
Typhoo Basin public realm proposal
57
Public realm at Digbeth viaduct
the point at which some significant and
underused plots of land can be found, and
a spot where the canal is quite close by.
In combination with the buildings, streets
and spaces, the range of entertainment,
creative and cultural activities within the
quarter will continue to play a vital role.
The Irish Quarter has existed for some
50 years, mainly around St Anne’s Church
and community club. While much of
the community has now dispersed, the
area contains a wealth of Irish-based
businesses, independent Irish bars, The
Irish Club and related organisations. The
contribution these activities make to
the and thriving nature of the area will
continue to be supported.
As the area becomes more successful the
pressure will grow for new higher value
uses to come into the area. We will need
to manage this pressure to ensure that the
fundamental character and experience of
the area is not lost. The retention, re-use
and conversion of buildings is key.
Creative city
The Custard Factory will be the focal
point for this creative quarter with Fazeley
Studios and other areas around the canal
acting as locations for creative activities.
Space for new studios and supporting
facilities and services will be part of
creating a thriving quarter. The re-use
of buildings will be vital to the growing
creative activity in the area and improved
pedestrian connections will have a central
role in making the quarter more attractive
to visit.
Throughout the area mixed-use
developments will be supported where
they support the aspiration for the area
as a creative cultural entertainment hub.
Developments along the canal corridor
will be supported where they achieve
the interaction and accessibility to
the canal and retain the character and
distinctiveness of the area.
We want more people to live in the
Digbeth area but they will have to embrace
urban living and all that this means. We
know there is potential conflict between
different activities but in order to attract
more activity and create a thriving and
diverse area, the workshops, bars, clubs,
venues, businesses and residents will need
to come together in inventive ways to
support a dynamic community.
Future residential provision will need to
reflect the character of the area, adapting
to the existing building stock and
environment. Live/work units and student
accommodation will be an important
element in future housing development.
The creation of an ‘urban village’ will bring
greater life and activity to the area and it
will be important that this is supported by
vibrant facilities.
Smart city
Digital technology will become a central
part of the focus on creative industries.
Such technology will help to connect
people instantly and without boundaries.
The close links with Eastside are pivotal
in the expansion of this technology, with
Digbeth forming part of the Digital District.
The city’s digital capabilities will ensure
connectivity without need to travel, so
supporting the reduction of carbon
emissions.
bigcityplan.org.uk
58
the quarters / southside and highgate
AND
HIGHGATE
AND
HIGHGATE
Southside and Highgate
ST GEORGE
AND ST CHAD
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
Southside, including the Highgate residential area, has a rich mix of existing
EASTSIDE
activities giving the area a unique spirit
CITY and vibrancy. Coupled with this character
CORE
are significant redevelopment opportunities
that will complement the area to
WESTSIDE
AND
create one of the most
diverse
city
centre
quarters
that will be a major cultural and
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
visitor destination.
SOUTHSIDE
AND
HIGHGATE
59
ST GEORGE
AND ST CHAD
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
EASTSIDE
CITY
CORE
WESTSIDE AND
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
SOUTHSIDE
AND
HIGHGATE
About the quarter
“back-to-back” housing, shops and pubs
• The Wholesale Markets site presents
spread rapidly southwards towards and
8ha of development potential on the
ST GEORGE over the River Rea.
doorstep of the City Core.
AND ST CHAD
• The historic manor houseJEWELLERY
and moat
QUARTER
lie underneath the Wholesale
Markets
site and represent part of the medieval
CITY
heart of Birmingham.
CORE
The development of the Wholesale
Markets in the 1970s dramatically altered
EASTSIDE
the original street pattern and the
fortress-like building turns its back on the
surrounding area, leaving Southside with
DIGBETH
fractured
links and dead frontages, thereby
isolating the areas and buildings beyond.
• Historic retail markets
are part
of
WESTSIDE
AND
LADYWOOD
Birmingham’s rich heritage
and history;
and are home to the largest inland fish
SOUTHSIDE
market in the UK.
AND
HIGHGATE
The removal of subways at Smallbrook
• The Hippodrome Theatre with the
Queensway in the early 1990s improved
Birmingham Royal Ballet, is the UK’s
the pedestrian connections to the area
most visited theatre with over half-aalong the primary walking route of
million patrons every year.
Hurst Street. Investment followed with
ST GEORGE
• Home to the city’s Chinese Quarter
AND ST CHAD the Arcadian Centre, the extended and
bringing in thousands of international
refurbished Hippodrome Theatre and the
JEWELLERY
visitors every year and hosts
the
restored historic “back-to-back” houses.
QUARTER
Chinese New Year celebrations.
These provide significant cultural assets for
EASTSIDE
CITY
Southside alongside successful bars and
• 75,000 visitors to the UK’s biggest free
CORE
restaurants. During the last decade, highannual Pride FestivalWESTSIDE
around AND
the Gay
density
residential apartment development
LADYWOOD owned
Village’s thriving, independently
DIGBETH
has
provided
new urban living which has
café bars, pubs and clubs.
greatly
increased
pedestrian activity and
SOUTHSIDE
AND has begun to help support a greater mix of
Southside grew from the original heart HIGHGATE
commercial uses around Hurst Street.
of Birmingham around St Martin’s parish
church, the manor house and moat, with
Edgbaston Street and the approximate
line of Smallbrook Queensway once
marking the southern edge of the
medieval town. From the 1790s and
throughout the Victorian period, a dense
pattern of streets, factories, courtyard
In the streets south of Bromsgrove Street,
some of the former industrial buildings
have been taken over by vibrant café
bars, pubs, clubs alongside established
engineering companies and warehouses.
Large areas of vacant land and derelict
buildings remain towards Bristol Street.
A significant portion of Southside,
between Sherlock and Barford Streets,
ST GEORGE
down to the River Rea
and beyond to
AND ST CHAD
Highgate, is covered by low intensity
JEWELLERY Many units provide
industrial premises.
QUARTER
space for small engineering companies
EASTSIDE
and a variety of other CITY
commercial
operations. However CORE
some parts of the
WESTSIDE
AND
area are
underutilised
and remain empty.
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
The unattractive environment isolates
and
severs the Highgate area from otherwise
SOUTHSIDE
walkable routes to the City
Core and
AND
HIGHGATE
Digbeth.
The Highgate area rises up from the
River Rea towards a ridge at Highgate
Middleway. Most of Highgate was
comprehensively redeveloped during
the 1960s, introducing a mixture of
council housing, including tower blocks,
maisonettes and modern two-storey
terraces. A pocket of industrial land
occupying four street blocks divides the
residential area.
There are a number of key landmarks
within the Highgate area including the
Central Mosque, St Alban’s Church and
Lenches Trust Almshouses, the Paragon
Hotel and Highgate Park.
bigcityplan.org.uk
60
• Supporting development of the
distinctive cultural and entertainment
assets.
KEY
Birmingham Coach Station
Our vision for the area is to bring about
significant change of the Wholesale
• Supporting and creating strong, vibrant
Markets site, capitalising on this
KEY
KEYKEY
communities
by
dealing
with
vacant
Open
spaces
Open
Open
spaces
spaces
opportunity as a catalyst for bringing
Blocks within Southern Gateway
Birmingham
Coach
Station
Birmingham
Coach
Coach
Station
Station
andBirmingham
underused
land
and
buildings.
- St and
Martin’s
and
Moat
Square area
1NEW
NEW
- StNEW
Martin’s
- St Martin’s
Moat
andtransformation
Moat
Square
Square
1 1
investment and activity to the wider
major
Existing
block
structure
area. Improving the transport links
Edgbaston
Street
public
realm
Existing
Existing
block
block
structure
structure
2Edgbaston
Blocks
forming
part of other
• Keeping
the
best
of
Southside’s
Edgbaston
Street
Street
public
public
realm
realm
2 2
majorrealm
developments
and strengthening the areas character
character
and
heritage
and
considering
Arcadian
public
3
Blocks
within
Southern
Gateway
Arcadian
Arcadian
public
public
realm
realm
3 3
Blocks
Blocks
within
within
Southern
Southern
Gateway
Gateway
major
transformation
major
major
transformation
transformation
area
areaarea
will create a vibrant, liveable and wellthe future
of
industrial
land
and activity.4 4 4 NEW - Theatre
Existing
open spaces
Square
NEWNEW
- Theatre
- Theatre
Square
Square
Blocks
forming
part
of other
Blocks
Blocks
forming
forming
part
part
of other
of other
connected part of the city centre, creating
major
developments
major
major
developments
developments
NEW
Village
Square
5NEW
NEW
- Village
- Village
Square
Square
5 5
a major cultural destination. In the longer
New open spaces
Connected
city
Existing
open
spaces
Existing
Existing
open
open
spaces
spaces
NEW
Connaught
Square
6
NEW
NEW
Connaught
Connaught
Square
Square
6
6
term there is the potential to transform
Highgate and surrounding areas to provide
Highgate
Park Rea space interventions
7Highgate
Highgate
Park ParkRiver
New
open
spaces
Newquality
New
open
open
spaces
spaces
Improved
and
number
of streets 7 7
a much improved family neighbourhood.
NEW
other
key opportunities
NEW
NEW
other
other
key
opportunities
key
opportunities
and open spaces for pedestrians will be 8 8 8 for new/improved
open
spaces
for new/improved
for new/improved
openopen
spaces
spaces
space
interventions
Primary
walking
routes
RiverRiver
ReaRiver
space
Rea Rea
space
interventions
interventions
essential to the future attractiveness of
Big ideas
Primary
walking
routes
Primary
Primary
walking
walking
routes
routes
the area.
Currently,
poor
connections
and
Local
walking
routes
LocalLocal
walking
walking
routes
often rundown
or routes
uninspiring
streets fail to
River Rea
Southside and Highgate has the potential
River
provideRiver
theRiver
all-year-round
buzz and activity
Rea
Rea Rea
to become one of the most exciting and
A38 Corridor
A38
Corridor
that befits
aA38
cosmopolitan
part of the city
A38 Corridor
Corridor
liveable areas of the city centre. While the
Major
road
interventions
road
road
interventions
interventions
and and and
centre. MajorMajor
quarter has many good qualities a number
of key issues will need to be addressed
in order for the wider area to fulfil its
potential. These include:
• Opportunities presented by the
relocation of the Wholesale Markets.
• The creation of good, active streets,
open spaces and better connections
with the City Core and neighbouring
areas.
