CITY CENTRE MASTERPLAN

Sept 2010
 3

Foreword 5

Introduction to the document 6

Birmingham Context 8

Why a city centre masterplan 10

City centre masterplan 12

Areas of transformation 14
Growth 16
Sustainability 20
Connectivity 22
Walkability 26
Contact details: Building heights 32
Heritage 34
City Centre Development
Development Directorate
Birmingham City Council The quarters
Office:
City Core 36
1 Lancaster Circus Eastside 46
Birmingham B4 7DJ Digbeth 54
Southside and Highgate 60
Post: Westside and Ladywood 68
PO Box 28
The Jewellery Quarter 76
Birmingham B1 1TU
The Gunsmiths’ Quarter 82
Telephone: 0121 303 3075
Delivery 86
Email: bigcityplan@birmingham.gov.uk
Acknowledgements 90
Plans contained within this document are based upon Ordnance Survey Material with the
permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office

© Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to
prosecution or civil proceedings. Birmingham City Council. Licence Number 100021326, 2010.

bigcityplan.org.uk
Foreword
The Big City Plan is the most ambitious, far-reaching development project ever
undertaken in the UK. Our aim is to create a world-class city centre by planning
for the next 20 years of transformation.
This masterplan, forming a key element
of the Big City Plan, is about delivering
transformational change in our city centre
by supporting sustainable growth, creating
new and improved public spaces, giving
our streets back to pedestrians and
bringing the cultural life of Birmingham
to the heart of the city. It represents the
culmination of our work since 2007 and is
a seminal moment in our progress with the
Big City Plan.
Since 2007 we have achieved many things
as part of the Big City Plan. We have set
our vision, defined our objectives and
consulted widely on the type of city centre
we want to create. In this period we have
also made significant progress with key
investments including:
• New Street Station – The £600 million
Gateway scheme to deliver a bright,
modern, 21st century focal point for
Birmingham, helping to regenerate
parts of the city centre creating
thousands of jobs.
• The Library of Birmingham – £189
million city council investment creating
one of the largest libraries in Europe in
the heart of the city.
• Ormiston Academy – £30 million
investment in a new academy for
creative arts in Eastside catering for
over 900 students.
• A new City Centre Interchange on
Moor Street Queensway – £12 million
investment by the city council and
Centro improving the bus system in the
city centre.
These and others represent over £1 billion
of public investment in the city centre
committed in the last 3 years as part of the
Big City Plan.
While public sector investment is
important, what pleases me most is how
our private sector partners have responded
to the Big City Plan even in this difficult
climate for development. The last 3 years
have seen the CUBE built; the construction
of Colmore Plaza and Snow Hill One
extending the Central Business District;
the refurbishment of Baskerville House,
and the completion of Brindleyplace
with No. 11 Brindleyplace. These and
others represent a further £500 million of
investment in the city centre. Much more is
planned.
5
One of our key achievements to date is
that the Big City Plan has been adopted
by a wide spectrum of organisations with
both the private sector and our partners
actively seeking to work with us in helping
to deliver the Big City Plan.
The next stage of the Big City Plan, which
is launched with this masterplan, happens
at a time which is particularly difficult for
public finances. This challenges us to be
even clearer about our priorities and how
investment forms part of a strategic plan.
We know we will face difficult choices, the
city centre masterplan will be crucial to
us all defining how the city centre will be
transformed over the next 20 years.
In launching this city centre masterplan I
am inviting businesses, residents, and our
partners to comment on it. The masterplan
should not just be the city council’s plan
but Birmingham’s plan to take our great
city to new heights. I look forward to
hearing from you.
Councillor Mike Whitby
Leader of Birmingham City Council
bigcityplan.org.uk
6
Introduction to the document 7

ST.
GR
.H

NE W

IO N
The Big City Plan City Centre Masterplan Together these documents will provide KEY

AM
is being produced as a non-statutory the statutory planning tools to support

PT

TOW
City centre boundary

RAT
O
planning and regeneration framework land use change and development activity.

N
Key city centre destinations

ST
for Birmingham’s city centre. The key The Core Strategy is currently at draft

NR
EE

RP O
R
principles of this masterplan will be stage and is due for public consultation T

OW
embedded in the Council’s Core Strategy late 2010 with adoption in 2012. Key city centre developments

CO
– the statutory planning document that .
A38 road
will provide the vision and overarching How to use the document 16 RD
Key city centre roads T S
direction to guide the future development The masterplan is divided into three 15 REE EN
of the whole city. sections; the first covers the key issues Canals ST N
N
facing the physical development of the A S E
LE J

S
Where further detail is needed for city in the next 20 years and our proposed
River Rea N
D
AY

.
P IT

ST
particular parts of the City Centre, this will strategic responses; the second, from 4 17

HA
Key city centre destinations S PARAD OW

W
N
provided through Supplementary Planning page 36, presents a detailed overview of E

.C
R

IO

Q-
Documents. how the city centre will develop over that 1 New Street Station
OR
E

AT
GR
3

ST.
2 LM

OR
time. The third section deals with how we Town Hall
CO

RP
will deliver our vision.

OR
3 St. Philip’s Cathedral 14

CO
2 NEW ST

MO
For the purposes of the masterplan the 4 Snow Hill Station
13 REE
T 5

SU
city centre has been split into seven 5 Moor Street Station 6
7

FF
distinctive ‘quarters’. 6 Rotunda
1

O
8 D

ET

LK
7 Bullring Shopping Centre
The accompanying diagram identifies IG

RE

ST
landmark buildings and key roads, 8 St. Martin’s Church & Bullring Markets BET
12

ST

.Q
H H IG 9
common to plans throughout the 9 Custard Factory

-W
H STR

D
10
11 EE

A
document, to help with orientation.
10

AY
Birmingham Coach Station O
BR T
11 Birmingham Hippodrome
12 Mailbox

BRISTOL
International Convention Centre
13 & Symphony Hall
14 National Indoor Arena
15 St. Paul’s Church

STREET
16 St. Chad’s Cathedral
17 Millenium Point

© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.

Landmark buildings, key routes and features in city centre bigcityplan.org.uk

8
Birmingham context
With a population of just over 1 million and an economic output of £18 billion
per year, Birmingham is the West Midlands regional capital and the UK’s second
largest city, with an ever-increasing international standing.
• Birmingham is a strategic location at
the centre of the national motorway
network (M5, M6, M40 and M42) and at
the heart of the UK rail network.
• Direct access to over 60 destinations
including cities in Europe, North
America and Asia from Birmingham
International Airport, which is a 9
minute train journey from the city
centre.
• Birmingham has a workforce of over
484,000 employed across a wide
range of sectors. It is continuing to
diversify its economic base attracting
investment from new science and
technology based industries and is a
designated Science City and a Digital
City.
• There is an expanding creative
industries’ sector which boasts over
3,400 businesses representing 10% of
the city’s total number of firms.
• The city attracts 33 million people a
year for business and pleasure.
• Birmingham has the youngest profile
of any in Europe with 37% of the
population under 24 years of age and
is the second most ethnically diverse
population in Europe.
• Has a strong education and learning
base represented by three major
universities with a total of 65,000
students.
• More than one fifth of the city consists
of open space including parks, nature
reserves, allotments, golf courses and
9
SUTTON COLDFIELD
playing fields. Many of these areas • Eastern Growth Corridor, situated
are linked by rivers, watercourses and between the economic hubs of the
canals forming an inter-connected city centre and the Airport / NEC, will
network. accommodate Birmingham’s growing KINGSTANDING
population through new sustainable
The Big City Plan Context urban neighbourhoods.
The transformation of the city centre, • Lozells, Newtown and Aston, to PERRY BARR
ERDINGTON
seeing it grow to cover 800 hectares of the the north of the city centre, will see
HS2
city is set within the context of the wider revitalised communities through
HANDSWORTH
LOZELLS,
transformation of Birmingham. Over the housing regeneration, improvements NEWTOWN
next 20 years the city will: to local community facilities and & ASTON
provision of new employment
• Grow its population by 100,000 opportunities.
• Create new jobs to meet the needs of
its growing population • Sutton Coldfield town centre, to ICKNIELD
BIG CITY PLAN BORDESLEY EASTERN GROWTH
NEC
HS2
the north of the city centre, will see PORT PARK AREA BHX
• Significantly improve its connectivity to regeneration that will turn it into a
the rest of the region and beyond destination of choice for retail, leisure
EDGBASTON
• Deliver a transformation of the physical and commercial investment.
HARBORNE BALSALL
environment. • Selly Oak and South Edgbaston, is
HEATH
undergoing significant change with SPARKHILL ACOCKS
This change will focus on a number of the new Queen Elizabeth hospital SELLY OAK MOSELEY
GREEN
key areas, shown on the map on page 9, and ongoing transformation of the
and the city centre will be central to this Birmingham University campus
transformation. Others are: alongside major redevelopments. KINGS HEATH
BOURNVILLE
• Icknield Port, occupying a strategically
significant location to the immediate • Longbridge, is a major redevelopment
west of the city centre, will become scheme transforming the former NORTHFIELD
a major new sustainable urban MG Rover site into a vibrant new
neighbourhood. community. KINGS NORTON
• Bordesley Park, to the east of the The transformation of these areas will be
city centre, will be a focus for the guided by individual frameworks.
wider transformation of the east of
Birmingham, providing a significant
LONGBRIDGE
opportunity for large scale leisure and
employment uses.
© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
City wide context with existing neighbourhoods and key growth areas
bigcityplan.org.uk
10
Why a City Centre Masterplan? 11

The city centre accounts for a third of Birmingham’s economic output,
accommodates over 150,000 jobs, attracts more than £2 billion of shopping
expenditure every year and is home to over 30,000 people.
We last set out our vision and strategy
for the city centre over 20 years ago. That
strategy was instrumental in shaping the
city centre we have today and achieved
many successes, but over this period
many new challenges have emerged. In
particular Birmingham is operating in a
more competitive and globalised world
and faces new economic, social and
environmental pressures.
Central to Birmingham’s success in
the future will be the strength and
sustainability of its economy which will
need to be robust and diverse enough
to perform alongside European and
international competitors. Creating a
strong post-industrial economy driven by
a range of sectors including knowledge,
technology, research, science and local
services will be key.
Birmingham can already take advantage
of those sectors where it can boast a
competitive advantage such as business
and professional services, the creative
and digital sectors, automotive assembly,
low-carbon research and development,
financial services, clinical trials and
environmental technologies and services.
These industries identified by Marketing
Birmingham in ‘Support to Inward
Investment’ represent, alongside existing
firms, the economic future of the city.
There will need to be support for
innovation, enterprise and start-ups,
developing and diversifying the skills and
knowledge of the workforce, investing in
infrastructure and utilising existing assets
including Science City and Digital City
status, three universities, the Birmingham
Science Park Aston, Birmingham Research
Park.
In addition to supporting new growth
sectors the City needs to create the quality
of place and range of accommodation to
retain existing businesses and employees.
While the challenges are city and region-
wide, the city centre will play a central role
in realising this future economic success.
As well as an important economic asset
Innovation
& Skills
Strategic
Decision taking
Connectivity
the city centre is a source of creativity,
culture and consumption. It is the shop
window for the city. Its role will not just be
about supporting and providing the skills,
accommodation and infrastructure for the
economy but providing the softer location
factors which are critical to attracting
investors, employers and skilled workers.
In ‘The Birmingham City Centre
Masterplan: The Visioning Study’ Professor
Michael Parkinson identified the things
that we need to focus on in order to create
a successful and competitive city centre,
as shown in the diagram below.
There are a range of issues that will need
to be addressed for the city centre to
perform better in relation to these five
drivers for urban success.
Economic &
Cultural Diversity
Place Quality
Innovation and skills This not only relates to vehicular transport Strategic decision making
The key to future success in a knowledge but also the connections and environment The ability to mobilise strategic
based, high value-added economy is for pedestrians and cyclists within and support consistently to deliver long
whether a city can continuously innovate in beyond the city centre. term development is a crucial feature
products, processes and services. The city of a successful city. Strong leadership,
centre benefits from a strong university Place quality vision and a long–term integrated and
and college presence, supports existing The quality of place is central to attracting partnership approach is a crucial feature
service and knowledge based industries and retaining investors, employers, for a successful city. The emergence of a
and accommodates the Birmingham workers, students and visitors to the city. Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), centred
Science Park Aston. There is a growing There are real issues over the quality of the on Birmingham, will provide a further
creative sector and significant land and architectural, public realm, environmental, opportunity to achieve this.
premises available to accommodate recreational, leisure and residential offer
future growth sectors. The challenge for in the city centre. These softer location Responding to these challenges we
the future will be retaining and attracting factors need to be addressed across the have produced a new strategy, the
skilled graduates and workers through city centre building upon the areas of City Centre Masterplan, to provide the
offering the right jobs and providing a quality and diversity that already exist. direction for the next 20 years of the city
high quality of living. centre’s transformation and to support
Birmingham’s aim to become a leading
Cultural and economic diversity world city in the 21st century.
To succeed in the future cities will have
to differentiate themselves from their
competitors. The current quality of the
city centre experience is not sufficiently
diverse in terms of its cultural facilities,
heritage, retail offer and services
especially for young and ethnic minority
groups. In an economic sense there is still
a reliance on a narrow set of industries
but with great potential to exploit creative
and high value-added industries. Creating
a diverse economic base will require
the provision of workspace, housing,
infrastructure and cultural facilities.
Connectivity
The quality of the connections are an
important ingredient in a city’s economic
performance. The city centre is in an
ideal location to be very successful, with
extensive rail and road connections and
direct links to Birmingham International
Airport. However the quality of this
external and internal connectivity is
inadequate for the ambitions of the city.