URBAN
STRUCTURE
URBAN
STRUCTURE
URBAN
URBAN
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
at
present
at present
at present
at present
KEY
improved
pedestrian
crossing
improved
improved
pedestrian
pedestrian
crossing
crossing
As part of the Birmingham Gateway
Coach Station
Project,Birmingham
the creation
of a new southern
entrance to New Street Station and the
redevelopment of the Wholesale Markets
will vastly
improve
connections
Blocks
withinpedestrian
Southern Gateway
major
area
from the
Citytransformation
Core to the quarter.
major developments
URBAN
STRUCTURE
New
open
spaces
URBAN
STRUCTURE
URBAN
URBAN
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
in
20
years
in 20
years
in 20
in years
20
years
River Rea space interventions
URBAN STRUCTURE
at presentPrimary walking routes
Open spaces
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Edgbaston Street public realm
Arcadian public realm
NEW - Theatre Square
NEW - Village Square
NEW - Connaught Square
Highgate Park
- other key opportunities
8 NEW
for new/improved
open spaces
URBAN
STRUCTURE
in 20 years
MARKETS
MARKETS
MARKETS
MARKETS
MARKETS
MARKETS
CHINESE
CHINESE
CHINESE
QUARTER
QUARTER
QUARTER
GAY GAY GAY
VILLAGE
VILLAGE
VILLAGE
INDUSTRIAL
INDUSTRIAL
INDUSTRIAL
AREA AREAAREA
CHINESE
CHINESE
CHINESE
QUARTER
QUARTER
QUARTER
River Rea
A38
Corridor
GAY GAY GAY
VILLAGE
VILLAGE
VILLAGE
Major
road
interventions and
MARKETS
CHINESE
QUARTER
BRISTOL
BRISTOL
BRISTOL
STREET
STREET
STREET
SOUTH
SOUTHSOUTH
BRISTOL
BRISTOL
BRISTOL
STREET
STREET
STREET
SOUTH
SOUTHSOUTH
HIGHGATE
HIGHGATE
HIGHGATE
Quarter
boundaries
Quarter
Quarter
boundaries
boundaries
MARKETS
characteristic
areas
Key characteristic
Key Key
characteristic
areasareas
with
withwith
CHINESE
significant
boundaries
significant
significant
boundaries
boundaries
QUARTER
Increased
permeability
access
Increased
Increased
permeability
permeability
and access
and and
access
Pedestrian
connections
Pedestrian
Pedestrian
connections
GAYconnections
GAY
VILLAGE
VILLAGE
Major
highways
barriers
Major
Major
highways
highways
barriers
barriers
INDUSTRIAL AREA
HIGHGATE
HIGHGATE
HIGHGATE
BRISTOL
STREET
SOUTH
River
RiverRiver
Rea
Rea Rea
BRISTOL
STREET
Central
nodes
Central
Central
nodes
nodes
SOUTH
Residential
areas
Residential
Residential
areasareas
HIGHGATE
HIGHGATE
Ope
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
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Southside and Highgate masterplan
bigcityplan.org.uk
62
Hurst Street - festival street, a primary
walking route, links many of Southside’s
assets and will become the focus for lively
street theatre, markets and events.
Further opportunities to make this
route more pedestrian-friendly will be
explored, including extending the footway
and lighting improvements already
implemented.
Bromsgrove, Sherlock and Kent Street
will be important pedestrian routes,
forming part of the local walking route
network. Ground floor uses and activities,
higher quality public realm and street trees
will help to transform these routes.
A new network of open spaces linked
by the local walking routes, will create
an improved range of places that enrich
Southside’s character. This will include
Moat Square within the Wholesale
Markets site and Theatre Place - the
potential for a higher quality and
memorable setting for the Hippodrome
Theatre and “back-to-back” houses.
A new Village Square at the Gay Village
end of Hurst Street is proposed where
active uses will surround a much needed
green oasis for the area’s residents and
visitors. As part of the Bristol Street
South development site, existing public
open space off Sherlock Street will be
reconfigured as a new park for Southside.
Highgate Park will be maintained as
an important public open space and
its overall quality and function will be
promoted. In the longer term the park has
great potential as a focus for higher quality
development around its edges. Across the
wider area, improved open spaces will be
sought as part of individual redevelopment
schemes.
Bristol Street will remain a key vehicular
route into the city centre from the south
and forms part of the A38. Opportunities
will be sought to transform the currently
harsh pedestrian environment and to
improve the number and quality of
crossing points in order to better connect
Attwood Green with Southside.
Creative city
Southside’s status as a major creative
and cultural district will be promoted
and capitalised upon in order to grow the
area’s potential visitor base.
The cluster of theatre, entertainment
and leisure activities within and around
Southside, including the O2 Academy,
Hippodrome, Old Rep and Alexandra
Theatres, Electric Cinema and lively
cabaret bars, provides the opportunity to
create a lively cultural focus for the city
centre. The development of this cultural
centre will be supported where proposals
provide the city with facilities of national
and international importance, and also
the small-scale and diverse. Together they
will develop further the rich creative and
cultural performing arts offer of the city.
Birmingham’s Gay Village has become
well-established within Southside over
the last 20 years. Vibrant café bars, pubs,
clubs, shops and community services cater
for the lesbian and gay community from
Birmingham and the wider West Midlands
region. The focus of the village is around
the lower part of Hurst Street, Kent Street
and Lower Essex Street.
Recent investment in the public realm has
given this part of Southside a stronger
character and presence. There are
opportunities for specialist retail, hotels
and other business uses to locate within
the heart of the village, bringing greater
levels of visitor activity throughout the day
and night.
The retail markets will continue to play
a vital role in the city centre’s retail offer
which will be promoted and improved
as part of the Wholesale Markets’
redevelopment.
Liveable city
The richness and variety of activity on
offer in Southside is highly diverse in
comparison to other quarters. The wide
mix of uses and communities still has room
to develop further.
The identity of the Chinese Quarter will
be strengthened, particularly around
Ladywell Walk and the Arcadian Centre.
This will be achieved through working with
the Southside BID and Chinese community
groups and local businesses to provide
decorative features, public artwork and
a Chinese arch that will provide a tourist
attraction and cement the area’s character.
Southside city living
Southside has growing residential
communities with a dynamic urban village
character emerging in the Chinese
Quarter and along the Bradford Street
corridor. Residential uses as part of the
mixed-use redevelopment of derelict
sites within the Chinese Quarter and Gay
Village will continue to form an important
part of Southside’s regeneration. Such uses
should be encouraged where they do not
compromise the entertainment and leisure
uses that provide the unique essence of
Southside’s character. The diversity of
the area relies on the coming together
of entertainment venues, businesses and
residents to support a dynamic community.
Highgate is a significant area of residential
provision in the city centre. Sitting on
the fringe of the city centre, it has good
links to areas beyond the Ring Road.
The area suffers from elements of poor
design and layout, under-utilised open
spaces and insecure pedestrian routes.
Selective redevelopment will address
these issues with our longer term ambition
to see Highgate and the surrounding area
become home to improved family living.
This will be supported with well-balanced
infrastructure including private and
communal open spaces, improved network
of local walking routes and community
facilities. Future planning and regeneration
activity will be undertaken in partnership
with existing communities.
The long-term future of the pocket of
industry and the fringes of the adjacent
industrial area will be considered as part
of the masterplan’s aims to expand the
quantity and quality of family housing
in Highgate. This would also result in
improved connections and a higher quality
environment.
The Bristol Street South site has a
prominent frontage to Bristol Street and
Belgrave Middleway and presents an
opportunity for a significant mixed-use
landmark development based around a
significantly improved area of public open
space. The development will provide
strong links to Sherlock Street and Kent
Street as local walking routes connecting
into the City Core. The site will support a
mix of uses that help to provide a magnet
to draw economic and pedestrian activity
into this part of the city centre.
Authentic city
Southside’s authenticity and character
are most intact and well-reflected along
Bradford Street and the eastern side of
Bristol Street where there are significant
attractive 19th century historic building
frontages. These features will be retained
as part of the regeneration of empty or
underused buildings and sites behind. In
addition, investment will be encouraged
throughout the area in the refurbishment
of existing character and listed buildings
such as the landmark SBQ Building on
Smallbrook Queensway. Such an approach
will help to protect the future of the some
of the city’s most interesting 20th century
architectural features.
The industrial area beyond the Wholesale
Markets site will continue to provide
space for small scale engineering and
The residential St. Luke’s Estate includes
under-utilised open space that has
the potential, working alongside the
local community, to be remodelled to
accommodate both further family housing
and more functional and better quality
spaces.
The existing parade of shops at Horton
Square provides for some day-today needs for the local community,
however the range and choice is limited.
Opportunities will be sought to expand
the retail area to meet this gap and to
support new residential growth.
Moat Square proposal
bigcityplan.org.uk
63
The centrepiece of this area will be Moat
Square, a new public space based around
the archaeological remains of the original
Birmingham Manor House, the historic
heart of the city. Expansion of the Southern
Gateway area offers potential to extend
Birmingham’s retail offer at its northern
end, graduating through niche retail,
improved markets, food and leisure space
around Moat Square to new residential
neighbourhoods which offer the potential
to stimulate the regeneration of Highgate.
commercial activities that provide jobs
and necessary services within the local
economy. The fringes of the area, where
economic activity has waned, will provide
opportunities for more mixed-use
development particularly related to the
site and to facilitate the growth and
improvement of Highgate residential area.
64
Area of major transformation
Southern Gateway
• Growth
The area will form a thriving part of the city
centre with opportunities for residential,
retail, leisure, entertainment, offices and
high tech manufacturing industries.
ST
RE
ET
The city’s retail market functions will be
integrated within and to the western edge
of the new Moat Square and adjoining
buildings, and its profile will be raised
by encouraging new niche and themed
traders to complement and extend the
existing range of its offer.
Our approach to the future of this area sets
out a clear framework to guide change,
which will ensure that the city centre
capitalises on the opportunity presented
by the relocation of the Wholesale
DI
GB
ET
H
Markets.
We will encourage a diverse variety of
uses and activities within the blocks and
buildings and on the streets, and embrace
the Irish Quarter and reflect its heritage
and culture.
Linked to the Moat Square will be the
opportunity for a new Modern Art Museum
showcasing exhibitions from a range
of local and international artists. The
new gallery will provide a place for the
celebration and consideration of cultural
diversity in the City. It will provide a new
attraction enhancing the City as a visitor
destination.
• Public Realm
A new major public square based
around the historic site of the original
Birmingham Manor House and moat,
will create a focus for local culture, leisure
and performance, incorporate a market
function, and interpret the history and
archaeology of this important site.
K
Q
UE
EN
DU
DL
EY
SW
AY
The relocation of the Wholesale Markets,
leaving an 8ha site on the doorstep of
the Bullring, will act as a catalyst for the
southern expansion of the City Core. The
will facilitate opportunities for a much
wider area to undergo transformation.
Cafes, bars and restaurants will be
encouraged around new squares and
spaces with the opportunity to spill out.
O
H IG
OR
SH
PER
AD
EE
TR
ST
RE
SW
AY
ES
BR
DU
DL
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ET
H ST
REET
DER
ITEN
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AL
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OM
BR
H ST
REET
DER
ITEN
D
FO
RD
ST
RE
ET
ET
RE
ST
Main roads
Main roads
Secondary roads
Secondary roads
Metro line with extension
Metro line with extension
River Rea
River Rea
Building blocks
N
Building blocks within Southern Gateway
Transformation Area
Building blocks
Existing focal points/landmark features
Building blocks within Southern Gateway
Transformation Area
New open spaces
Existing focal points/landmark features
Southern Gateway transformation area masterplan
New open spaces
Example of Modern Art Museum - MOMA in New York
The change of level will be exploited to
form terraces, activity and performance
space, and the introduction of a water
feature to recall the presence of the
historic moat.
There will be a network of high quality
pedestrian priority streets. The High
Street, Bradford Street, Moseley Street and
Cheapside will be pleasant local walking
routes connecting to new family housing,
Highgate and its park, revived industry and
commerce, public transport corridors, and
the City Core.
Street furniture and distinctive lighting of
places and buildings will provide visual
interest, encourage use, enhance safety
and create a sense of place.
Around the public square blocks and
buildings should be of human scale, wellarticulated and visually diverse to reflect
the mix of uses and intimate character.
Storey heights will step up square with
setbacks to the south and west to ensure
there is good daylight access throughout
the year.
Any residential development should seek
to provide a broad range of typology
including family housing 3 to 4 stories high
beyond the River Rea and into Highgate,
complementing the existing largely
apartment-based resident community
which will be expanded closer to the core.
• Heritage
The area has a distinct character which
includes buildings, street patterns and
archaeological remains. Redevelopment
must be sensitive and responsive to this
character and retain, reuse and enhance
these features.
The history and archaeology of the
area, and particularly the area around
the original moated manor, will be
acknowledged, respected, interpreted and
incorporated in development proposals.
Key views such as St Martin’s, Rotunda,
Digbeth Police Station, the Paragon Hotel,
and the Digbeth HMV Institute, which
reinforce the identity and character of the
area, will be identified and protected.
• Connectivity
The historic street pattern will be restored
and enhanced, with a clear hierarchy of
street use and character. Streets will be
pedestrianised close to the core with
shared surface off Moat Square and public
transport focused on the High Street,
Sherlock Street and Bradford Street. The
Coach station will be a key arrival point,
serving the area and wider city.
Strong, attractive walkable routes with
wide pavements and street trees will link
Highgate and Camp Hill to the City Core.
Clear pedestrian connections will be made
across the area, connecting Southside to
Digbeth.
The River Rea will be utilised as a key
feature. New development along its length
will need to contribute toward creating
pedestrian access to form a prominent,
attractive, riverside walkway across the area.
• Massing
General heights across the area will range
from 3 to 12 storeys with opportunities
to rise to 15 to mark key views and focal
points. At the corner of Edgbaston Street
and the new public square a building of up
to 18 storeys could be considered.
Indicative options for transformation area - Southern Gateway
bigcityplan.org.uk
65
66
the quarters / westside and ladywood
HIGHGATE
Westside and Ladywood
Westside, including the Ladywood residential area, is a diverse and vibrant part
of the city centre. The area hosts many of Birmingham’s international-class visitor
attractions, and forms a hub for shopping, nightlife and entertainment activities.
Formerly a neglected and underused area, Westside has been completely
transformed in recent decades and is now the primary destination for both
business and leisure visitors to Birmingham.
67
ST GEORGE
AND ST CHAD
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
EASTSIDE
CITY
CORE
WESTSIDE AND
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
SOUTHSIDE
AND
HIGHGATE
About the quarter
•Westside is home to many of the city
centre’s premiere business and leisure
attractions, including the National
Indoor Arena, the International
Convention Centre and Symphony Hall,
the Mailbox, the Repertory Theatre and
the National Sea Life Centre. Symphony
Hall alone attracts 370,000 visitors per
year.
• At the heart of Westside the Broad
Street and Brindleyplace area is home
to over 300 businesses, providing
12,000 jobs.
• Westside hosts Birmingham’s biggest
concentration of hotels, providing in
excess of 1,800 rooms.
• The area has a large residential
population, with Ladywood home
to 3,000 residents and the recently
redeveloped and award-winning
Park Central area incorporating 1,600
homes.
• Many of Birmingham’s tallest buildings
are located in Westside, reflecting the
strong demand for offices, hotels and
apartments. Further tall buildings are
proposed.
Historically the area comprised a
predominantly industrial area focused on
the hub of the city’s canal network with
a dense residential area of back-to-back
housing to the south. The former industrial
area was transformed by the Brindleyplace
regeneration project which created a
thriving mixed-use area adjacent to
Broad Street, overlooking the canals and
including high quality new public squares.
This pattern of waterside regeneration
has extended along the canal to the
south where The Mailbox anchors a
concentration of premium retail and
entertainment uses.
ST GEORGE
AND ST CHAD
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
EASTSIDE
CITY
CORE
WESTSIDE AND
LADYWOOD
The southern part of the area remains
residential in character: the former Lee
Bank estate having been transformed into
the Park Central area, an exemplar urban
neighbourhood and the Ladywood area, a
housing estate of variable quality.
DIGBETH
SOUTHSIDE
AND
HIGHGATE
At the heart of the area, Broad Street acts
as a focus for entertainment activities and
hosts several of the city’s major hotels. In
addition Broad Street serves as an arterial
route into the city centre, linking to Five
Ways, where there is a concentration of
shopping, office and entertainment uses.
At the top end of Broad Street, Centenary
Square provides a direct and convenient
pedestrian route to the City Core. The
square is the site of the International
Convention Centre, the REP theatre,
Baskerville House, and the new Library
of Birmingham. In addition to providing
access to these important locations,
Centenary Square is a significant visitor
attraction in its own right, and hosts many
of the city’s most prominent outdoor
events.
Ladywood canals
bigcityplan.org.uk
Open spaces
68
The vision
• The reconfiguration of Broad Street
corridor in order to achieve its full
potential and to link in with the
transformation of Paradise Circus.
KEY
New Street and Five Ways rail stations
Our vision is to enhance connections into
and through the area, bringing in new life
and activity by extending the network of
• In order to support sustainable
Blocks within Westside major
linked public spaces within the quarter.
transformation area
growth of the residential population
Improvements to the Broad Street corridor
improvements are needed to the public
major developments
and the eastern boundary of the quarter
realm and local amenities.
Existing
open spaces
will be key to achieving this. In addition,
the masterplan will build on the success of
Open
spaces
New open spaces
Open
Open
spaces
spaces
Connected city
Westside’s existing residential areas. In the
NEW
- Centenary
Square
improvement
1
NEW
NEW
Centenary
Centenary
Square
Square
improvement
improvement
1
1
KEY
KEY
KEY
longer term the aspiration is to transform
Canal space interventions
2 City
City
Centre
Gardens
2 2 City
Centre
Centre
Gardens
Gardens
Access
to
rail
stations Circus
The bridging
Paradise
Access
Access
to of
to
rail
rail
stations
stations
3 NEW
NEW
- Baskerville
Wharf
Basin
Ladywood into a much improved family
3 3 NEW
- Baskerville
- Baskerville
Wharf
Wharf
Basin
Basin
New
and
Five
Ways
rail
stations
Primary
walking
Queensway
inStreet
the
1990s
created
a high4 4 NEW
New
New
Street
Street
and
and
Five
Five
Ways
Ways
railrail
stations
stations
4 NEW
NEW
- Paradise
Circus
public
realm routes
Paradise
Paradise
Circus
Circus
public
public
realm
realm
neighbourhood.
Chamberlain
Square
5 Chamberlain
Chamberlain
Square
Square
5
5
Primary
walking
routes: link through
quality Existing
pedestrian
link
between
Centenary
Existing
block
structure
Existing
block
block
structure
structure
Victoria
Square
6 Victoria
the building
Square
Square
6 6 Victoria
SquareBlocks
and
the
City
Core.
Despite
this,
Mailbox
underpass
Blocks
within
Westside
major
7 Mailbox
underpass
underpass
Blocks
within
within
Westside
Westside
major
major
7 7 Mailbox
Big ideas
transformation
area
transformation
transformation
area
area
NEW
- Arena
Central
public
realm
8 NEW
the former
Inner Ring
Road still presents
- Arena
- Arena
Central
Central
public
public
realm
realm
8 8 NEW
Blocks
forming
part
of
other
Blocks
Blocks
forming
forming
part
part
of of
other
other
Canals
Mailbox
and
Cube
public
realm
9
Mailbox
and
and
Cube
Cube
public
public
realm
realm
9 9 Mailbox
a significant
barrier
between
Westside
major
developments
major
major
developments
developments
Peace
Gardens
Peace
Peace
Gardens
Gardens
101010
Rail line
The recent history of Westside is a success
and theExisting
adjacent
quarters,
NEW
- Holloway
Head
playing
fields
Existing
open
spaces limiting the111111
NEW
NEW
- Holloway
- Holloway
Head
Head
playing
playing
fields
fields
Existing
open
open
spaces
spaces
story; the Brindleyplace, Mailbox and
A38 Corridor
Park
Central
Park
Park
Central
Central
potential for expansion of City Core 121212
New
open
spaces
Gas
Street
Basin Major road interventions and
New
New
open
open
spaces
spaces
Attwood Green regeneration projects
Gas
Gas
Street
Street
Basin
Basin
131313
activities
into
the
quarter and movement
of
Oozells
Square
141414
Oozells
Oozells
Square
Square
have created diverse and vibrant areas.
Canal
space
interventions
pedestrians
between
the areas.