Interrelationship of the five key drivers of a modern economy View of Birmingham city centre looking west
bigcityplan.org.uk
12
City Centre Masterplan
We want to transform the city centre by growing its central core by 25%,
improving its connectivity, strengthening its authentic character and
diversifying its economic base.
What the masterplan does
The masterplan sets out our vision for how
we will improve the city centre over the
next 20 years. It:
• Identifies our priorities as those areas
that will grow the City Core by 25%,
delivering over 1.5 million square
metres of new floorspace, over 50,000
new jobs and contributing £2.1 billion
to the economy each year.
• Identifies key projects to deliver
over 65,000 square metres of new
and improved public spaces and 28
kilometres of enhanced walking and
cycling routes.
• Sets out a movement framework
transforming connectivity.
• Identifies how we will grow the city
centre population, providing over 5,000
new homes to attract more families to
live in the city centre.
• Explores the evolution of land uses and
activities, locations for tall buildings
and the role of heritage.
• Sets out visionary proposals for each of
the city centre quarters.
• Fully integrates both sustainable
development and addressing the
impact of climate change as part of the
future transformation of the city centre.
city centre masterplan
This ambitious agenda will be guided by
a set of objectives and a spatial strategy
which underpin the masterplan and set
the context for our proposals.
Objectives
We have set six broad objectives which
will guide the transformation of the city
centre.
Liveable City – provides a high quality
of living, creating places for people that
offer a diverse mix of activities and spaces
within an accessible, safe and attractive
environment.
Connected City – is safe and convenient
for pedestrians and cyclists to move
around and has an effective and attractive
public transport system with an efficient
highway network.
Authentic City – offers a unique
and diverse experience through its
architecture, its streets and spaces, its
arts and culture, its businesses and its
neighbourhoods.
Knowledge City – utilises and supports
its universities, colleges, businesses and
people to create a strong and sustainable
economy.
Creative City – values and supports
creativity and industry in all its forms.
Smart City – responds to the challenge
of climate change through sustainable
growth, pioneering the low carbon future.
13
Spatial Strategy GUNSMITHS QUARTER
To achieve our ambition for the city centre
we will need to allow the City Core to
grow to accommodate greater levels of
economic and cultural activity. JEWELLERY QUARTER
The City Core will be allowed to expand
EASTSIDE
beyond its current boundaries as shown
in ‘yellow’ on the diagram on page 13. In
delivering this growth we will support and
strengthen the distinctive character of the
areas surrounding the City Core, raising
CITY CORE
their overall quality and offer.
Covering a combined area of 800 hectares,
the 7 quarters collectively represent the
strength of the city centre but are also
a significantly underutilised asset that WESTSIDE & LADYWOOD DIGBETH
presents immense potential.
Each of the quarters has unique qualities
which contribute towards the authenticity,
diversity and vibrancy of the city centre.
These areas are largely based on historic
clusters of related uses and existing
physical boundaries.
SOUTHSIDE & HIGHGATE
By allowing the City Core to grow, and
in supporting the distinctive activities
and environments of the quarters we
will facilitate the city centre to change
and adapt to meet future needs and to
support Birmingham’s ability to succeed
economically.
© Copyright Geoperspectives, supplied by Bluesky International Ltd
© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
City centre spatial structure showing the expansion of the City Core and the seven quarters bigcityplan.org.uk
 Westside New Street Station Snow Hill District Eastside Southern Gateway
14 Areas of The redevelopment of Paradise Circus,
Baskerville Wharf and Arena Central
Opening in 2015 the redeveloped station
will transform the arrival experience and
The eastern expansion of the
central office core incorporating key
The expansion of the City Core eastwards
will see opportunities for mixed-use
Expanding the City Core southwards, the
redevelopment of the Wholesale Markets
15

transformation provides significant new mixed-use office

Five areas of transformation will
deliver over 1.5 million sq.m of new
development, investing in new high
quality buildings and public spaces,
enhancing the city’s environment and
connectivity.
led floorspace. Centenary Square, to be
create new links within the city centre.
It will act as a catalyst for wider
expanded across Broad Street, the new regeneration. The introduction of a
Library of Birmingham and the enhanced new southern entrance will open up
setting of the Town Hall and Council the area around John Bright Street to
House will provide key focal points for the improvement, with opportunities for
area. selective redevelopment for further variety
of uses.
developments around Snow Hill Station
will generate major opportunities
for mixed-use office led floorspace.
Enhanced pedestrian linkages across
Great Charles Street will improve the
transition from the City Core into the
Jewellery Quarter.
development, including office, residential,
learning and leisure space. Acting as
the main focus, the Eastside City Park
will deliver a linear route through the
area joining a series of new squares
and development opportunities. Future
proposals for the new High Speed 2 rail
terminus will provide a significant catalyst
for regeneration.
site will provide an opportunity for
mixed-use development, extending the
retail offer at its northern end graduating
through niche retail, improved markets,
food and leisure space to new residential
neighbourhoods with a wider opportunity
to stimulate the regeneration of Highgate.
The centre piece for the area will be
‘Moat Square’; a new public space.

The masterplan focuses on continuing

the process of transforming our city
centre by extending and connecting the
City Core beyond its existing boundaries
while diversifying activity and supporting
economic growth.

To achieve this expansion five areas of

transformation have been identified which
create new distinctive places within the
city centre. These five areas will be our
priority.

3
4
2
1
5

KEY
City Core
1 New Street Station
2 Westside
3 Snow Hill District
4 Eastside
© Copyright Geoperspectives, supplied by Bluesky International Ltd
5 Southern Gateway © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.

city centre
/
masterplan areas of transformation bigcityplan.org.uk
 City centre boundary
City centre boundary
Majorroad
Major road- -A38
A38
Major road - A38
Other key roads
Other key roads Other key roads
Maincity
Main citycentre
centrereference
referencepoints
points
Main city centre reference points
16 Activities
Growth Existingoffice
Existing officecore
core
Existing office core
17

A city should bustle. It should be full
of people, of movement, of functions
and activities. Providing greater
opportunities for people to live and
stay in the city centre will be central
to a successful area and delivering
greater sustainability.
The masterplan is not intended to
be a rigid, land use zoning plan. It
respects that investment markets need
the flexibility to adapt to changing
circumstances and that rigid zoning will
inhibit our ambition to grow the City
Core and create a liveable city centre.
The masterplan sets out a vision of how
the city centre could evolve over the next
20 years in terms of land use patterns, as
shown in the supporting diagrams.
OFFICE
OFFICE
OFFICE & BUSINESS
&&BUSINESS
BUSINESS
KEY
KEY KEY
CityCity centre
centre City centre boundary
boundary
boundary
Offices & Business
The city centre already provides over
150,000 jobs ranging from office based
activity, to employment in shops, and jobs
in factories and warehouses. Within the
office market the city centre has space
occupied from global businesses to small
start ups relying on cheap space to build
their businesses.
The masterplan envisages:
• Growth of the Central Business District
of Grade A office space into Westside
and east around Snow Hill station.
Both will be facilitated by improved
linkages.
• Fiveways developing as a focus of
major office activity.
• A southern extension of the Central
Business District to link the area
Expandingoffice
Expanding officecore
core
Expanding office core
around Martineau Galleries and on to the Residential meet a range of needs and increase the centre, supporting sustainable city living.
Other
Other existingprofessional,
existing professional,manufacturing
manufacturing
High Speed 2 rail station and Eastside. & creative Other existing
business clusters desirability of the city centre as a place
professional, manufacturing New schools, shops, leisure and job
& creative business
& clusters
creative business clusters to live. opportunities will need to support the
• The growth of Eastside as a technology The city centre has experienced recent
Expandedclusters
clustersofofother
otherprofessional,
professional,
Expanded
growth in city living
Expanded that has introduced
clusters of other professional, growing population.
and knowledge based area focused at manufacturing
manufacturing &&creative
creative business
business
concentrationsmanufacturing
of apartments& creative
in andbusiness The quality of the places, buildings and
Birmingham Science Park Aston, but at We envisage concentrations of residential
around&the City Core. The wider city their design will be central to achieving
lower densities and more modest rents Science
Science research
& research activity in the following locations:
Science & research
centre however supports a more diverse improved living spaces and attracting more
than the City Core, with the potential to
people. At the same time we will need to
also capture Civil Service relocations and mix of housing types and tenures. • Contributing to city living development
Through continued renewal of existing achieve higher density development to at Attwood Green, around Broad Street
back office shared services. achieve the levels of growth required.
housing in areas such as Attwood Green, and in Southside.
• Strengthening of the potential for Highgate and Ladywood, there have been
the Jewellery Quarter and Digbeth to Well-designed dense living environments • Development of a diverse provision
improvements in the wider housing offer.
provide a range of accommodation for in the city centre will need to be matched of housing, utilising and respecting
professional practices and start ups, with private and communal open spaces. the historic environment of Digbeth,
A key challenge for the future will be
We want to see architects and urban Gunsmiths’ Quarter and the Jewellery
respecting the historic environment of to support a growth in the city centre’s
designers produce high quality interior and Quarter.
these areas. population, expanding the housing offer
exterior residential neighbourhoods that
• The continued provision of low-cost and encouraging more families to live • Creation of a new family
will attract families, young and old.
affordable accommodation in the here. This will require a much wider mix of neighbourhood at medium densities
Gunsmiths’ Quarter, parts of Digbeth, types and tenures of accommodation and centred upon the Southern Gateway
a focus on attracting and retaining families. The proximity of housing to where people area of transformation. Strengthened
the Jewellery Quarter and Southside,
Future developments will need to provide work and educate their children will be family housing in Highgate and
supporting manufacturing and new
adaptable, flexible accommodation to an important feature for living in the city Ladywood delivered through selective
growth sectors.
RESIDENTIAL
RESIDENTIAL
RESIDENTIAL
demolition and renewal.
KEY
KEY
KEY
Citycentre
City centreboundary
boundary
City centre boundary

Majorroad
road- -A38
A38
Major
Major road
road -Major
- A38A38 road - A38 Major Major road - A38