Canal
Canal
space
space
interventions
interventions
Brindleyplace
Square
Brindleyplace
Brindleyplace
Square
Square
151515
Open spaces
The quarter plays a major part in the
Brindleyplace
canal
area
Brindleyplace
Brindleyplace
canal
canal
area
area
161616
Primary
walking
routes
Primary
Primary
walking
walking
routes
routes
Sherborne
Wharf - Centenary Square improvement
NEW
economy of the wider city centre. However,
17
1Wharf
Sherborne
Sherborne
Wharf
1717
KEYPrimary
In order
to
support
Westside’s
existing
Primary
walking
routes:
link
through
Primary
walking
walking
routes:
routes:
linklink
through
through
Five
Ways
Five
Five
Ways
Ways
2 City Centre Gardens
181818
the
building
the existing strength could be further
thethe
building
building
Access
to rail stations
functions
and
to encourage
further growth
Morville
Street
open
space
19
Morville
Morville
Street
open
open
space
19
19
3Street
NEW
- space
Baskerville
Wharf Basin
Local
walking
routes
Local
Local
walking
walking
routes
routes
developed, and in order to ensure that this
NEW
- other
key
opportunities
for
NEW
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other
other
key
key
opportunities
opportunities
forfor
Newimprovements
Street and Five Ways
and investment,
willrailbestations
20
4
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NEW
Paradise
Circus
public realm
open
spaces
Canals
open
spaces
spaces
Canals
Canals
takes place we will address a number of
5 Chamberlain Square
made to
connectivity
with
the City Core,
Rail
line
Existing block
structure
Rail
Rail
line
line
key issues:
6 Victoria Square
Southside
and
the Jewellery Quarter.
A38
Corridor
URBAN
STRUCTURE
A38
A38
Corridor
Corridor
Mailbox STRUCTURE
underpass
Blocks
within Westside major
7URBAN
will
be
delivered
as
part
Major
road
interventions
and of key
• Connectivity into the area to bridge
transformation
area
Major
Major
road
road
interventions
interventions
and
and
atThese
present
in
20 years
NEW
- Arena Central public realm
8
improved
pedestrian
crossing
improved
improved
pedestrian
pedestrian
crossing
crossing
developments
at
Paradise
Circus,
the New
Blocks
forming
part
of other
the barrier to movement formed by the
9 Mailbox and Cube public realm
major
developments
Street
Station
(Gateway
Project),
and
the
10 Peace Gardens
existing major road network.
11 NEW - Holloway Head playing fields
spaces
Bristol StreetExisting
site in open
Southside.
• The need for enhancement of the
12 Park Central
New open spaces
internal network of streets and places.
13 Gas Street Basin
CITY CORE
URBAN
STRUCTURE
URBAN
STRUCTURE
URBAN
URBAN
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
at
present
at
present
atat
present
present
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in
20
years
in
20
years
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2020
years
years Primary walking routes
LADYWOOD
Primary walking routes: link through
WESTSIDE
the building
CITY
CORE
CITYCITY
CORE
CORE
LADYWOOD
LADYWOOD
LADYWOOD
LADYWOOD
LADYWOOD
LADYWOOD
SOUTHSIDE
Canals
Rail line
ATTWOOD
A38 Corridor
GREEN
URBAN STRUCTURE
at present
Quarter
boundaries
Quarter
Quarter
boundaries
boundaries
Key
characteristic
areas
with
Key
Key
characteristic
characteristic
areas
areas
with
with
significant
boundaries
significant
significant
boundaries
boundaries
Increased
permeability
and
access
Increased
Increased
permeability
permeability
and
and
access
access
SOUTHSIDE
SOUTHSIDE
SOUTHSIDE
SOUTHSIDE
SOUTHSIDE
SOUTHSIDE
ATTWOOD
ATTWOOD
ATTWOOD
GREEN
GREEN
GREEN
Oozells Square
LADYWOOD
Brindleyplace Square
Brindleyplace canal area
Sherborne Wharf
Five Ways
WESTSIDE
Morville Street open space
NEW - other key opportunities for
open spaces
Pedestrian
connections
Pedestrian
Pedestrian
connections
connections
Major
highway
barriers
Major
Major
highway
highway
barriers
barriers
ATTWOOD
ATTWOOD
ATTWOOD
GREEN
GREEN
GREEN
URBAN STRUCTURE
in 20 years
Central
nodes
Central
Central
nodes
nodes
Residential
areas
Residential
Residential
areas
areas
NEW - C
City Cen
NEW - B
NEW - P
Chambe
Victoria S
Mailbox
NEW - A
Mailbox
Peace G
NEW - H
Park Cen
Gas Stre
Oozells S
Brindleyp
Brindleyp
Sherborn
Five Way
Morville
NEW - o
open spa
CITY CORE
SOUTHSIDE
CITY
CORE
CITYCITY
CORE
CORE
WESTSIDE
WESTSIDE
WESTSIDE
WESTSIDE
WESTSIDE
WESTSIDE
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
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N
Westside masterplan
bigcityplan.org.uk
70
The Broad Street corridor will be the
focus for investment and improvements
to the public realm. The city council will
work in partnership with the Broad Street
Business Improvement District (BID) to
bring forward improvements which will
support the role of Broad Street as a key
artery into the City Core and a centre of
entertainment and leisure uses.
At present the level of traffic along Broad
Street means that it acts as a barrier to
safe and convenient movement. In order
to reduce this conflict, vehicular access
to the northern section of Broad Street
in the vicinity of Centenary Square will
be restricted to buses and taxis only. In
addition proposals will be brought forward
for a Rapid Transit route connecting Five
Ways with the City Core.
The enhanced Centenary Square will be
the city centre’s most important outdoor
space for events and public activity in
Birmingham and will be the setting of the
new Library of Birmingham, a landmark
building that will act as a catalyst for
the continued regeneration of the
city, attracting visitors both locally and
worldwide. The square itself will become a
New Library of Birmingham
key focal point for cultural activities and its
expansion across Broad Street will deliver
an improved pedestrian environment.
Within the quarter improvements will
be focused to create a network of local
walking routes connecting existing and
future public squares. Street trees will be
planted to improve the appearance of
these routes and to provide a visual link
between the quarter’s green spaces.
This will result in a network of routes and
spaces which will support the introduction
of new activity into the isolated area to
the south of the Mailbox and improve
links between the Broad Street corridor
and Park Central. This internal network
will link in with the improved interfaces
with neighbouring quarters and the wider
primary walking network.
The canal network has allowed waterside
development in the heart of the city,
leading to the development of one of the
most attractive and distinctive places in
Birmingham. The canal also constitutes
a key route from the Mailbox area, via
Brindleyplace and onward both into
the City Core and out of the city centre.
Improvements will be made to lighting and
the general public realm along the canals
in order to encourage greater use of this
key route, to support future development
and connect to the wider walking network.
As part of future development activity
there will be a need to ensure that safe and
convenient connections are created across
the Ring Road and along the canal to
opportunities in the Greater Icknield area.
This will allow an expanded residential
offer for the city centre including
family living and access to associated
infrastructure.
Liveable city
The area is home to a number of
residential areas offering a good range
of accommodation and good access to
amenities. In the vicinity of the canals and
Broad Street are a number of successful
high density residential developments.
Park Central is a successful regeneration
of an urban neighbourhood, with a school
and modern community facilities.
The Ladywood area sits on the western
fringe of the city centre. While recent
good quality housing has been introduced
the wider area suffers from poor design
and layout, under-utilised open spaces
and insecure pedestrian routes. Selective
The new Library
of Birmingham
will be the
largest public
library in Europe.
71
N
EW
HA
LL
S
AT
C
HA
R
Westside
The Paradise Circus development
presents a valuable opportunity to
address connections within this part of
the city centre, restoring key views and
connections between the civic heart
and Westside and delivering major
development opportunities including
the expansion of the Central Business
District. This project will link in with the
improvements to Centenary Square,
and the Arena Central and Baskerville
Wharf projects to transform the interface
between Westside and the City Core.
LE
S
S
TR
EE
T
• Growth
Westside is a truly vibrant area
of mixed
use development. It combines business,
leisure, culture, commerce and city living.
It has major hotels, visitor destinations,
galleries, a thriving restaurant and nightlife
economy, and of course the International
Convention Centre, the National Indoor
Arena and the new Library of Birmingham.
G
RE
We seek to build on this early success
by improving access and connections,
linking with the core and adjacent quarters,
extending development opportunites, and
improving the public realm.
The creation of a better range of local
facilities and amenities accompanied
by new public spaces and recreational
areas will be central to creating a wellconnected desirable place to live. Future
planning and regeneration activity will be
undertaken in partnership with existing
communities.
Area of transformation
redevelopment will address these issues
with our longer term ambition to see
Ladywood become home to new family
living with well balanced infrastructure,
including private and communal open
spaces, improved network of local walking
routes and community facilities.
T
EE
TR
S
R
ST
S
GE
AR
CH
G
RE
AT
N
EW
HA
LL
S
TR
EE
T
LE
C
RI D
T
EE
TR
B
AM
T
EE
EE T
R
ST
AD
BRO
Westside is at the forefront of sustainable
development in Birmingham, hosting
one of the city’s first Combined Heat
and Power (CHP) schemes, which runs
along Broad Street and serves the NIA,
ICC, the Hyatt Regency hotel, Repertory
Theatre and the Town Hall and Council
House. The new Library of Birmingham
will be linked to the CHP and there
will be the opportunity to extend the
scheme to support future developments.
Forthcoming development in Westside will
continue to reflect the highest standards
of sustainable design and will incorporate
infrastructure to support next generation
broadband, ensuring that Westside is at
the forefront of the development of the
digital economy.
CH
UR
CH
S
Smart city
TR
EE
T
ES
CA
ID G
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MB
BR
FO
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F
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EE
Mainroads
TR
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EE T
IDG
R
ST
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BRO
ET
RE
ST
Y
A
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LL HO
BR
IDG
Newopenspaces
T
EE
Westside transformation area masterplan
WAY
O
bigcityplan.org.uk
HO
LL
Keycitylandmark
TR
S
Newopenspaces
BuildingblockswithinWestside
TransformationArea
ST
LL
HI
LK
N
Buildingblocks
FO
BuildingblockswithinWestside
Mainroads
TransformationArea
Localwalkingroutes
Canal
F
SU
Buildingblocks
Secondaryroads
Keycitylandmark
T
Localwalkingroutes
Canal
EE
ET
RE
ST
AY
ID
L
L
HO
TR
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Secondaryroads
72
• Public Realm
The redevelopment of Paradise Circus
will allow the introduction of new public
spaces, and critically restore key views
which will enhance legibility and draw
visitors along the main pedestrian routes.
The Town Hall will be the focus for
significantly improved public realm, with
traffic removed and Chamberlain Square
extended.
Centenary Square will become a key
focal point alongside the new Library of
Birmingham, and the development of
Arena Central fronting this key public
space.
A sunken performance amphitheatre
will be introduced as part of the library
development. In the longer term Broad
Street traffic will be radically reduced as
Indicative option for transformation area - Westside
Centenary Square is extended to give a
sense of the public space from the library
to developments at Arena Central. The
square will be designed to retain its status
as a major performance space.
The development of Baskerville Wharf
will provide a high quality public realm
and canal frontage extending safe and
attractive access to the waterway, and
making a legible and improved direct link
to the Jewellery Quarter across Summer
Hill. City Centre Gardens will also become
more prominent attracting greater activity.
Arena Central will take advantage of
the extended Centenary Square by
encouraging active street level uses, and
provide a new public square within the
development with a direct route to the
Mailbox and Cube canalside development.
• Connectivity
While there is an established pedestrian
route linking Westside to the civic heart
and City Core, the Central Library and
Paradise Forum act as physical and
psychological barriers to this connection,
particularly for visitors. The redevelopment
of Paradise Circus will create a legible
network of clear routes and attractive
active spaces, restoring key views and
providing links to both the City Core and
the Jewellery Quarter.
Radical transformation of the road network
in this area will see the current gyratory
at Paradise Circus restored to a more
pedestrian-friendly, two-way route on the
western arm, with additional surface level
crossings.
Re-routing of traffic and bus routes will
allow for a significant reduction in through
traffic where Broad Street passes through
Centenary Square. This will support
establishing the square as a largely
pedestrian space with controlled public
transport along one edge only.
Pedestrian routes through Arena Central,
Baskerville Wharf and Paradise Forum
will provide attractive connections to the
Mailbox, Cube and canalside, the civic
heart and Jewellery Quarter.
• Massing
Westside is recognised as the preferred
location for tall building clusters, the
56-storey Regal Tower is already approved
at the western end of Broad Street, and
there is potential to realise a cluster of the
tallest buildings, close to Five Ways.
Arena Central already has approval
including the 50-storey V Building.
Paradise Circus will see the development
of a new mixed-use scheme where heights
and massing will need to respond to
context, key views, and securing pleasant
public space free from overshadowing.
This will mean a general range of six to
eight storeys, but can rise to a tall building
at the Summer Row end providing a
termination to Great Charles Street and a
gateway to the City Core.
Baskerville Wharf must respect the scale
and character of the canalside but step up
in height towards Baskerville House and
the City Core. There is an opportunity for
a tall building at the corner with Summer
Row complementing the highest point
of the Paradise Circus development, and
acting as a gateway feature.
• Heritage
Key to the heritage of the transformational
area of Westside are its connections to
the civic heart and its many fine and listed
buildings, including Baskerville House,
the Hall of Memory and the former
Banking Hall at Arena Central. Views to
the civic heart, and enhancement in the
use and settings of historic buildings,
will be secured through surrounding
developments.
The archaeology, particularly in relation
to this once thriving area of canalside
wharves, will be exposed, examined,
recorded, and interpreted.
The canalside environment and key
industrial buildings will be respected by
new development, and incorporated to
retain the unique character of the area.
Paradise Forum redevelopment proposal
bigcityplan.org.uk
73
74
the quarters / jewellery quarter
AND
HIGHGATE
AND
HIGHGATE
Jewellery Quarter
ST GEORGE
AND ST CHAD
75
ST GEORGE
AND ST CHAD
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
The Jewellery Quarter is a special part of Birmingham’s heritage: an asset that
EASTSIDE
supports the authentic character of the
CITY city centre and differentiates it from other
CORE
large UK cities. It also is unique internationally
as a centre of excellence in the
WESTSIDE
AND
manufacture and trade
of
jewellery.
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
SOUTHSIDE
AND
HIGHGATE
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
EASTSIDE
CITY
CORE
WESTSIDE AND
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
SOUTHSIDE
AND
HIGHGATE
About the quarter
Paul’s churchyard, to the industrial middle’s
•An area of industrial heritage of
gritty streets and industrial workshops
international importance, the Jewellery
ST GEORGE
ANDas
ST CHAD dating from the 18th to the 20th century.
Quarter has been in continuous use
The Golden Triangle retains many of
a centre for the JewelleryJEWELLERY
trade since
QUARTER
its historic 2-3 storey redbrick and tile
the 18th Century.
roofed buildings housing the biggest
EASTSIDE
• It has the world’s busiest Assay
CITY
concentration of much of the area’s
CORE
Office and Europe’s largest School of
jewellery-related businesses.
Jewellery.
WESTSIDE AND
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
• It boasts the award-winning Museum
The north-west portion of the quarter
of the Jewellery Quarter and the Pen SOUTHSIDE
contains the historic Key Hill and Warstone
ANDLane Cemeteries which, along with St
Museum, together with art galleries HIGHGATE
including the Royal Birmingham Society
Paul’s churchyard, provide the quarter with
of Artists.
pleasant outdoor spaces.
• Alongside the traditional industrial
heart and modern creative industries,
a growing residential population and
high quality bars and restaurants are
making the quarter a working and living
part of the city centre.
• An estimated 400 jewellery related
businesses with over 100 independent
specialist retailers are located in the
quarter.
• There are over 200 listed buildings
within the conservation area.
Sitting within the quarter’s pattern of
well-connected streets, a rich range of
buildings make up this unique, dense,
urban environment. Different character
areas give the quarter authenticity, variety
and excitement; moving quickly from the
green formal setting of the Georgian St
The character of the quarter changes
dramatically in the 2 or 3 street blocks
closest to the City Core between the
canal and Great Charles Street – part of
the former Inner Ring Road. Here, under
the landmark BT Telecommunications
Tower, larger-scale office buildings, some
converted to residential, date mainly from
the early to mid-20th century.
The building of the Inner Ring Road in the
1960s effectively halted the natural spread
of the City Core into the Jewellery Quarter.
Large vacant sites still front much of Great
Charles Street, accentuating the severance
caused by the road, making the quarter as
a whole difficult to find and access on foot
from the City Core unpleasant.
Key to the
Jewellery
Quarter’s future
success will be
re-establishing
historical
linkages to
the City Core
across Great
Charles Street
and improving
pedestrian
routes to the
heart of the
quarter.
bigcityplan.org.uk
76
Our vision is to bring new growth and
investment to create a Jewellery Quarter
which is driven by its historic jewellery
trade and emerging creative industries,
and revitalised by a sustainably growing
residential population. Key to its future
success will be re-establishing historical
links to the City Core across Great Charles
Street and improving pedestrian routes to
the heart of the quarter.
Big ideas
The Jewellery Quarter, alongside Digbeth,
remains a key component of Birmingham’s
unique heritage as the ‘City of 1000
Trades’. These sorts of areas make a city
worth visiting. Grainy but special to our
city, it is vital that its authentic character
is both protected and cared for, for both
visitors and the local community to enjoy.
The quarter has all the ingredients to make
it a place where people will want to visit
and live. Its proximity to the City Core
and the competitive rents make it an ideal
place to locate creative businesses.
URBAN STRUCTURE
The masterplan envisages the Jewellery
KEY
Quarter as a living industrial quarter, with KEY
KEY
KEY
the preservation of its unique historic
character as a key element of its future
success in attracting more tourism and
recreational visits.
While the quarter has all the qualities
to make it one of the city centre’s most
authentic and desirable areas in which to
work and live we will address a number
of key issues in order for it to fulfil its
potential:
• Lack of public spaces beyond St Paul’s
Square and the Cemeteries.
• Poor connections with the City Core.
• The long-standing vacant and
underused sites along key main
corridors.
• Supporting small jewellery design,
manufacturing and creative businesses
and adding further economic activity.
• How development pressures can be
effectively managed to maintain and
enhance the qualities of the historic
environment.
URBAN STRUCTURE
URBAN
STRUCTURE
URBAN
STRUCTURE
at present
URBAN
URBAN
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
atpresent
present
at
at
atpresent
present
URBAN
STRUCTURE
URBAN
STRUCTURE
in 20
years
URBAN
URBAN
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
in20
20years
years
inin
in20
20years
years
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
JEWELLERY
JEWELLERY
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
QUARTER
QUARTER
Clock - heart of Jewellery Quarter
Clock - heart of Jewellery Quarter
Clock
Clock-Jewellery
-heart
heartof
ofJewellery
Jewellery
Quarter
Quarter
Quarter
and
Snow Hill Stations
Jewellery Quarter and Snow Hill Stations
Jewellery
Jewellery
Quarter
Quarter
and
and
Snow
SnowHill
HillStations
Stations
Access
to rail
stations
Access
Access
to
torail
railstops
stations
stations
Metro
Metro stops
Metro
Metrostops
stops
Blocks
within
Snow Hill District and
Existing
Existing
block
block
structure
structure
major
BlocksWestside
within Snow
Hilltransformation
District and area
Blocks
Blocks
within
within
Snow
Snow
Hill
Hill
District
District
and
and
Westside
major
transformation
area
Blocks
forming
part
of other
Westside
Westside
major
major
transformation
transformationarea
area
major
developments
Blocks
Blocks
forming
forming
part
part
of
of
other
other
majorRail
developments
viaducts
major
majordevelopments
developments
Rail viaducts
Rail
Railviaducts
viaducts
Existing
Existing
open
open
spaces
spaces
New
open
spaces
New open spaces
New
Newopen
open
spaces
Canalspaces
space interventions
Canal
Canalspace
space
interventions
Primaryinterventions
walking routes
Primary
walking
routes
Local
walking
routes
Primary
Primary
walking
walking
routes
routes
Local Canal
walking routes
Local
Localwalking
walkingroutes
routes
CanalRail line
Canal
Canal
Rail line
A38 Corridor
Rail
Railline
line
A38 Corridor
A38
A38Corridor
Corridor
pedestrian
crossing
Majorimproved
road interventions
and
Major
Majorroad
roadpedestrian
interventions
interventions
and
and
improved
crossing
Open improved
spaces
improvedpedestrian
pedestriancrossing
crossing
Open spaces
1 St.Paul’s Square
Open
Openspaces
spaces
Square
1 St.Paul’s
Philip’s churchyard
2 St.Square
St.Paul’s
Square
11 St.Paul’s
St.3Philip’s
churchyard
2 St.
NEW
- Ludgate Hill public realm
St.