Other
Other keykey Other key roads
roads
roads Otherkey
Other keyroads
roads
Other key roads
Main city centre reference points Maincity
Main citycentre
centrereference
referencepoints
points
Main
Main citycity centre
centre reference
reference points
points Main city centre reference points
Existinglow
Existing lowdensity
densityfamily
family
Existing Existing low density family
Existing
Existing office
office core office core
core livingclusters
living clusters
living clusters
Futureexpansion
Future expansionofofmedium
medium
Expanding
Expanding Expanding
office
office core office core
core density familyFuture
densityfamily living
expansion
clusters of medium
livingclusters
density family living clusters
Other
Other Other
existing
existing existingmanufacturing
professional,
professional,
professional, manufacturing
manufacturing Highdensity
High densityflats,
flats, ‘CityLiving’
Living’
& creative business clusters High‘City
density flats, ‘City Living’
& creative
& creative business
business clusters
clusters
Medium-highdensity
Medium-high densityflats,
flats,
Expanded
Expanded Expanded
clusters
clusters clusters
of other
of other of other professional,
professional,
professional, Medium-high
conversions,new
new typehouses density
houses etc.flats,
manufacturing & creative business conversions, conversions, newetc.
type type houses etc.
manufacturing
manufacturing & creative
& creative business
business

Present Future Present Future

Science
Science Science & research
& research
& research

Office & Business Residential

city centre
/
masterplan growth bigcityplan.org.uk
 CULTURE
City & CIVIC
Citycentre
KEY
centreboundary
boundary
KEY
Major
Majorroad
road- -A38
A38
City centre boundary
City centre boundary
Other
Otherkey
keyroads
roads
Major road - A38
Main
Maincity
citycentre
centrereference
reference
Major road - A38
18 Civic
Civiccentre
Other key roads
centre Other key roads
19
Main city centre reference
Existing
Existingworld Main
worldclass/ city centre reference
class/
international Civic centre
internationalcultural
culturalattractions
attractions
Cultural and Civic The ambition in the masterplan is to and diverse role for the arts throughout Retail & Leisure Civic centre The city centre masterplan envisages: • Entertainment/leisure focuses around
achieve the following: the life of a development and into the Expansion
Expansionofofworld worldclass/
Existingclass/
world class/ Broad Street, St Paul’s Square and
international
internationalcultural
Existingactivities
cultural activities
international
worldcultural
class/ attractions • Continued support and investment
The city centre is a hub for both local future will be promoted. Birmingham international
is ranked ascultural
the third largest Digbeth High Street.
• A growing cultural offer in Southside attractions in the retail core bounded by the
and international cultural events and Existing
Existing
retail centre Expansion
local/authentic
local/authentic
in the UK, of world class/over
cultural
cultural
generating
and Westside with the expansion of • Cultural activities that contribute to Bullring, Mailbox, Pavilions, Pallasades, • The provision of cafés, bars, restaurants
activities. A range of major venues activities international
Expansion of cultural
activities of expenditure
£2billion world
per activities
class/
annum. The
existing facilities and the creation of a transition through a space and that international cultural activities New Street and Corporation Street as and other leisure activities as part of a
including the Symphony Hall, Town Hall, new ones including art galleries and city centre
Expansion
Expansion gained
ofof the
local/authenticPurple
local/authentic Flag status
Existing local/authentic cultural
create distinctive senses of arrival and prime shopping locations. Within this broader mix within the retail area
the Hippodrome Theatre, the Birmingham performance space. for theactivities
cultural
cultural area covered
activities
activities by the three Business
Existing local/authentic cultural
place. area uses that create greater activity
Rep Theatre, the National Indoor Arena ImprovementactivitiesDistricts and the Southside • The Business Improvement Districts
Expansion of local/authentic throughout the day and night will be
and the Ikon Gallery, along with many • The evolvement of a local cultural offer • The creation of a new contemporary area. The citycultural
centreactivities
has a broad shopping continuing to play a central role in
Expansion of local/authentic supported.
others, offer important national and in Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter art gallery and other cultural attractions offer rangingcultural
from regional
activitiesshopping supporting the improvement of the City
international attractions. The new Library reflecting their history. including public space as part of future centres to value retail locations, and • The development of new locations for Core and Southside area.
of Birmingham, in Centenary Square, will redevelopment of the Wholesale accompanied by a limited range of niche, independent high-value retail locations
• Bringing culture to the streets. Street
further strengthen the city centre as a hub Market site. high-value and independent shops. between St Phillip’s Cathedral and New
entertainment and festivals on the
for major civic and cultural activities. Street, and around John Bright Street
streets and in squares reflecting the
diverse population of Birmingham. The civic heart of Birmingham is focused Whilst the city centre has been a success onto the Mailbox.
A variety of local events and activities are on the Town Hall, the Council House, the as a main stream retail location, it is
centred throughout Digbeth, Southside • Integrate the thinking, work and • The further development of art and
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, recognised that it lacks the diversity
and the Jewellery Quarter. creative process of artists into of offer as a retail centre. It needs to craft/alternative independent sectors,
Victoria and Chamberlain Squares.
city centre regeneration through broaden its offer to create a lively mix centred upon Digbeth High Street and
collaborative engagement between of experiences leading to a world-class in the Jewellery Quarter, facilitated by
Through the redevelopment of Paradise
the city council, developers and
communities. Opportunities for a broad
Circus we will see a strengthening of the RETAIL
RETAIL &
& LEISURE
LEISURE
shopping experience. improved connections to the City Core.
civic heart, creating a world-class setting
KEY
KEY
CULTURE
CULTURE
CULTURE & CIVIC
&&CIVIC
CIVIC
for key heritage buildings. RETAIL & LEISURE
City
Citycentre
centreboundary
boundary
RETAIL
KEY
& LEISURE
KEY
KEY KEY Major
Major
KEYroad
road- -A38
A38
City centre boundary
City centre
City boundary
centre City centre boundary
boundary Other
Otherkey
keyroads
roadsCity centre boundary
Major road - A38
Main
Maincity
citycentre
centre reference
reference
Major road - A38
Major
Majorroad -Major
- A38
road A38 road - A38 Other key roads
Existing
Existingretail
retailcore
core key roads
Other
Other key
Other roads
key Other key roads
roads Main city centre reference
Main city centre reference Main city centre reference
Main city
Main centre
city reference
centre reference Retail
Retailcore
coreexpansion
expansion
Existing retail core
Existing retail core
Civic centre
Civic centre Civic centre Existing
Existingindependant
independant&&
boutique retailRetail core expansion
boutiqueretail
Existing world
Existing Existing
world class/ world class/
class/ Retail core expansion
international cultural attractions Expansion
Expansionofofindependant
independant
Existing &&
independant &
international cultural
international attractions
cultural attractions
boutique
boutiqueretail
retailboutique retail
Existing independant &
Expansion
Expansion Expansion
of of
world
worldclass/of world class/
class/ boutique retail
Expansion of independant &
international international
cultural
international cultural activities
activities
cultural activities Markets
Markets
boutique
Expansionretail
of independant &
Existing
Existing Existing local/authentic
local/authentic
local/authentic cultural
cultural cultural boutique retail
activities activities
activities Markets
Expansion
Expansion Expansion
of of of local/authentic
local/authentic
local/authentic Markets
cultural activities Present Future Present Future
cultural activities
cultural activities

Culture & Civic Retail & Leisure

city centre
/
masterplan growth bigcityplan.org.uk
20 Sustainability
Making Birmingham Green – An
ambitious target has been set for a
60% reduction in the city’s carbon
dioxide emissions by 2026.
The city centre has an important role to
play in helping to meet this goal and to
contribute to achieving the wider priorities
for sustainable development and adapting
to climate change. These priorities
include:
• Improving the energy efficiency of the
city’s homes and buildings.
• Reducing the city’s reliance on
unsustainable energy through low-
carbon energy generation and energy
planning.
• Reducing the city’s impact on non-
renewable resource use through
resource management.
• Reducing the environmental impact of
the city’s mobility needs through low-
carbon transport.
city centre
/
masterplan sustainability
• Ensuring the city takes a flexible
approach to embracing emerging
responses to climate change.
The city centre is in a good position
to support the achievement of these
priorities. It has the potential to deliver
future sustainable growth supported
by an extensive, integrated public
transport, pedestrian and cycling network,
connecting a wide mix of uses including
housing, employment and leisure. The
proximity of these activities and the
opportunities for future development will
help reduce the need for people to travel.
Our proposals include improving public
transport, promoting a network of
pedestrian and cycle routes; extending
the network of electric charging points
for motor vehicles; supporting denser
mixed-use developments including
more housing; creating and improving
open spaces including more green
infrastructure; promoting the use of
new technologies and emphasising the
Promotion of cycling in the city
role of our built heritage for conversion
and re-use. These will all contribute to
creating more sustainable patterns of
development.
There is also great potential to utilise
the existing building stock for energy
generation, efficiency gains and future
conversions.
The greening of buildings including roofs
and walls and the spaces around buildings
with opportunities for small allotments in
residential neighbourhoods and increased
biodiversity will be important to improving
environmental quality and reducing water
run-off.
Achieving this will require a coordinated
approach to ensure that development in
the City Centre is ‘future-proofed’ and
able to adapt to and exploit the impacts
and opportunities presented by climate
change.
The masterplan proposes that all future
development will need to demonstrate
strong sustainability credentials and
integrate a response to the impacts
of climate change. This will include
energy efficiency and low/zero carbon
energy provision, ensuring that new
development is of an exemplar standard
of sustainable design and construction;
addresses water efficiency and flood risk;
utilises sustainable sources of materials;
enhances biodiversity, reduces waste
and is supported by high quality ‘future-
proofed’ design. Building to the standards
of BREEAM excellent and above will be
promoted
21
To ensure the delivery of our ambition
for sustainability and the need to address
the impacts of climate change are fully
integrated, a range of methods and
technologies can be applied. Each
development will need to show how they
contribute to meeting the priorities for the
city and the objectives of the Masterplan.
On a city centre-wide scale there are a
range of opportunities to incorporate new
technologies to deliver more sustainable
forms of development. These are already
being rolled out in some of the areas
of transformation but the masterplan
envisages that the following are
incorporated in future developments:
• Combined Heat and Power (CHP) has
huge potential in utilising the critical
mass of buildings and activity in the
city centre. This system integrates
the production of usable heat and
power (electricity), in one single, highly
efficient process. CHP is already in use
in the city centre and the extension
and expansion of the network will
offer significant benefits to future
development.
• Digital technology will be an important
tool in the future knowledge economy
and help contribute to reducing
the need for travel. The creation
of a Digital District in Eastside is
starting to realise the opportunity
and supporting economic growth and
promoting greater social inclusion.
The provision of infrastructure and new
technologies which enhance digital
connectivity should form part of future
developments.
Living wall at the Library of Birmingham construction site (top)
Brown roof on BVSC building in Digbeth (bottom)
bigcityplan.org.uk
22 Connectivity
The Vision for Movement led by the
business community in partnership
with the City Council and Centro
seeks to deliver a new approach to
movement in the city centre creating
a well connected, an efficient and a
walkable city.
Birmingham is an ideal location to be a
successful well-connected city; served as
it is by extensive rail, road and air links.
While the city benefits from a range of
excellent transport connections, the
quality of the transport environment and
the connectivity of the transport network
requires improvement.
The challenge for the future will be to
improve the quality of the transport
environment and the efficiency of the
transport network, making the city centre
a place that encourages people to move
around on foot, bike and public transport.
Major improvements are planned for
Birmingham’s transport networks,
including a number of imminent projects
such as the transformation of New
Street Station, the Metro extension from
Snow Hill Station to New Street Station,
Centro’s plans to transform bus travel
and the recent completion of the new
Digbeth coach station. In the longer term
high speed rail and the runway extension
at Birmingham International Airport will
enhance international access to the city.
Our strategy will ensure that these
major improvements are matched by an
outstanding pedestrian environment and
an attractive, easy to use public transport
system, which together will provide
capacity for, and stimulate, economic
growth.
city centre
/
masterplan connectivity
23
Walsall
Connected city KEY
To support the growth and regeneration Wolverhampton Newtown
Indicative rapid transit vehicle
of our city centre we will need to focus routes within city centre
on improving the quality, legibility and
Indicative rapid transit vehicle
choice of sustainable transport modes routes outside city centre
along major routes in to the city, and
City centre metro line extension Eastside
their interchange to key destinations. The Jewellery Quarter
transformation of New Street Station City centre train stations
(Gateway Project) will dramatically St. Paul’s
d
improve the arrival experience into the Airport Aston University
oo
Snow Hill
W
heart of the city centre.
y
ay
sle
Moor Street & HS2
dw
City centre area
m
Colmore Row Stations
ea
Bull St.
el
Just as important as these external
Ch
M
linkages are the new internal ones that will Corporation St. Birmingham
be opened up, creating improved links International
New Street Sheldon Airport, HS2
through the station and in particular with
a new southern entrance. Opening up the Interchange & Train
Ladywood Station
station in combination with our proposals
for improving the walking experience will
• Delivering high quality Rapid Transit
set the scene for wider improvements to Routes into and around the city centre.
connections within the city centre. Centenary Square
• Transforming bus travel into and
There will be a greater emphasis on around the city centre making it more
attractive to use Broad Street
the role of public transport. This will
mean improving what we have but also • Providing safe and convenient cycle
introducing new methods which have routes to and within the city centre.
the ability to be delivered in the short to Five Ways
medium term. • Providing Park and Ride facilities to
increase the capacity of routes in the
In the longer term the proposals for high city centre. Edgbaston
speed rail and the terminus in Eastside • Simplifying the convenience of the
will significantly enhance connections public transport network through Birmingham University
with London and potentially Europe. The Bearwood
improved interchange facilities,
city centre will need to adapt to enable interchange
ticketing and way finding. University Hospital
the connections from the High Speed 2
station to integrate into the wider area. The following proposals will deliver the
Our approach will have to reflect this. improvements we want to make to our
transport system:
Our focus for the future of public Longbridge
Quinton
transport will be upon: • A series of Rapid Transit Routes
providing high quality frequent
• Increasing the quality and capacity of services, as shown in the diagram on
Birmingham’s rail network. page 23. © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
Proposal for improved public transport network in the city centre bigcityplan.org.uk
 • The introduction of smarter routes
24 creating greater efficiency of road
spaces to support Rapid Transit routes.
• Cycle parking at key locations
and within new developments to
encourage cycle and ride.
• Junction improvements at key
locations on the Ring Road including
at Five Ways, Bordesley Circus,
Dartmouth Circus and the Hockley
Flyover.
• Improved pedestrian linkages along
St Martins Queensway between New
Street and Moor Street Stations.
• Extension of the Metro from Snow Hill
Station to Stephenson Street.
• Link up existing rail lines at Camp
Hill to enable new railway stations at
Moseley, Kings Heath and Hazelwell to
the South and Fort Dunlop and Castle
Bromwich to the North.
• Implementation of the city centre
Interchange proposed for Moor Street
Queensway.
Efficient city
Giving greater priority to pedestrians and
public transport will improve movement
in the city centre which has long been
dominated by the private motor vehicle.
Promoting greater pedestrian priority
and public transport use will be central
to raising liveability, decreasing carbon
emissions, improving air quality and
ultimately delivering more sustainable
patterns of development.
Making more effective use of our highway
network and creating more attractive,
sustainable modes of travel into and out
of the city centre will encourage people
to make greater use of them and lessen
the reliance on private vehicles. This will
city centre
/
masterplan connectivity
however mean hard choices regarding KEY
road capacity, access and availability of Middle ring road & A38 25
long-stay car parking in the City Core. Our
Train stations
approach proposes:
Coach station
• Providing priority access for public
A38 road interventions, pedestrian
transport and pedestrians and cyclists
crossing improvements
at congested locations.
Main distributor roads
• Developing co-ordinated parking
New connecting roads
strategies to improve the efficiency of
planning within the city centre. Existing roads to be connected
Ring road junction improvements
• Promote and facilitate the provision
and use of alternative fuels including
:
Cycle hire hubs:
electric charging points. New Street Station
Mailbox public realm
• Improve servicing and waste collection Paradise Forum
arrangements in the city centre and Ludgate Hill
access for emergency vehicles. Colmore Plaza
Eastside Station Square Snow Hill
• Promote the use of sustainable travel Moat Square
Electric car charging stations:
Station
options through existing business and
:
Bullring multi storey car park
residential communities. Margaret Street
:
Temple Row
:
:
• The improvement of key junctions Brindley Drive multi storey
Brindleyplace car park
around the Ring Road will be required New Street Eastside Station
Aston Street (Aston University)
to reduce delays for public transport Station Moor Street Station
routes and encourage cross-city drivers
:
to use this route rather than the A38.
:
• Expanding Controlled Parking Zones
(CPZs) and/or on-street parking
controls. and Pershore Street as well as between
James Watt Queensway and Digbeth. Birmingham Coach
The following proposals as shown on Station
• An effective signage strategy to
the diagram on page 25 will deliver the
encourage cross-city car drivers to use
improvements we want to make to the
efficiency with which our highways are the Ring Road.
used: • Electric charging points at a variety of
• A number of junction alterations may locations including Aston University
be required as part of the Rapid Transit and the National Indoor Arena.
Routes. • The provision of cycle parking and
cycle hubs at a variety of locations
• Other junction improvements may be
required at locations on the RIng Road including St Paul’s Square, the NIA,
Eastside, Jewellery Quarter, Highgate
as shown in Figure 9.
as proposed in the diagram on page
• Responding to large scale 25.
developments in Eastside and
Southside the city centre road network • Development of a co-ordinated
will be improved, with new connecting and effective strategy to promote
roads between Digbeth High Street sustainable travel.
© Copyright Geoperspectives, supplied by Bluesky International Ltd
© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
Efficient city bigcityplan.org.uk
26 Walkability 27

20 years ago - ‘The concrete At present - The city core has In 20 years - The city core
collar’ - Inner Ring Road restricting linkages started to grow east and west breaking expanding north and south by breaking
Improving and expanding the walking accessible open spaces, parks and • New Street Station (Gateway between open spaces. The canal is hidden through the inner Ring Road. The main through the former Inner Ring Road and A38
routes and open space network will squares will be vital in helping the city Project) – the transformation of the 20 years ago
and underused - ‘The concrete At present
pedestrian axis has been- Theestablished
city core has
between In 20 years
with expansion of the -open
The city core
space network.
support our ambitions for a liveable to reduce its carbon emissions, improve station will create a number of new collar’ - Inner Ring Road restricting linkages started to grow
key spaces. Parteast and
of the westhas
canal breaking
been expanding north of
Further sections and
thesouth
canalbyand
breaking
river Rea will
visitor experience and create a safer squares, enhancing the public realm between open spaces. The canal is hidden through
exposedthe inner Ring
to public realmRoad. The main
improvements. through the former
be exposed Inner
to public use.Ring Road and A38
and well-connected city centre.
and more welcoming environment. This and the arrival experience at one of 20 years ago
and underused - ‘The concrete At present
pedestrian axis has been- Theestablished
city core has
between In 20 years
with expansion of the -open
The city core
space network.
collar’ - Inner Ring Road restricting linkages started to grow
key spaces. Part east
of theand westhas
canal breaking
been expanding north of
Further sections and
thesouth
canalby breaking
and river Rea will
network will connect our wider city centre the UK’s busiest stations. These new between open spaces. The canal is hidden through
This is an essential element of the exposedthe inner Ring
to public realmRoad. The main
improvements. through the to
be exposed former Inner
public use.Ring Road and A38
within and beyond its existing boundaries. spaces will improve north-south and and underused pedestrian axis has been established between with expansion of the open space network.

A38

overall strategy, providing attractive, safe
and legible routes between transport
connections and destinations.
A38
A38
east-west connections. key spaces. Part of the canal has been Further sections of the canal and river Rea will
Walkable City exposed to public realm improvements. be exposed to public use.
• Golden Square – a new focal point at
The city centre benefits from a series

A38

A38
A38
the heart of the Jewellery Quarter for
of distinctive public squares and civic
In the last 20 years Birmingham has events, exhibitions and markets.
spaces that are concentrated in the City
achieved great success in creating a

A38

pedestrianised spine running through the
City Core from St Martin’s via Centenary
Square to Brindleyplace.
Our proposals for the next 20 years will
see major improvements delivering a
Core along the pedestrian spine. Beyond
this there are a range of other spaces,
parks and cemeteries which are poorly
connected and under utilised.
Our priority over the next 20 years will be
A38
A38
• Centenary Square – the setting for
one of Europe’s largest public libraries;
the square will be expanded across
Broad Street creating an attractive
centrepiece to an extended City Core.
• Moat Square – the cradle of

A38

A38
A38
to extend the existing network of spaces
wider network of new spaces connected Birmingham with archaeological
building upon the successes to date.
by enhanced streets. The evolution of the remains hidden under the Wholesale

A38

A38
A38
space and routes network is depicted in Markets. The new open space will be
We will create a series of upgraded and
the diagram on page 27. a reflection of the city’s historical core
major new public spaces throughout
and pride for Birmingham’s cultural

A38

A38
A38
the city centre to deliver a world-class
Providing a network of high quality identity. Acting as a centrepiece for
experience for visitors and residents:
pedestrian routes and a series of the Southern Gateway and expansion
of the City Core.

© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.

Centenary Square with new Library of Birmingham New Street Station eastern square Evolution of spaces and linkages in the city centre
city centre
/
masterplan walkability bigcityplan.org.uk
 KEY
• Eastside Square – a new focal point foot. The concept of the walkable city KEY
New Street Station - major city centre node
28 in Eastside for those arriving from the puts the needs of pedestrians at the heart New Street Station - major city centre node 29
proposed High Speed 2 terminus of the movement strategy for the city Existing major open spaces
Existing major open spaces
centre. This strategy reflects that achieved Major short-medium term improvements
• Eastside City Park – the first new
in other cities such as London with 20 & Major short-medium
opportunities term
for open improvements
spaces
urban park to be developed in & opportunities for open spaces
Major long term aspirations for improvements
minute walks from key points around
Birmingham for over 125 years, & Major long term
opportunities foraspirations
open spacesfor improvements
the network, as shown in the diagram & opportunities for open spaces
creating a key focal point for Eastside Extension of primary walking routes
below. These routes can support the links Extension of primary walking routes
and providing a catalyst for the area’s Existing primary walking routes
to those areas beyond the Ring Road Existing primary walking routes
regeneration with a series of themed Radial and local walking routes
enhancing wider connectivity. Radial and local walking routes
open spaces. River Rea
River Rea
Canals
• Water spaces (Emerald Ring) – both The network of walking routes is formed Canals
Existing & proposed water
the canal network and the River Rea by a hierarchy of streets which prioritise Existing
space & proposed water
nodes 4
are an important part of the city’s space nodes
their importance and as a result the scale
historic legacy and represent an of intervention and investment. This Major open spaces 14
Major open spaces
unexploited asset. They provide a network is illustrated in the diagram on 1 New Street Station 3
1 New Street Station
great opportunity to form a network page 29. The primary walking routes are 2 St.St.Philip’s churchyard 15
2 Philip’s churchyard
of spaces and routes within the city those that are identified as of significance 3 St.St.Paul’s Square
3 Paul’s Square
centre to help connect the quarters for the wider city centre connecting 4 NEW - Golden Square
4 NEW - Golden Square
and link to areas beyond the Ring key destinations. This makes them the 5 Victoria & Chamberlain’s Squares
5 Victoria & Chamberlain’s Squares 16
Road. Along the canal and river there most significant in terms of pedestrian 6 NEW - Centenary Square
6 NEW - Centenary Square 2
are opportunities to create spaces connectivity, movement and activities. 7 Brindleyplace Square
7 Brindleyplace Square
for new and improved public realm, Along these routes improvements to the 8 Mailbox & Cube public realm
8 Mailbox & Cube public realm 5 13
with cafes, performance spaces and public realm will be targeted and the 9 Hippodrome & Arcadian public realm
9 Hippodrome & Arcadian public realm
squares. emphasis on active frontages and street 10 Rotunda Square & St. Martin’s 6
10 Rotunda Square & St. Martin’s
entertainment will be key. 11 NEW - Moat Square
11 NEW - Moat Square 7 1
In the longer term we envisage creating 12 Custard Factory public realm
1312 NEW
Custard Factory public realm
- Eastside Station Square
10
additional major urban spaces including Complementing these primary 13 NEW - Eastside Station Square
Digbeth Viaduct and Lancaster Circus. walking routes are the secondary and 14 NEW - Lancaster Circus
14 NEW - Lancaster Circus
15 Lakeside 8 11
tertiary routes. These routes provide 15 Lakeside 12
16 NEW - City Park
17
To complement these major interventions additional capacity and alternative links. 16 NEW - City Park 9
more localised spaces throughout Walkability
Improvements to the public
- the city realm
centrewill be
walking
17 NEW
17 NEW
distances
- Digbeth viaduct park
in Birmingham
18 Highgate
are
- Digbeth viaduct
Park
equivalent
park to
the city centre will be improved and distances of ‘main walking Loop’ in London
prioritised to improve primary routes first 18 Highgate Park
19 Park Central
created. This network will be explored and subsequent streets will follow. 19 Park Central
in detail throughout the individual
quarter sections. The improvements to KEY
and extensions of the walking routes City centre boundary
19
throughout the city centre will help to Birmingham’s primary walking routes
5
London’s major walking loop superimposed 18
connect these spaces. 2
over Birmingham city centre
EET
STR
ORD Canal and River Rea
Network of walking routes OXF 1