Philip’s
Philip’s
churchyard
churchyard
22
NEW
Ludgate
Hill
public
realm
3 NEW
Chad’sHill
public
realm
4 -St.
-Ludgate
Ludgate
Hillpublic
public
realm
realm
33 NEW
realm
4 St.5Chad’s
NEWpublic
- Livery
Street canal area under the viaduct
St.Chad’s
Chad’spublic
publicrealm
realm
44 St.
- Livery Street
canal area under the viaduct
5 NEW
Square
6 -Newhall
NEW
-Livery
LiveryStreet
Street
canal
canalarea
areaunder
underthe
theviaduct
viaduct
55 NEW
Newhall
Square
6 Newhall
NEW
Golden
Square
7
Square
66 NewhallSquare
- Golden Square
7 NEW
Lane and Key Hill cemetaries
8 -Warstone
NEW
-Golden
GoldenSquare
Square
77 NEW
Warstone
Lane
and Key
Hill cemetaries
8 Warstone
NEW
Albion
Square
9
Laneand
andKey
KeyHill
Hillcemetaries
cemetaries
88 WarstoneLane
NEW
- Albion
Square
9 NEW
NEW
Kettleworks
open space
10
AlbionSquare
Square
99 NEW- -Albion
NEW - Kettleworks open space
10 NEW
Kettleworksopen
openspace
space
10
10 NEW- -Kettleworks
M
M
M
M
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
JEWELLERY
JEWELLERY
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
QUARTER
QUARTER
CITY CORE
CITY CORE
CITY
CITYCORE
CORE
CITY CORE
CITY CORE
CITY
CITYCORE
CORE
Quarter boundaries
Quarter boundaries
Quarter
Quarter
boundaries
boundaries
Pedestrian
connections
Pedestrian
Pedestrian
connections
connections
Metro
line with stops
Metro line with stops
highways
Metro
MetroMajor
line
linewith
with
stops
stops barriers
Major
Majorhighways
highwaysbarriers
barriers
Central nodes
Central nodes
Central
Centralnodes
nodes
77
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Jewellery Quarter masterplan
bigcityplan.org.uk
78
Liveable city
Improving the attractiveness of the quarter
as a place to live will require a mix of
housing types that appeal to a broad
range of people. We will encourage more
housing where this reflects and fits with the
historic grain of the area. Specific emphasis
will be placed on providing family housing
and delivering town houses.
Open spaces to relax, meet people,
and hold markets and events will be an
important part of the Jewellery Quarter’s
attraction. From St Paul’s Square, with its
peaceful heart and surrounding vibrant
bars and restaurants, a series of other
squares and open spaces will be created
and improved to form a new network of
attractive places through the quarter.
Golden Square will become a new high
quality public space drawing visitors into
the heart of the quarter. It will become a
key place for public events and markets.
Together with the landmark clock at the
junction of Frederick Street and Warstone
Lane, Golden Square will provide a
much-needed focus and a distinctive
open space from which to explore the
surrounding jewellery shops, designers
and manufacturers that make the area
special.
Golden Square proposal
The historic Key Hill and Warstone Lane
cemeteries will be enhanced to make
more of their rich heritage features and to
promote their role as the quarter’s main
green open spaces to offer an attractive
environment to residents and visitors.
Investment in Albion Square as a new
focal point, and the provision of new public
spaces within the Kettleworks and Newhall
Square developments will further enhance
the network of open spaces.
Connected city
Currently, a major impediment to the
vitality and attractiveness of the quarter
are the poor connections with the City
Core. Improved pedestrian connections,
both into the quarter and in forming the
links between activities and open spaces,
will be vital. This will be supported by the
creation of a new Cycle route between the
City Core and the heart of the Jewellery
Quarter, coupled with improved cycle
parking facilities.
A Golden Square to St Philip’s link will be
the main focus for improvements to the
public realm as a key pedestrian spine
linking back to the Jewellery Quarter
Metro stop and station. From the hub of
the Golden Square, the route will follow
Caroline Street through to St Paul’s Square
and on to Ludgate Hill.
Remodelling Great Charles Street will
be a key focus to enable the pedestrian
link to continue from Ludgate Hill into the
City Core by creating an attractive, safe
and convenient pedestrian crossing to
replace the existing bridge. In the short
term the bridge link will be improved.
This transformation will finally break down
the physical and psychological barrier,
dramatically re-connecting links and
allowing City Core activities to grow into
the edge of the Jewellery Quarter.
The remodelling will also create significant
development opportunities between
Lionel Street and the City Core’s Colmore
Business District. On the doorstep of the
new entrance to Snow Hill Station, the
area will be brought forward for a mixeduse prestige development, expanding
the City Core activities and providing an
effective transition between the character
of the City Core and that of the Jewellery
Quarter.
The remodelling of Paradise Circus will
significantly strengthen the connections
between Westside and the southern part
of the quarter, linking also to the canal
network, the planned Newhall Square and
the key route of Newhall Street. Improved
access will bring greater development
potential to long-standing vacant sites,
such as those at Legge Lane.
The further opening up of the canal
network will provide further connections
around and out of the quarter, particularly
between Westside and Snow Hill.
The authentic features - the locks and
impressive railway arches - along this
stretch of the canal will be celebrated
by encouraging greater visitor numbers
through new and improved access points,
public artworks, better lighting and
security.
The quality of public realm will be
enhanced with materials that strengthen
the authentic character and strong urban
street grid of the quarter. Improved street
lighting will be vital to create a safer and
more welcoming place for residents and
visitors at night. Existing pavement trails
and public art routes will be added with
improved way-finding and interpretation.
The extension of the Midland Metro from
Snow Hill to New Street Station will create
a fast, direct and convenient connection
between the busy shopping streets of the
City Core and the heart of the Jewellery
Quarter. Promoting the existing metro
station and the new entrance from Snow
Hill Station into the quarter will be key to
ensuring that the area becomes a more
integral part of the city centre’s ‘destination
experience’.
Creative city
The design and manufacture of jewellery
forms the foundation of the quarter’s
economy and will continue to be the
quarter’s key trademark activity, alongside
the expansion of other creative industries.
Other uses and activities, such as the
100-plus jewellery retailers, high quality
independent bars and restaurants,
art galleries and tourist facilities, also
bring vibrancy, diversity, customers and
employment into the quarter.
and restaurants. Enriching and growing
the small-scale and independent feel of
businesses within the quarter will boost
its visitor potential and maintain its
authenticity and character.
Residential uses will continue to form
part of the rich mix of uses. Growing
the quarter’s residential population will
enliven the open spaces and streets, and
will also help attract new shops, bars and
resturants, as well as supporting existing
ones.
Improving the publicity and visitor
experience of the quarter to promote it as
a tourist destination will further enrich its
vibrancy.
Authentic city
The existing building stock is a vital part of
the quarter’s authentic character. However,
economic cycles and changing business
needs have left some areas of under-use
and dereliction. This threatens the fabric
of the historic buildings and the quarter’s
attractiveness and viability.
The conversion and re-use of buildings
will continue to be taken to maximise the
unique character of the area. The Golden
Triangle and the industrial middle
contains the greatest concentration
of jewellery manufacture, trade and
retailers, forming a fundamental part of
the authentic and historic character of
the city centre. While a mixed-use, often
residential-led regeneration has been
successful in the wider quarter, in order to
protect the jewellery trade alternative uses
will have to be carefully considered.
To enable the quarter to sustain a vibrant
mix of uses and to bring good quality
buildings back into use, attracting new
activity and life to the area, the better
utilisation of buildings will be supported
within the Golden Triangle and industrial
middle. In particular the sensitive
conversion and re-use of buildings at
first floor level and above for residential
purposes could in the future play a part in
attracting new users and activity.
The Great Hampton Street and
Constitution Hill corridor contains a
number of historic and character buildings
that add to the authenticity of the city
centre; however some are vacant or
under-used. The bleak street environment
requires improvements to make it more
pedestrian friendly and attractive. New
investment and regeneration will be
encouraged in order to make the most of
the potentially attractive townscape.
With over 400 related businesses, there
will be support and promotion for small
jewellery design, manufacturing and
creative businesses, promoting its role as
one of Birmingham’s centres for creative
industries.
Increased diversity of economic uses and
activities will be encouraged around the
quarter, particularly on key pedestrian
routes and around public squares and
spaces where ground floor frontages
can be utilised for small-scale retailing,
start-up and small office spaces, cafe bars
Proposed public realm improvements to create a useable space under Livery Street viaduct
bigcityplan.org.uk
79
80
the quarters / st george and st chad
AND
HIGHGATE
St George and St Chad
The area has a rich heritage reflected in its predominantly industrial character
alongside an established residential community. While much of the historic gun
making activity focused around the centre of the Quarter has ceased the area is
still a significant source of employment generating activity but which has seen
the re-introduction of residential uses, growth in commercial activity and the
expansion of student accommodation in recent years.
81
ST GEORGE
AND ST CHAD
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
EASTSIDE
CITY
CORE
WESTSIDE AND
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
SOUTHSIDE
AND
HIGHGATE
About the quarter
• Historic links to the manufacture
and trade of guns is now confined
to the Price Street area. This activity
is referenced through the historic
designation of the ‘Gun Quarter’
covering the area bounded by
Steelhouse Lane, Shadwell Street and
Loveday Street.
• The area is a focus for small scale
engineering, warehousing and
commercial activity supporting around
370 businesses employing some 3,500
people.
• It has experienced growth in retail led
businesses, predominatly focused in
the area of Great Hampton Street,
Constitution Hill and along New Town
Row.
• The Birmingham and Fazeley Canal
passes through the quarter, linking east
to west.
At present the quarter is essentially
industrial in character. The building
stock within the industrial core is of
variable quality with more modern and
better buildings located along Newtown
Middleway.
South of the canal and west of Lancaster
Circus the area has retained much of its
traditional street pattern, although the
Ring Road has cut across its grain, leaving
a jagged edge. The buildings in this area
are a mixture of 19th - 20th century with
a few earlier ones. Throughout the core
of the area there is a robust Georgian
and later industrial building stock formed
within a strong street grid pattern.
The southern area contains St Chad’s R.C.