New and improved routes with pedestrian

and cycle priority will be central to
3
4 1 St. Philip’s churchyard
Y
LL
DI

delivering a more sustainable city centre 2

CA

St. Paul’s Square

C

that is more attractive to live in.

PI

PA
RK
3 Brinleyplace Square
LA
N

The compact nature of our city centre

E

4 St. Martin’s
means that many trips are achievable on © Copyright Geoperspectives, supplied by Bluesky International Ltd
5 Lakeside at Aston University © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.

City centre open space network bigcityplan.org.uk

city centre
/
masterplan walkability
 In improving the overall walkability of our
30 city centre we will focus on:
• Extending the city centre’s network of
high quality streets and public spaces.
• Transforming the quality, safety and
security of the walking environment
through introducing activity, improved
lighting and street furniture so that
walking becomes the most enjoyable
and convenient way of getting round
the city centre.
• Creating a simple and memorable
mental map of the city centre to
encourage walking as part of an overall
journey that includes public transport.
• Providing for the needs of the elderly
and mobility impaired through design.
Our priority over the next 20 years is
to create a network of primary walking
routes that are legible, clear and easy to
use. This will enable direct connections
between key areas within our city centre
supporting the growth of the City
Core and improving connections to
neighbouring quarters and beyond.
Specific improvements include:
Moor Street – New Street Station link
A high quality pedestrian route will
provide an attractive and convenient
connection between the main transport
interchanges of New Street Station and
the existing Moor Street and proposed
High Speed 2 stations.
Great Charles Street
A number of improvements are proposed
to prioritise pedestrian movement:
The main priority will be to create a safe
and attractive pedestrian link from Church
Street in the City Core to Ludgate Hill in
the Jewellery Quarter. In the short term
improvements to the existing foot bridge
are at planned enhancing its quality
city centre
/
masterplan walkability
and appearance. In the longer term an In the longer term we envisage other
innovative design solution will be required key improvements which will extend the 31
to deliver a direct and convenient network of primary walking routes and
pedestrian link connecting Church Street improved access across the city centre for
and Ludgate Hill. pedestrians.
Improvements are also planned to the
To complement this primary route
pedestrian route at the upper end of
network a wider and more localised
Great Charles Street in connection with
network, of pedestrian routes (local
the redevelopment of Paradise Circus.
walking routes) throughout the city
centre will be created. This network will
Linkages to Digbeth/ Southside and
be explored in detail throughout the
Highgate
individual quarter sections.
The redevelopment of New Street Station
will provide new connections through
entrances and walkways on the south,
north and east of the station.
Improvements to Digbeth High Street
including alterations to the gyratory at
the top end by the Bullring will improve
connections between Digbeth and the
City Core.
Redevelopment of the Wholesale Markets
will reintroduce direct connections
helping to improve links between the City
Core, Digbeth, Southside & Highgate
areas.
Way finding
A new wayfinding system will create an
easy to interpret and consistent means for
finding your way around the city centre.
The system will consist of easy to interpret
and access maps, utilise digital and
WALKING CITY
mobile technology and create a single
KEY
system of on-street signage (identified
City centre boundary
as signage points on the diagram on
page 31). All will conform to a standard Train/ coach/ metro stations
approach and style, providing a consistent Canals
method for finding your way around the
River Rea
city centre.
Signed primary walking routes
The primary walking route from New Signed secondary walking routes
Street Station to the Colmore Row
Signed tertiary walking routes
business district and onto the Jewellery
Quarter will be the first area to Signage points
receive improved on-street pedestrian
© Copyright Geoperspectives, supplied by Bluesky International Ltd
information. Canal route marker © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
Network of walking routes bigcityplan.org.uk
32 Building Heights
Tall buildings provide the opportunity
to manage and create an identifiable
skyline memorable for its key
buildings.
The location of tall buildings needs
to be handled carefully, respecting
the surrounding environment and the
topography. The quality of design must
reflect and justify their dominant position
in the built environment.
Our approach to tall buildings has been
a positive one of working in partnership
with developers and investors to enable
tall buildings of the highest quality to
achieve planning consent. High Places, a
tall buildings policy document produced
in 2003, defined tall buildings as anything
over 15 storeys in height. The focus for
these buildings is the central ridge, which
includes the city’s highest point and runs
west to east through the city centre.
In recognising the value of tall buildings
to the city we have developed an
approach which identifies:
• Broad locations suitable for tall
buildings.
• Locations where clusters of taller
buildings can be beneficial.
• Areas where tall buildings are not
appropriate.
The diagram on page 33 shows a
broad zone where tall buildings could
be appropriate. Within this zone our
approach will be for building heights to
rise up from the east toward the western
end of the city ridge to reflect and
emphasise the topography of the area.
city centre
/
masterplan building heights
Whilst individual tall buildings will
continue to be important; clusters of taller
buildings can also bring benefits in terms
of urban structure, skyline identity and
definition of key places. Such clusters will
consist of three or more buildings that
must be carefully planned to address their
context and setting. Suitable locations
for such clusters of tall buildings are
identified by the orange circles in the
diagram on page 33 and include areas
at: Five Ways / Broad Street, Westside
/ Paradise Circus, New Street Station
South, Snow Hill District, Lancaster
Circus and Rotunda Square.
In general, proposals for tall buildings
will be considered subject to detailed
consultation on location, massing,
density and design quality. They will
need to ensure they integrate into and
are compatible with their surroundings;
enhance skylines, views and settings;
protect and preserve areas of special
character and interest including principal
views across the city and historic skyline;
assist in the legibility of the city and
contribute strongly to a sense of place
and promote the highest design quality.
Tall buildings will also be considered in
context, proximity and relationship to
neighbouring buildings, overshadowing,
impact on micro-climate, key views both
distant and local and incorporation
of sustainable principles. Each tall
building proposal will need to satisfy the
Aerodrome Safeguarding requirements of
Birmingham Airport.
It will be important that such buildings
have a good relationship with the street,
movement patterns and transport
33
facilities, creating high quality public
space at the same time. They will need
‘breathing space’, and the creation of a
publicly accessible plaza, or extension of A
existing public realm will be required.
The control and concentration of taller
buildings along the city centre ridge
can only be successful if balanced by
limitations imposed within adjoining areas
of distinctive character. These sensitive
areas, where heights and massing will
be carefully controlled and determined
by existing heights and guidelines, to
enhance and retain intrinsic character are
identified within the Jewellery Quarter,
Digbeth and Southside & Highgate
areas.
KEY
City centre boundary
Key locators:
St. Philip’s cathedral
St. Martin’s
Rotunda
New Street Station
Existing height ridge zone A
New height ridge zone
Tall building cluster zones
Zones with restricted height limit
Indicative city centre skyline
© Copyright Geoperspectives, supplied by Bluesky International Ltd
A Section line © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
Tall building clusters and height limits within city centre
bigcityplan.org.uk
 Medieval Birmingham Medieval
1730 Birmingham
- 1810 1730 -- 1910
1830 1810 183
Medieval Birmingham 1730 - 1810 183
until 1730 until 1730
until 1730
34 Heritage 35

Although best known as the Victorian
‘workshop of the world’, Birmingham
has a rich heritage dating back as far
as the Middle Ages.
The city’s heritage is its roots, its
authenticity and its individuality. This
heritage is the physical legacy that has
been left by human activity in the form
of buildings, monuments, sites and
landscapes that reflect the history of
trade, population movement, architectural
endeavour, economic, political and social
development and the use of natural
resources from prehistory to the present.
Within the city centre this consists of:
• Individual buildings and other
structures, surviving above ground in
whole or in part principally dating from
the mid 19th century onwards, but a
few older buildings survive.
• Street patterns and property
boundaries from the 12th century
onwards.
• Landscapes and townscapes,
including cemeteries, squares and
canal corridors whose group value in
combinations of buildings or structures
and their contribution to the street
scene may be greater than their
individual significance.
• A wide range of well preserved
archaeological remains, including
structures and objects, organic
remains and evidence for past
environmental conditions. Although
the archaeological remains generally
date from the 12th century onwards,
surfaces dating back 10,000 years have
been found near Banbury Street.
The heritage that survives from the past
is unique and irreplaceable. It contributes
to sustainability, character, local
distinctiveness, and a sense of place. It
provides much of the authentic character
of the city.
The present character of the city centre
reflects its historic growth. The diagrams
below are based upon old maps of the
city, and show how the city centre has
evolved over the past centuries with
key features and street patterns that
emerged.
Established as a new planned town in
the 12th century, Birmingham was an
important industrial and market centre in
the medieval period. Although the only
surviving buildings from this period are
the Old Crown, in Digbeth and parts of
St Martin’s church, the medieval street
pattern is still in use throughout the City
Core and into Digbeth. Well-preserved
archaeological remains provide the
MedievalBirmingham
Medieval Birmingham
Medieval Birmingham
1730--1810
1730 18101730 - 1810
until1730
until 1730 until 1730
St.Philips,
St. Philips,moat
moat&& St. Philips, moat &
medievalmanor
medieval medieval manor house
manorhouse
house
evidence of past activity and uses.
Growth of the city centre in the 18th and
19th centuries resulted from the release of
land from large estates to form industrial
development, particularly related to the
canal system. The Jewellery Quarter
and the Gunsmiths’ Quarter are well
known as part of this period of the city’s
development. Elsewhere distinctive street
patterns are prominent in the present
townscape, for example in north Digbeth
and in Southside, even though relatively
few 18th and early 19th century buildings
survive.
The city’s canals are an integral part
of the surviving industrial character,
accompanied in their corridors by
wharves, basins, bridges, tunnels, and
the remains of adjoining industries. The
railways followed in the mid 19th century
and features are still a central part of
today’s network. Further 18th and 19th
century development included several
public buildings, places of worship and
burial grounds.
1830
St.Paul’s
St. Paul’s&&canal St. Paul’s & canal system Rail
canalsystem
system
20th century buildings in the city centre
are often under-appreciated but range
from offices and department stores
to wartime structures. Archaeological
investigation of surviving structures and
excavation of below ground remains of
the past 300 years has provided much
additional information on the past uses in
the city centre.
St.Some heritage
Philips, moat &assets have designations
medieval manor house significance such
reflecting their special
as listed buildings, conservation areas
and registered parks. These are only part
of the historic environment; many non-
designated heritage assets in the city
centre are recorded in the City Council’s
Historic Environment Record, some are
locally listed and many simply reflect the
important part of the authentic character
and an asset in their own right or as a
collective.
1830--1910
1910
1830- 1990
1930 - 1910
Railviaducts Ring
viaducts&&parksRailroads
parks viaducts & parks
The masterplan recognises that the
• The full potential of archaeological
historic environment will significantly
remains to provide information about
contribute to the future transformation of
the past will be exploited through
the city centre. This will be achieved by:
investigation and recording where
their preservation is not feasible.
• Understanding the character and
contribution, whether it be as part of The important heritage assets that will
a designation or as a result of a better contribute to the authentic character of
understanding of the inherent quality. the city centre will be identified through
St. Philips, moatthat
• Recognising & the historic the individual quarters.
St. Philips,manor
moatishouse
&itself a resource and
medieval
environment St. Paul’s & canal system Rail via
St. Paul’s &manor
medieval canal system
house Rail viaducts & parks
that retention and reuse contributes St. Paul’s & canal system Rail via
to sustainability including reduction
in carbon emissions, waste and use of
resources.
• Making the most of what’s there
already; designing the historic
environment into schemes, using it
to encourage and inspire high quality
modern design that enhances the
heritage assets and their settings.
1930 - 1990
1930 - 1990
KEY
KEY KEY
Current city Centre
Existing City centreBoundary
boundary
Arterial roads
Other main roads
Ring roads Key features
Ring roads

city centre
/
masterplan heritage bigcityplan.org.uk
36
The Quarters JEWELLERY
QUARTER
GUNSMITHS
QUARTER
37

City Core CITY

CORE
EASTSIDE

WESTSIDE &
DIGBETH
Birmingham’s City Core is the single biggest economic driver of the regional LADYWOOD

economy. It is the centre of the region’s retailing, banking and financial services
and the civic and cultural heart of the city. SOUTHSIDE
& 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.
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.
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.
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
sits underneath the Pallasades Shopping
Centre and the block currently forms
a physical barrier to pedestrian access
beyond.
Victoria Square, to the west of the
Cathedral, is the centrepiece of the civic
heart and is overlooked by the impressive
Council House and Town Hall. The
pedestrianised square, together with the
adjoining Chamberlain Square, forms one
end of the primary walking route along
New Street to the Bullring and hosts
markets and events throughout the year.
Much of the north-east area of the City
Core is dominated by some fine historic
buildings forming a hub of legal activity
around the Victoria Law Courts and the
Children’s Hospital complex.
vision for our
City Core is to
strengthen its
role as a
24 hour city

bigcityplan.org.uk
 GUNSMITHS
GUNSMITHS
QUARTERQUARTER
Open
Open
spaces
spaces
JEWELLERY
JEWELLERY
QUARTERQUARTER KEYKEY 1 1St.Philip’s
St.Philip’s
Churchyard
Churchyard
CITY
CORE
EASTSIDEEASTSIDE
CITY
CORE Rail stations
Rail stations
GUNSMITHS
QUARTER 2 2Church
Church
St public
St public
realm realm
improvement
improvement Open spaces
WESTSIDE
WESTSIDE
& &
DIGBETHDIGBETH
JEWELLERY
KEY3 3 1 St.Philip’s Churchyard
MM St. Paul’s
St. Paul’s
Square Square
LADYWOOD
LADYWOOD QUARTER
Metro
Metro
stopsstops
EASTSIDE

38 2 39
CITY

The Vision Rail stations Church St public realm improvement

4 4
CORE
SOUTHSIDE
SOUTHSIDE Victoria
Victoria
SquareSquare
& HIGHGATE
& HIGHGATE
residentialAccess
WESTSIDE & Access
to rail
development tostations
railalongside
DIGBETH stations strong, 3
5M5 St. Paul’s Square
LADYWOOD
Metro stops
Chamberlains
Chamberlains SquareSquare
The overall vision for the City Core is to focused evening
Existing economies,
Existing
block block
structure much of the
structure Open spaces 4
GUNSMITHS
Victoria Square
16 St.Philip’s
6
QUARTER SOUTHSIDE

City Core has not achieved the same 24

& HIGHGATE
MailboxAccess
Mailbox to
underpassrail stations
underpass
strengthen its role as a 24 hour city – a
JEWELLERY
QUARTER KEY Churchyard
5 Chamberlains Square
Prposed
Prposed
highWe high
speed speed
railto
viaduct
rail
seeviaduct
thriving shopping, leisure, and business hour life and vitality. want the
27 Church
7 St publicblock
NEW Existing
NEW
- New - New
Street structure
Street
Station
Station
Square
Square
CITY EASTSIDE
Rail stations realm improvement
6
CORE

heart of the city centre come alive at all Mailbox underpass

Blocks
Blocks
within within
variousvarious
major major
destination which supports the civic 38 St.
8
WESTSIDE &
DIGBETH
Rotunda
RotundaSquare Square
times M
Paul’s Square
Prposed high speed rail viaduct
7
LADYWOOD
Metro stops
withtransformation
a greater mixareas
transformation and choice of
areas NEW - New Street Station Square
and cultural role of Birmingham within 49 Victoria
SOUTHSIDE
Blocks
Blocks
forming
activities andAccess toforming
uses within railpart part
of other
of other
distinctive
stations streets 9
NEWNEW - Square
St. Martin’s
Blocks- St. Martin’s
within & Moat
& Moat
various Square
majorSquare
8 Rotunda Square
a high quality, distinctive and vibrant
& HIGHGATE

majormajor
developments
developments
and spaces. Existing block structure 5 10
10 NEW-transformation
Chamberlains
NEW- Square
Eastside
Eastside
Squareareas
Square DS
Q-WAY
environment. Expanding the City Core Blocks forming part of other 9 NEW - St. Martin’s & Moat Square
HA
15
Rail viaducts
Rail viaducts 6
11 Mailbox
11 underpass
Old Square
Old Square C
into the surrounding quarters will provide Prposed high speed rail viaduct
major developments 10 NEW- Eastside Square ST
long-term strength and stability for the city The transformation of New Street station 7
12
NEW - New Street Station Square
12
Colmore
Colmore
Rail Plaza Plaza
viaducts 14
Existing
Existing
Blocksopen open
spaces
within spaces
various major 11 Old Square
centre. (Gateway Project) will generate and 8 Rotunda Square 3 17
transformation areas 13 13
SnowSnow
Hill Plaza
Hill Plaza 12 Colmore Plaza
support investment
NewBlocks
New
openopenand
spaces greater
spaces
forming
visitor
part of other 9 Existing
NEW - St. open
Martin’s spaces
& Moat Square
and commuter numbers. This will be 14 14St. Chad’s
St. Chad’s
public
public
realm realm 13 Snow Hill Plaza
Big Ideas major
Primary
Primary
developments
walking
walking
routes
routes 10 NEW- Eastside
New open Square
spaces
capitalised upon
Rail to boost
viaducts the City’s profile 15 15NEWNEW - Lancaster
- Lancaster
CircusCircus
openopen
spacespace 14 St. Chad’s public realm
interventions
interventions 17
LocalLocal
walking
walking
routes
routes 11 Old Square 16
and grow the economy. Primary walking routes
The City Core accommodates a wealth of A38Existing
A38
Corridor
Corridor 16 Colmore
12 16
Corporation
Corporation St. open
St.routes
open
spacespace 15 NEW - Lancaster Circus open space interventions
open spaces Plaza
Local walking 17
activities; however it is relatively small for Major
Major
roadroad
interventions
interventions
and and NEWNEW-A38
other
-Corridor
other
key opportunities
key opportunities
for for 16 Corporation St. open space
The 1990’simproved
pedestrianisation schemes and 17 Snow
13 17 Hill Plaza M
the size of the city and its wider catchment improved
New pedestrian
open pedestrian
spaces crossing
crossing various
various
open
Major open
spaces
road spaces
interventions and NEW - other key opportunities for
public realm improvements transformed 14 St. Chad’s public realm 17 13
area. For many years, the ‘concrete collar’ Primary walking routes improved pedestrian crossing various open spaces
the feel of Birmingham’s key streets and 15 NEW
Open - Lancaster Circus open space interventions
spaces 12
of the former Inner Ring Road constrained
GUNSMITHS
Local walking routes
QUARTER
squares – giving them back to people 16 St.Philip’s
Corporation St. open space 2
growth and concentrated activity. As a
JEWELLERY
QUARTER KEY A38 Corridor 1 Churchyard
result the central area of the city centre is
EASTSIDE rather than cars
Majorandroadbuses. Thereand
interventions is now 17
NEW - other key opportunities for 11
2
CITY
Rail stations Church
various St public realm improvement

.
ST
CORE
improved
a need to revisit thosepedestrian
streets, crossing
and other open spaces M
compact and walkable, yet often confusing OW
3

AY
WESTSIDE &

ES
ER
DIGBETH

M to consider St. Paul’s Square

LADYWOOD
routes, Metro stops how the primary R

RL
to navigate and bursting at the seams.

-W
O
4 LM

HA
walking routes and public squares Victoria Square

TQ
SOUTHSIDE
& HIGHGATE Access to rail stations CO

.C
could be lifted still further as world-class 5 1

EE
Chamberlains Square

GR
While areas outside the core have become Existing block structure

TR
.
ST
more mixed-use with offices, retail and retail and business address streets and 6 Mailbox underpass

S
ON

OR
destinations.
Prposed high speed rail viaduct
7

TI
NEW - New Street Station Square

RA
17

MO
O
Blocks within various major
8 Rotunda Square

RP
5
transformation areas

CO
URBAN
URBAN STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
at at URBAN
URBAN
URBAN STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE in in URBAN STRUCTURE in
at Blocks forming part of other
major developments
9 NEW - St. Martin’s & Moat Square 4
M
10 NEW- Eastside Square 10
present
present 2020
years
years
present
Rail viaducts 20 years
11 Old Square
NEW S
TREE
T

URBAN STRUCTURE at URBAN STRUCTURE

Existing open spaces in 12 Colmore Plaza M

SU
13 Snow Hill Plaza

FF
8
present 20 years

OL
New open spaces
14 St. Chad’s public realm

K
Q-
Primary walking routes
15 NEW - Lancaster Circus open space interventions

W
Local walking routes

AY
7
A38 Corridor 16 Corporation St. open space
6
Major road interventionsCITY
andCITY
CORECORE NEW - other key opportunities for
CITY CORE
17 Quarter boundary
CITYCITY
CORECORE CITY CORE
improved pedestrian crossing Quarter
various openQuarter
boundary
spaces boundary
Business District & New Street Station 17 9
Business
Business
District
District
& New& New
Street
Street
Station
Station
CITY CORE
CITY CORE Quarter boundary Increased permeability & access
Increased
Increased
permeability
permeability
& access
& access
Business District & New Street Station Pedestrian connections
Pedestrian
Pedestrian
connections
connections
Increased permeability & access Metro line
Metro
Metro
line line
Major highways barriers
Pedestrian
MajorMajorconnections
highways
highways
barriers
barriers
Metro line Central nodes
Central
Central
nodes
nodes © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
Major highways barriers
Central nodes City Core masterplan
the quarters
/ city core bigcityplan.org.uk

URBAN STRUCTURE at URBAN STRUCTURE in

 In order to achieve our ambitions for
40 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
the quarters
/ city core
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.
City in light – Retail Birmingham lighting proposal
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 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.
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 Liveable City
proposed re-working of bus routes 41
into and around the City Core and the The City Core should provide a place in
provision of the City Centre Interchange which people choose to shop, work, live and
for buses on Moor Street Queensway. spend their leisure time. Different needs
should be catered for, and opportunities to
Authentic City broaden the appeal of the city should be
grasped.
The city’s civic heart is focused around
the Council House, Town Hall and the
Expanding range and choice to create a
Art Galleries and Museum. Here, some
diverse retail offer will be a key priority.
of the finest showpiece buildings help
Opportunities to further expand the quantity
to define the image of Birmingham. The
and range of retailers at every level will be
redevelopment of the existing buildings
supported. To make Birmingham stand
within Paradise Circus will reconnect Broad
apart, the diversity and choice of specialist
Street and Centenary Square into the City
and independent trading will be promoted.
Core and also provide a fitting setting for
these world-class buildings and squares.
The Square shopping centre between Bull
Street and Priory Queensway currently
Much of the City Core is covered by
provides a range of value and niche retailers
conservation areas and significant Listed
including the Oasis Indoor Market. The
Buildings, such as the Victoria Law Courts,
centre adds diversity to the city’s retail offer
that require improved settings and
in terms of choice and price and these
management of the public realm in order
aspects will continue to be needed and also
to really show off and make the most of
promoted within the wider city centre.
their fine heritage and authentic character.
Cathedral walks improvement proposals (before & after)
bigcityplan.org.uk