Cathedral acting as an important landmark
building. Major development activity
around the area of Old Snow Hill and
Snow Hill Queensway has brought about
the remodelling of the Queensway, at St
Chad’s Circus, introducing surface level
pedestrian crossings into the quarter.
The area has
a rich heritage
reflected in its
An established residential estate sits in the
north-west with a school and open spaces.
predominantly
industrial
The overall vision for the St George and
St Chad Quarter is to retain the area’s
focus for employment and industrial
activity and improve the connections with
the surrounding areas to enable growth
of a more diverse mix of uses, including
residential, to create a thriving community.
Big ideas
The St George and St Chad Quarter
is an area of opportunity. Its central
focus is as a location for employment generating activities, but it has potential
to accommodate a greater mix of uses,
utilising its key assets of the canal corridor,
strong street grid pattern and remaining
historic character.
character
alongside an
established
residential
community.
bigcityplan.org.uk
82
it still remains isolated from the rest of the
city centre. This is compounded by the
physical road infrastructure which forms its
boundaries and as such inhibits safe and
convenient movement for pedestrians and
cyclists.
While the quarter has opportunities for
new development and activity a number
of key issues will need to be addressed in
order for its current assets to be utilised
and opportunities realised. These will
include:
• The isolated and detached position of
the area from the City Centre and a lack
of public spaces and attractive walking
routes.
• Growing pressures for an expanding
student population.
• How vacant and under-used sites can
be utilised for new activities.
• Supporting employment-generating
activities across the quarter.
Connected city
KEY
Snow Hill Station - 2nd entrance
M
Metro stop
The canal corridor is an ideal means
Rail viaducts
KEY
KEY
KEY to
aid pedestrian movement east and west
Existing
open spaces
Snow
Snow
Snow
HillHill
Station
HillStation
Station
- 2nd
- 2nd
- 2nd
entrance
entrance
entrance
between areas of the city centre. We are
Access
Access
to to
rail
torail
stations
railstations
stationsNew open spaces
committed to delivering improvementsAccess
to The Birmingham and Fazeley Canal
Metro
Metro
stop
stop
stop
MMM Metro
along its length, supported through
Existing
Existing
Existing
block
block
block
structure
structure
structure
Section 106 money and gains from future
Canal
development activity. The focus will be RailRail
Rail
viaducts
viaducts
viaducts
A38 Corridor
on enhancing lighting and access to
Existing
Existing
Existing
open
open
open
spaces
spaces
spaces Major road interventions and
the canal frontage, creating a lively and
New
New
open
open
open
spaces
spaces
spaces
safe atmosphere that is attractive for New
Open spaces
pedestrians and cyclists.
St Paul’s Square
Canal
Canal
Canal
space
space
space
interventions
interventions
1interventions
NEW - Livery Street canal area under viaduct
2 routes
Local
Local
Local
walking
walking
walking
routes
routes
In the longer term the creation of a new
Canal
Canal
Canal
3 St Chad’s public realm
urban park at Lancaster Circus will
4 NEW - Lancaster Circus open space
A38
A38
A38
Corridor
Corridor
Corridor
improve pedestrian linkages with the City
Major
Major
Major
road
road
road
interventions
interventions
and
and canal space opportunities
NEW -and
various
5interventions
Core and to the Aston University campus.
improved
improved
improved
pedestrian
pedestrian
pedestrian
crossing
crossing
crossing
Connectivity will be a key theme for the
quarter and like other areas of the city
centre it suffers from constraints imposed
by the major road infrastructure.
Open
Open
Open
spaces
spaces
spaces
Although the quarter has experienced
periods of redevelopment activity at St
URBAN
STRUCTURE
Chad’s Circus and within
the
canal corridor,
6
NEW - open spaces in need of improvement
Improved pedestrian and cycle access
Paul’s
StPaul’s
Paul’s
Square
Square
Square
1 11St St
across the Ring Road linking the quarter
NEW
NEW
- Livery
- Livery
- Livery
Street
Street
Street
canal
canal
canal
area
area
area
under
under
under
viaduct
viaduct
viaduct
2 22NEW
with Newtown.
Chad’s
StChad’s
Chad’s
public
public
public
realm
realm
realm
3 33St St
URBAN STRUCTURE
in 20 years
NEW
NEW
- Lancaster
- Lancaster
- Lancaster
Circus
Circus
Circus
open
open
open
space
space
space
4 44NEW
at present
NEW
NEW
- various
- various
- various
canal
canal
canal
space
space
space
opportunities
opportunities
opportunities
5 55NEW
NEW
NEW
- open
- open
- open
spaces
spaces
spaces
in in
need
inneed
need
of of
improvement
ofimprovement
improvement
6 66NEW
Quarter boundaries
URBAN
URBAN
URBAN
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
atat
present
atpresent
present
Key characteristic areas with
significant boundaries
URBAN
URBAN
URBAN
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
inin
20
in20
20
years
years
years
Increased permeability and access
HISTORIC
GUN QUARTER
HISTORIC
GUN QUARTER
Quarter
Quarter
Quarter
boundaries
boundaries
boundaries
Canal
Key
Key
Key
characteristic
characteristic
characteristic
areas
areas
areas
with
with
with
significant
significant
significant
boundaries
boundaries
boundaries
Increased
Increased
Increased
permeability
permeability
permeability
and
and
and
access
access
access
Pedestrian
Pedestrian
Pedestrian
connections
connections
connections
HISTORIC
HISTORIC
HISTORIC
GUN
GUN
QUARTER
GUN
QUARTER
QUARTER
HISTORIC
HISTORIC
HISTORIC
GUN
GUN
QUARTER
GUN
QUARTER
QUARTER
Major
Major
Major
highways
highways
highways
barriers
barriers
barriers
Canal
Canal
Canal
83
NEW
JOHN
STRE
ET W
EST
NE W T O
OW
B
POR
ATIO
N
6
VE
LO
COR
5
AY
D
M
ST
1
ET
ET
RE
ST
SUMMER LANE
N
O
PT
M
T
TS
O
AG
5
STR
E
HA
6
WN R
T
EA
GR
6
2
S
AD
3
EEN
QU
SWAY
4
H
TC
S
6
N
St George and St Chad masterplan
bigcityplan.org.uk
84
Liveable city
Responding to the objectives for the
wider city centre and the strengths and
challenges of the quarter our approach
to future development opportunities of
the area will be as much about supporting
it as a location for employment activities
as creating opportunities to enhance
its appeal as a place to live and relax,
utilising those assets which can make it an
authentic part of the city centre.
With its industrial focus the quarter has
retained a strong street grid pattern
throughout its core with a mixture
of 19th and 20th century buildings.
However, having undergone periods
of piecemeal redevelopment since the
mid 20th century, the quarter has lost its
clear refrences to the gun industry and
urban quality throughout. The housing
estate in the north-west and new office,
commercial and, most recently, student
accommodation along the southern and
eastern edge have introduced a mix of
uses to the quarter, but with a different
urban fabric.
The proximity of the quarter to Eastside
and a growing student population
will continue to see demand for new
accommodation. We will continue to
support student accommodation within
the area of Moland Street and Staniforth
Street and along the canal corridor
where it enhances the quality of the built
environment, provides part of a mixed and
vibrant range of activities and contributes
to improvements in connections to
destinations for students and visitors alike.
The canal corridor’s importance as an
asset for movement is well recognised
but is also a key feature for future
development activity. Along the canal
corridor developments will need to
utilise this asset and provide high quality
liveable environments. Such developments
will need to maximise the asset as an
environment for residential, leisure and
employment activity. The City Council will
work with the local community to plan
improvements to the connections and
open space in the established residential
area.
Authentic city
Canal viaduct in the quarter
The proximity to the historical environment
of the Jewellery Quarter formed by the
conservation area with its building quality
and street pattern will be important to
guiding future activity along Constitution
Hill and Great Hampton Street, creating
a key gateway into the city centre.
Light industrial and manufacturing-based
activity will continue to be an important
asset but opportunities for gradual
regeneration of outlying areas through
mixed-uses will help to make more efficient
use of land and buildings and introduce
greater activity to one of the more isolated
parts of the city centre.
The area has the remnants of a distinct
character which includes buildings, street
patterns and archaeological remains.
Redevelopment must be sensitive and
responsive to this character and retain,
reuse and enhance these features.
The presence of the existing residential
area, bounded by Hospital Street, Smith
Street, Newtown Middleway and St
George’s Street, with its school and open
spaces, provides the basis for further
residential development within the corridor
of Hospital Street to Great Hampton
Street/Constitution Hill. Development
will need to respond to the strong street
pattern and other historic assets to ensure
the authentic character is retained, making
it an interesting and distinctive place to
live and work.
85
bigcityplan.org.uk
86
Delivery
This masterplan sets out a clear vision for the future growth of the city centre over
the next 20 years.
The delivery strategy for this masterplan is
set out across four areas:
• Working in partnership.
• Embedding the masterplan in the
statutory planning process.
• Utilising the masterplan to secure
funding.
• Setting and delivering priorities.
Working in partnership
The masterplan will not just be the city
council’s vision for the city centre, but one
owned by a range of public and private
sector organisations. This is important as
the implementation of the masterplan
requires the public and private sectors to
work together. We will achieve this by:
• Increased cooperation and joint
working with the city centre Business
Improvement Districts to deliver fine
grain regeneration in the City Centre.
• Taking forward the Vision for Movement
through partnership working between
the private sector, the city council and
Centro.
• Joint working with Marketing
Birmingham on marketing the
masterplan as a whole and the
opportunities within it to the investment
markets.
• Raising standards of architecture by
strengthening the role of the City’s
Design Review Panel and reviewing
existing design guidance to ensure it
continues to raise standards.
• Coordination of public sector
investment by the development of the
Place Based Initiative to maximise the
objectives of public sector resources.
• Working with the emerging Local
Enterprise Partnership and its partners
to link the masterplan to the objectives
and implementation framework of the
LEP.
• Strengthening links with the private
sector. These already exist through
bodies such as the Westside Initiative
and Eastside Developers Forum. We
would envisage similar arrangements in
each of the areas of transformation.
Construction works at the Library of Birmingham due to be finished by 2013
big city plan / delivery
• Working with local communities to
plan future detailed interventions or
regeneration.
Key to the masterplan’s success will
be to ensure that new development
and investment opportunities help to
strengthen Birmingham’s economy and
improve its environment to the benefit of
all who live in the City. The development
of the city centre sets the scene for our
ambition to connect Birmingham’s people
with the creation of new job opportunities
that lead to a high quality employment
offer and an increase in our overall
employment rate.