42
© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
Snowhill District transformation area masterplan
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
• Connectivity The area links into major educational
Snow Hill station acts as a physical barrier centres and student accommodation. 43
to the expansion of the Business District. Good clear cycle routes will encourage
The redevelopment of the existing car sustainable travel, as well as serving office
park, giving access over the railway via workers.
ramps and escalator links through a new
station concourse to Snow Hill Square, the • Massing
new Metro extension, and the wider area General storey heights in the area
beyond will vastly improve connections. will range from 6 to 12 storeys, with a
stepping up from Lancaster Circus along
The improvements to pedestrian routes will the Queensway to St Chads to a cluster
establish vital, legible and necessary links of tall buildings grouped around Snow
to the Jewellery Quarter, the Gunsmiths’ Hill Queensway up to 30 storeys.
Quarter and the Learning Quarter of
Eastside. There is potential for a taller building
up to 16 storeys at the point within
The proposal for the High Speed 2 terminus the Children’s Hospital site where
at Moor Street Queensway focuses the Corporation Street meets Lancaster
need to provide clear and legible routes Circus, ensuring that views through to
to the Snow Hill District, with strong the historic towers of the main hospital
pedestrian routes through the Martineau building would be retained.
Galleries site and Masshouse.
If it is possible to develop over Snow
A new pedestrian priority route through Hill station, mass will step up from
the hospital site will open up access to new Livery Street with an overall height not
non-hospital development and generate exceeding 8 storeys, and retaining views
further permeability across the area. through from Cornwall and Edmund
Streets.
High quality streets with pedestrian priority,
well signed, and active throughout the day Building heights and proximity will need
and evening will be important. to take account of allowing good daylight
to activity areas and public spaces.
© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.

Post & Mail Square proposal Indicative option for transformation areas – Snow Hill District
the quarters
/ city core bigcityplan.org.uk

44
© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
New Street Station transformation area masterplan
• 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.
Sequential views will be carefully managed
to enhance the character of the district
and provide landmark reference points to
journeys through the area.
New Street Station
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
years on and the blockage to pedestrian
routes created by New Street station has
resulted in several vacant and underused
sites, with major recent investment
limited to the landmark Radisson Hotel at
Holloway Circus and residential apartments
around John Bright Street.
• 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 galvanise the
regeneration of the station’s southern
neighbourhood.
New Street Station southern approach from Southside
This area will be the hub of taxi drop-
off and pick-up. The public space will
be active and lively, sitting above new
retail shops on Hill Street and Station
Street. Ultimately this public space will
incorporate tall development, which could
be a mix of office, retail and residential.
A small number of local sites and buildings
will be subject to new mixed development
or redevelopment.
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.
• 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
streets are part of the station renewal
programme.
• Connectivity
New Street station will have six access
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.
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.
© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
The Hill Street link to Southside will see
significant environmental improvement 45
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
Future development on the southern
plaza will be tall, up to 30 storeys. 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.
• 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.

Indicative option for transformation area – New Street Station

the quarters
/ city core bigcityplan.org.uk
46 Eastside GUNSMITHS
QUARTER
47
Eastside is a central focus for regeneration activity in the city centre that has JEWELLERY
QUARTER
brought about the removal of the ‘concrete collar’ at Masshouse and the EASTSIDE
CITY
emergence of the area as a location for knowledge, skills and innovation. It CORE
has both great potential for accommodating the expansion of City Core uses WESTSIDE &
DIGBETH
through major mixed-use development alongside the established science, LADYWOOD
technology and learning activities. The proposals for high speed rail will bring
both major opportunities and challenges for the future of the quarter. SOUTHSIDE
& HIGHGATE

About the quarter

• Home to a number of educational
institutions including Birmingham
Metropolitan College, Ormiston
Academy, the 40 acre Aston University
campus with its 9,500 students and the
proposed Birmingham City University
campus bringing an additional 5,000
students.
• An estimated one million people a
year visit Millennium Point – England’s
largest millennium project outside of
London.
• Alongside modern developments
sit a number of historical buildings
including the fine Grade I Listed
Curzon Street Station – the original
terminus for the Birmingham to
London rail line.
• Occupying a 22 acre campus,
Birmingham Science Park Aston is a
focus for innovation-led knowledge
based businesses.
Eastside consists of three distinct
character areas. The area north of
Jennens Road, known as The Aston
Triangle, consists of the Aston University
campus with Birmingham Science Park
Aston. The area is dominated by large
individual buildings dating from the 1960s
– 1980s set within open spaces.
This pattern of development is
complemented by the more recently
completed structures around Jennens
Road including the distinctive Millennium
Point building. From here down to the
Victorian viaducts and east of Millennium
Point much of the land is cleared, but
interspersed with historical buildings
including Curzon Street Station. Some
of the historic Victorian street pattern
remains and with the Digbeth Branch
Canal, which runs along the eastern side
of the quarter, the area retains links to its
industrial heritage.
The spread of City Core uses has
seen development activity around the
Masshouse area that is more reflective in
scale and character to buildings within the
City Core.
The Vision
The overall vision for Eastside is to
maximise its unique and extensive
development potential 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. Responding
to the proposals for high speed rail will
transform Eastside into a key arrival
destination, unlocking development
opportunities and linking the area into the
City Core.

On the doorstep of the City Core, Eastside offers major

redevelopment opportunities and an established learning
and technology focus.

bigcityplan.org.uk
 GUNSMITHS
KEY Open spaces
QUARTER

JEWELLERY
QUARTER Moor Street & Eastside rail stations 1 NEW - Eastside Square
KEY Open spaces
Big Ideas CITY EASTSIDE Connected City GUNSMITHS
QUARTER KEY Open spaces
2 1
GUNSMITHS
Access to rail stations NEW - Eastside City Park
48 NEW - Eastside Square 49
CORE
JEWELLERYQUARTER
WESTSIDE & QUARTER
JEWELLERY Moor Street & Eastside rail stations 1 NEW - Eastside Square
Moor Street & Eastside rail stations
DIGBETH
LADYWOOD
On the doorstep of the City Core, Improved pedestrian
Curzon Streetconnections,
EASTSIDE
both
QUARTER

3
CITY
CORE
CITY Station
EASTSIDE Millenium Point
Access to public realm
rail stations 2 NEW - Eastside City Park
Eastside offers major redevelopment
SOUTHSIDE
into
KEYthe quarter and in forming the links
WESTSIDE &
LADYWOOD
CORE
DIGBETH
Open spaces Access to rail stations 2 NEW - Eastside City Park
4 Lakeside
& HIGHGATE
Birmingham Science Park Aston 3
GUNSMITHS WESTSIDE &

opportunities and an established learning

QUARTER
between activities
LADYWOOD
DIGBETH
and open spaces, will Curzon Street
& Aston Stationopen spaces
university Millenium Point public realm
JEWELLERY
QUARTER Moor Street & Eastside rail stations
SOUTHSIDE 1 NEW - Eastside
CurzonSquare
Street Station 3 Millenium Point public realm
and technology focus. The area has be vital in attracting visitors, customers,
25 NEW - Eastside 4
& HIGHGATE
CITY EASTSIDE
Existing block
SOUTHSIDE
structure Birmingham
NEW - Lancaster Science
Circus openPark Aston
space Lakeside & Aston university open spaces
City Park
4
& HIGHGATE
CORE
Access to rail stations Birmingham Science Park Aston Lakeside & Aston university open spaces
all the attributes to drive forward our
WESTSIDE & residents and further investment.
5
DIGBETH
Blocks within Eastside major
36
LADYWOOD

ambitions for Birmingham as a place of Curzon Street Station Corporation

Millenium PointStreet
Existing block
publicopen space
structure
realm NEW - Lancaster Circus open space
SOUTHSIDE transformation areas Existing block structure 5 NEW - Lancaster Circus open space
fantastic connections and a driver of the The area ofBirmingham
transformation Sciencesouth of NEW - other
Blockskey opportunities
within Eastside for
openmajor 6

DA
47
& HIGHGATE
Park Aston Lakeside & Aston university spaces Corporation Street open space
knowledge economy. The role of the Jennens RoadHigh will
speed rail viaduct
create new local variousBlocks
open within
spaces Eastside
transformation areas major 6 Corporation Street open space

RT
Existing block structure 5 transformation
NEW - Lancaster areas
Circus open space
7 NEW - other key opportunities for

MO
Birmingham Science Park Aston and the walking routes
Blocks and spaces
forming part bringing
of other direct High speed rail viaduct NEW - other
openkey opportunities for
7 various spaces

EET
educational establishments will be central major developments
and convenient links betweenmajor
Blocks within Eastside Eastside, HighStreet
speed rail viaduct
6 various open spaces

UT
Corporation open space
transformation areas Blocks forming part of other

STR

HM
in creating a hub for research, learning and the City Core
Rail and Digbeth. The detail
viaducts Blocks
NEW - other forming part offor
keydevelopments
major opportunities other
technological advances. The heart for the High
of these links is speed
set out rail in
viaduct
the Area of 7 major
various open developments
spaces

IDD
N
Existing open spaces Rail viaducts

TIO
city’s digital revolution will be Eastside. We Transformation
Blockssection
forming (p51). It will be
part of other Rail viaducts

LEW
major developments

OR A
will address a number of key issues so we vital that the network
New open spaces of local walking Existing open spaces

AY
can realise the full potential for Eastside. Rail viaducts
routes is extended north beyond Jennens Existing open spaces

CORP
Primary walking routes New open spaces
Road to connect
Existing the
open whole
spacesquarter. New open spaces
Local walking routes
• The huge opportunities that the We will support improvements to the Primary walking routes
proposals for high speed rail will bring. pedestrianMajor roadsspaces
New open
environment along these Primary walking routes
Local walking routes
Major road interventions and Local walking routes
routes and seek
Primary towalking
prioritiseroutestheir role. Major roads 4
• Quality of the connections with the City improved pedestrian crossing
Local walking routes Major roads
Core and Digbeth. Canal Major road interventions and
Major roads Major roadpedestrian
interventions and 5
Enhancements to the canal corridor as improved crossing

LA
Major road interventions and improved pedestrian crossing
• The strength and position of the a walking/cycling route will be central to Canal

WL
improved pedestrian crossing Canal
education establishments in delivering encouraging movement within the quarter

EY
KEY Canal Open spaces
learning and research.
GUNSMITHS
and between the different parts of the

MI
QUARTER

city centre.Moor
Improving connections to and 1 NEW - Eastside Square

DD
JEWELLERY
Street & Eastside rail stations
• How the area can become a leading
QUARTER

LE
EASTSIDE
CITY
beyond the Ring Road will be
Access to rail stations important. 2 NEW - Eastside City Park 4
driver in technology, science and digital
CORE

URBAN STRUCTURE at URBAN STRUCTURE in

WA
WESTSIDE & 7
3
DIGBETH
connectivity.
LADYWOOD

Y
Curzon Street Station Millenium Point public realm
present
URBAN STRUCTURE at
SOUTHSIDE
& HIGHGATE URBAN
20 years
URBAN
URBAN
STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE at
Science Park Astonat
STRUCTURE
Birmingham in
URBAN
URBAN STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE
4 Lakeside & Aston
in
university open spacesin

present present
present
20 years
Existing block structure
20
20 years
years
5 NEW - Lancaster Circus open space
Blocks within Eastside major 6 Corporation Street open space
transformation areas 2
BI RK