Each investment in the city will be
challenged to help us deliver a wider
range of economic regeneration
outcomes, including opening up brand
new opportunities for industry-led
training linked to emerging jobs. The
city council’s Employment Access Team
has a vital role to play bringing together
87
the collective resources of all involved in
creating accessible job opportunities for all
Birmingham people.
Statutory planning
This masterplan will be embedded into
the statutory planning process utilising the
Core Strategy and supplementary planning
documents.
A programme of supplementary planning
documents, both for areas/sites and
thematic requirements will come forward
to support the Core Strategy and delivery
of the masterplan with early priorities for
2011/2012 including:
• Southern Gateway/Wholesale Markets.
• Building Heights.
• Public Realm, Streetscape and ‘WayFinding’.
• Review of Places for Living guidance
on the design standards for housing
development.
The masterplan and funding
This masterplan has been produced at a
time of great challenge for the future of
public sector funding. However, to date,
since the launch of the masterplan process,
over £1 billion of public expenditure has
been committed to the city centre. Future
opportunities which the city council will
explore to support the masterplan are:
• In July 2011 The Chancellor announced
an Enterprise Zone for Birmingham
City Centre. Using the Areas of
Transformation as the basis for an
Enterprise Zone within the city centre to
stimulate new business investment and
job creation. The proposal has been
agreed in principle with the LEP.
• Tax Incremental Financing borrowing
against future business rate income
stream to fund enabling works and
infrastructure provision.
• Community Infrastructure Levy - setting
tariffs for funding public infrastructure
required by developments.
• Utilising emerging European funding
regimes such as JESSICA to support
projects.
• Further Business Improvement Districts.
• Asset based vehicles, initiatives to draw
in private finance, supported by the city
council’s property portfolio.
• Working with the emerging Local
Enterprise Partnership to identify
priorities for funding.
These are the mechanisms identified
to draw in additional funding. However,
the masterplan will only be successful if
it creates the confidence of developers,
investors and occupiers in the future
success and prosperity of the city centre.
Truly outstanding regeneration can only
be achieved through a shared vision for a
place, which is driven across the public and
private sectors.
Setting and delivering priorities
The masterplan, supported by the Vision
for Movement, identifies a strong spatial
focus to the growth of the city centre
through the five areas of transformation
and the fine grain regeneration. These are
the areas that the city council will set as
priorities for investment in terms of both its
financial resources and its skills.
Westside
The future development of this area has
been kick-started by the £189 million
city council investment in the Library
of Birmingham. This investment will
be vital to unlocking key development
opportunities including the redevelopment
of Paradise Circus.
In the short to medium term the focus for
the city council will be on:
• The delivery of the Library of
Birmingham and refurbishment of the
REP Theatre set for completion in 2013.
• Working ever closer with the Broad
Street Business Improvement District
to deliver their objectives of a brighter,
safer and cleaner Westside.
• Actively supporting Millers to
bring forward early phases for the
redevelopment of Arena Central.
• Developing our partnership with Argent
through the Joint Venture to deliver the
Paradise Circus redevelopment, with
the first phase starting before 2015.
bigcityplan.org.uk
88
• Exploring the redevelopment of
Paradise Circus as one of the priority
projects for piloting Tax Incremental
Financing.
In the longer term the focus for the city
council will be on:
• Establishing further development
agreements, utilising city council
landholdings, in partnership with the
private sector, to deliver significant
mixed-use development in the area at
Baskerville Wharf.
• Developing proposals for the
regeneration and extension of
Centenary Square as the premier event
space in the city, and a focal point for
Westside.
Snow Hill District
By setting a single vision and direction,
allowing landowners and developers
to formulate their plans is central to
delivering the future ambitions for this
area.
• Supporting the regeneration/
refurbishment of the Kennedy Tower,
“the strip” and associated land.
• Continuing to work with the Colmore
Row Bid to improve wayfinding and
placemaking, including implementing a
new wayfinding system to link Snow Hill
Station to New Street Station.
• Enabling the construction of the
Ormiston Academy for 900 students in
the Performing Arts.
council will be on:
• Delivering Eastside City Park and
Science Garden.
• Supporting Ballymore in bringing
forward a viable scheme to deliver the
3rd and final phase of the Snow Hill
scheme.
• Supporting the role of Birmingham
Science Park Aston through its Centrum
Project.
• Supporting the refurbishment/
redevelopment of Lloyd House.
• Working with Ballymore to support the
completion of the 2nd office phase of
the Snow Hill scheme.
• Supporting the redevelopment of the
Ludgate Hill surface car parks.
• Consulting on options for the creation
of a pedestrian friendly link across
Church Street - Ludgate Hill.
Eastside
The regeneration of this area remains a
key priority for the city council with the
commitment to the delivery of Easitside
City Park and multi-storey car park
supporting our future plans.
• Working with the Children’s Hospital to
maximise regeneration opportunities in
the area.
• Supporting the first phase of City Park
Gate - Hotel La Tour.
• Working with Birmingham City
University to deliver the first phase of
their new campus, and in the medium
term bringing forward the remaining
phases of their scheme, which will
support 5,000 students.
• Supporting the delivery of new mixeduse development at Eastside Locks,
Curzon Park, City Park Gate and
Masshouse.
Construction of Paradise Circus
Development competition for Wholesale Markets/start on site 2015
Construction of Golden
Square in Jewellery Quarter
Construction of Eastside City
Park and Science Garden
City centre wayfinding Phase 1 and 2
Big City Plan
Construction of Ormiston
Academy
Church Street public realm improvements
Bradford Street public realm improvements
Construction of Library of Birmingham
Construction of New Street Station
2010
big city plan / delivery
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
council will be on:
• Supporting the delivery of the new
John Lewis department store.
• Supporting the integration of High
Speed 2 in the city centre and the
development of the new terminus
building.
• Delivering the First Phase of wayfinding
improvements in 2012.
• Facilitating the delivery of development
opportunities connected with the new
terminus building.
Southern Gateway
The relocation of the Wholesale Markets is
a priority for the city council and will help
kick-start the regeneration of the wider
area.
• Securing the relocation of the
Wholesale Markets with the aspiration
to achieve this by 2013.
• Bringing forward a draft supplementary
planning document for the wholesale
market site and wider area, for
consultation in 2012.
• Working with the proposed Southside
Business Improvement District to
improve the street environment and
develop place branding.
• Deliver public realm improvements to
Bradford Street.
New Street Station
The transformation of New Street Station,
driven by the city council and Network
Rail, will support wider regeneration and
release development opportunities to the
south of the station.
Delivery outside the Areas of
Transformation.
The Big City Plan is not all about big
projects. Equally important are smaller
projects which can transform an individual
building or a street corner. Below are some
examples of these smaller projects which
reflect the Big Ideas of the masterplan.
Working with local communities, we want
to develop further smaller scale projects as
part of the Big City Plan.
• New public squares in the Jewellery
Quarter at Albion Square and Golden
Square, which will be completed by
2012.
The delivery of our ambitions for the city
centre can only be achieved through the
involvement of the wider Birmingham
community; our public sector partners,
landowners and developers, businesses
and the citizens of Birmingham. As we
make progress toward achieving our
goals the masterplan will evolve acting
as an ‘organic document’, in response to
changing circumstances.
Waheed Nazir
Director of Planning and Regeneration
• Public realm improvements to the
junction of Church Street and Cornwall
Street in 2011 to create a new public
space in the heart of Colmore Row
Business Improvement District.
• Relocation of the JFK memorial to
Digbeth High Street, in the Irish
Quarter in Digbeth, during 2011.
• The phased development of a
wayfinding system for the city centre
to include the City Core, Eastside,
Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter as
its first priority, to be completed by
2014.
• Continuing support to the
development of Digbeth as a Creative
and Cultural Quarter.
• Supporting the local communities in
bringing forward plans for their area.
• Supporting the redevelopment of New
Street Station, seeing the new station
concourse (phase 1) opened in 2012,
with the station completed and fully
open (phase 2) by 2015.
bigcityplan.org.uk
89
90
Acknowledgements
In producing the city centre masterplan a number of individuals and organisations have
provided valuable input throughout the process. Special acknowledgement is made to:
Professor Michael Parkinson CBE
Glenn Howells Architects
Marketing Birmingham
Argent
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce
City ID
Make Architects
Peter Brett Associates
Urban Initiatives
Mecanoo
Foreign Office Architects
AEDAS Birmingham
Atkins
The contents of this masterplan have been informed by a range of studies and
background work including:
• Interconnect Birmingham vision for a walkable city (2010) - a study to support the
creation of a more welcoming, easier to understand and navigate city centre.
• Revised Eastside Masterplan (2010) - providing concepts for Eastside responding to
the proposals for High Speed 2.
• Vision for Movement (2010) - setting the strategy for public transport, pedestrian
movement and future use of the highway network across the city centre.
• The Retail Birmingham Design Strategy (2010) - generating ideas and concepts to
support improving the identity and connectivity of the city centre’s retail district.
• Digbeth Corridor Study (2010) - outlining proposals for improved connections
between the City Core, Digbeth and Southside.
• The Big City Plan Work in Progress Report (2008) - set out the issues and options for
the future transformation of the city centre.
• The Birmingham City Centre Masterplan: The Visioning Study (2007) - identifying
the challenges and opportunities for Birmingham and setting out the parametres for a
masterplan for the city centre.
big city plan / acknowledgements • image credits
Image credits
91
AEDAS Birmingham
Post and Mail Square proposal on page 41
Moat Square proposal on page 63
British Cycling
Promotion of cycling in the city on page 18
Foreign Office Architects
New Street Station eastern square on page 24
John Lewis Department Store above New Street Station on page 43
Glenn Howells Architects
Eastside aerial view on page 48
View towards Eastside Station from Fazeley Street on page 53
Paradise Forum redevelopment proposal on page 73
Christopher Haynes
(www.christopherhaynes.co.uk)
Southside and Highgate front page image on page 58
Lovejoy Capita
Golden Square proposal on page 78
MAKE Architects
City in light Retail Birmingham lighting proposal on page 38
Cathedral walks improvement proposals (before and after) on page 39
Mecanoo
Centenary Square with new library of Birmingham on page 24
New library of Birmingham on page 70
bigcityplan.org.uk
www.bigcityplan.org.uk

Big City Plan Part 2

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