BI RK BIRPM
PA

NEW - other key opportunities for

RM A

PA
RM A IR RI KMAI STAST

7 7
IN STPO

High speed rail viaduct

IN TOMINGANSTGONON

various open spaces

GH

GH NNGHAOHA
B BARI K RK

BI BRI K RK
BI RNK

S
PA PA

PA PA
ARM AS

RMRMA A
AM HA MN M
A

Blocks forming part of other

AY
R
IN

IN IN
SC

SC M S CIECIE
GIH ON

GHGOHNON
major developments

Q-W
IE
EAN

ST ST
T

AMAM
NC IEN CE CE
MC
ESC

E
S S

SC SC
Rail viaducts
C N N

LEARNING
IE

EET
IE IE
NC

QUARTER

NC NC
CE
E

LEARNING

E E
Quarter boundaries

TR
Existing open spaces
QUARTER LEARNING
LEARNING QUARTER
LEARNING

S
QUARTER Key
Quartercharacteristic
boundaries areas with
QUARTER

OR
LEARNING New open spaces significant boundaries Quarter boundaries 1
Key characteristic areas with Quarter boundaries

MO
QUARTER LEARNING
QUARTER
LEARNING significant boundaries
Pedestrian connections Key characteristic areas with
Primary
QUARTER walking routes Key characteristic
significant areas with
boundaries
Pedestrian connections
Local walking routes Rail line significant boundaries
Pedestrian connections
Major roads Rail line Pedestrian connections
Proposed HS2 line Rail line
Major road interventions and Proposed HS2 line Rail line
improved pedestrian crossing Major highways barriers
Major highways barriers Proposed HS2 line
Canal Proposed HS2 line
Central
Central nodes
nodes Major highways© barriers
Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
Major highways barriers
Central nodes Eastside masterplan
the quarters
/ eastside Central nodes bigcityplan.org.uk
 Knowledge City
50
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
the quarters
/ eastside
with additional work space and high tech
infrastructure.
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 sq meters of
accommodation acting as the new home
for media, arts and engineering learning.
Eastside aerial view
Smart City Area of Transformation
51
Digital technology will be central to the Eastside
future knowledge economy allowing links
to be created which are not defined by Eastside has long been seen as an
geography. Such technology will connect area in which to expand the City Core,
people around the world instantly. delivering major change through mixed-
Birmingham Science Park Aston has the use developments in the area south of
potential to create a ‘digital port’ for Jennens Road.
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.
© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
Eastside transformation area masterplan
bigcityplan.org.uk
 With the proposals for high speed • Connectivity Eastside City Park will create a key focal Mixed-use blocks will create a vibrant 24/7 • Heritage
52 rail the focus on Eastside as an area
of transformation has been further
Integrating this area into the wider city
centre will be an important aspect for its
point for the area providing a catalyst
for regeneration. The park will create a
feel to the area with visitor attractions,
employment opportunities, leisure and
The area still retains some distinct
character and a number of attractive
The proposed 53
strengthened and its position as a major
arrival destination is now at the fore. The
future transformation. Strong attractive
walkable routes will be created within the
pleasant and walkable route connecting
the different elements of Eastside to the
city living accommodation. buildings and features. New
developments will take a sensitive and
High Speed 2
area bounded by Jennens Road, Moor
Street Queensway, Lawley Middleway
area allowing easy circulation for people
accessing the station and beyond.
City Core and eastwards to beyond the
Middleway. The delivery of the Eastside
Enhancing the new spaces and walking
routes with active ground floor uses will
responsive approach to incorporating
such assets through reuse and retention
set to deliver
and the viaduct has great opportunity to
deliver both a new terminus station for The viaduct arches will create a distinctive
City Park will be a priority. be encouraged. Activity should spill out
onto the streets to create a lively and
in the context of delivering wider benefits
for the area.
journey times
High Speed 2 route with opportunities for
landmark developments and attractive
environment, enhanced with lighting,
and space for temporary uses to provide
The new Eastside Square will provide a
focal point for those arriving from the
interactive atmosphere.
Curzon Street Station will become the
of 49 minutes
spaces. attractive connections into Digbeth. station, dispersing people onto walkable • Massing focal point, acting as one of the key between
routes. Expanding City Core uses into the area accesses for the High Speed 2 terminus
Our approach to the future of this area From the station concourse a series of will see opportunities for a range of but as a feature in its own right reflecting Birmingham and
sets out a clear framework to guide new access routes through and out into Street furniture and distinctive lighting of building heights from 6 to 10 storeys its historical importance and architectural
change, which will ensure that the city Eastside, Digbeth and out to Moor Street places and buildings will provide visual rising to 16 storeys to mark key views. quality. It will be set within a new hard- London could be
centre capitalises upon the opportunities Queensway for the City Core. interest, enhance safety and create a landscaped square.
that this major investment in infrastructure sense of place. Around the new squares blocks and worth £1.5 billion
will bring. This approach will be • Public Realm The rail arches and other distinct
flexible, reflecting uncertainties over New public spaces will be created to • Growth
buildings should be of a human scale, well
articulated and visually diverse to reflect industrial features, including the canal a year to the
eventual delivery of High Speed 2 line.
Transformation of this part of Eastside will
provide focal points and key nodes to
generate meeting places and guide
Core uses including office, leisure and
residential are likely to expand as a
the mix of use and intimate character. environment, will play an important role
in guiding an authentic environment West Midlands
be planned for the short, medium and
long term and come forward in a number
people through the quarter to their
destination.
result of the High Speed 2 terminus and
improved connections to New Street
A range of new buildings fronting the
Eastside City Park will form an integral
complementing the modern structures.
economy.
of elements linked together. Station. part of the new terminus building and be
of a scale and height in keeping with the
station.

© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.

Moor Street and New Street Station link

the quarters
/ eastside Indicative option for transformation area – Eastside bigcityplan.org.uk
54 Digbeth
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.
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
View towards Eastside Station from Fazeley Street
revolution and planned developments
of the 21st century. The important
heritage is protected in three
conservation areas: Warwick Bar and
Digbeth, Deritend, Bordesley 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.
GUNSMITHS
QUARTER
55
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
EASTSIDE
CITY
CORE
WESTSIDE &
DIGBETH
LADYWOOD
SOUTHSIDE
& HIGHGATE
The Gun Barrel Proof House (built 1813),
set slightly apart on Banbury Street, is
the sole example of an early 19th century
works and remains in its original use.
There are very few surviving domestic
properties in the area.
The Old Crown public house on Deritend
High Street, built in the late 15th century,
provides one of the earliest remaining
buildings in the city.
Much of the historic environment
is protected by conservation area
designations which aim to preserve and
enhance the character and appearance of
the heritage assets.
Running through and across the area,
the canal and railway structures provide
examples of late 18th and 19th century
transport engineering. These structures
add to the hard industrial appearance
created by the traditional building types
with the viaducts dominating the area.
Beyond this core area more modern
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.
bigcityplan.org.uk
 GUNSMITHS
KEY Open spaces
QUARTER
Moor Street & Eastside rail stations
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
1 NEW - St. Martin’s & Moat Square
Access to rail stations
2 NEW - Eastside Square
CITY EASTSIDE
CORE

WESTSIDE &
Birmingham Coach Station
3 NEW - Beorma public realm
DIGBETH

The Masterplan Vision

LADYWOOD
• Responding to the opportunities and
GUNSMITHS
KEY Open spaces
56 challenges thatblock
Existing
QUARTER
the structure
proposal for High 4 NEWMoor - Connaught
Street & Square
Eastside rail stations 57
1
SOUTHSIDE
& HIGHGATE JEWELLERY NEW - St. Martin’s & Moat Square
The ambition for the area is to use its KEYKEY
Speed 2 in neighbouring Eastside will
QUARTER
Open
Open
spaces
spaces
GUNSMITHS
GUNSMITHS
Access to rail stations
5 Custard Factory public realm 2
EASTSIDE
QUARTERQUARTER
Prposed
bring. MoorMoor high
CITY
Street
Street speed
& Eastside railstations
& Eastside
rail viaduct
rail stations NEW - Eastside Square
historic roots as a foundation for growing 1 1
CORE
JEWELLERY
JEWELLERY NEWNEW
- St. Martin’s
- St. Martin’s
& Moat
& Moat
Square
Square
KEY NEWBirmingham
Open6spaces Coachpark
Station
QUARTERQUARTER WESTSIDE &
Blocks
Access towithin
Access rail Southern
stations Gateway
tostations
rail - Digbeth viaduct 3
DIGBETH
its established creative businesses and
CITY
CORE
EASTSIDEEASTSIDE
CITY
GUNSMITHS
CORE
LADYWOOD

2 2NEWNEW
- Eastside
- Eastside
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major
Connected City transformation areas
QUARTER
Moor Street & Eastside rail stations
developing a vibrant urban community
WESTSIDE
WESTSIDE
& &
Birmingham
Birmingham CoachCoach
Station
Station 1 NEW
7 NEW
-NEW
St. Martin’s
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- Typhoo Moat Square
structure
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3 3
JEWELLERY DIGBETHDIGBETH SOUTHSIDE
LADYWOOD
LADYWOOD
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Access part of other
& HIGHGATE
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NEW - Beorma
- Beorma
public
public
realm realm
with entertainment, living and cultural
EASTSIDE
2 NEW
8 NEW
-NEW
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CITY
CORE
SOUTHSIDE
SOUTHSIDE

opportunities. By embracing the existing

major
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pedestrian
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blockblock
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structure both 4 4NEW - Warwick
Prposed
- Connaught
- Connaught high
Square speed rail viaduct
Square 5 Custard Factory public realm
WESTSIDE & & HIGHGATE
& HIGHGATE
Birmingham Coach Station
into the quarter and between activities 3 NEW -NEW - other key opportunities for
DIGBETH
Rail viaducts Beorma public realm
9 Custard 6
LADYWOOD

5 5 NEW - Digbeth viaduct park

AY
building fabric and delivering a high Prposed
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4

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quality, exciting, and safe public realm
& HIGHGATE
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within
within
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visitors, customers, Southern
Southern
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spaces and
residents Gateway
further 6 6
NEWNEW- Digbeth
- Digbeth
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park of other 7 NEW - Typhoo Factory Basin

Q
Digbeth will become a flourishing creative major
major
transformation
transformation
areas areas 5 Custard Factory public realm

ET
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investment.Blocks
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of other 7 7
NEWNEW major
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- Typhoo developments
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RE
and cultural hub for the city. Blocks within Southern Gateway 6 NEW - Digbeth viaduct park NEW - other key opportunities for 8
major major
developments
developments 8 8
NEWNEW Rail
- Warwick viaducts
- Warwick
Bar public
Bar public
realmrealm 9

ST
major transformation areas various open spaces 2 7
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other Factory
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OR
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various
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MO
major developments NEW - Warwick Bar public realm Z
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as a major NEW - otherNewkey open
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In Digbeth the fundamentals are all Local walking routes 9 various open spaces 7 ST
block to movement
New New
Canalopenopen inspaces
spaces and through the
there to create a thriving, active and Existing open spaces Canals & River Rea space interventions
quarter. We will support
River Rea the remodelling 9
authentic part of the city centre. With Canals
Canals
& River
& River
Rea space
Rea space
interventions
interventions
of this road
New open spaces dominance,
to reduce car Primary walking routes 9
some enhancements to the physical
introducing an
Primary improved
Primary
walking
walking pedestrian
routes
routes Local walking routes
infrastructure of the area, the potential Canals
Local & River
Local
walking Rea routes
walking space interventions
routes Canal
environment and create space for activity
can be truly fulfilled. To facilitate the CanalCanal River Rea 9 9
along its length.
Primary walking routes
RiverRiver
Rea Rea
renaissance we will address a number of Local walking routes
KEY Open spaces 3
key issue, including:
GUNSMITHS Canal
QUARTER
Action to River
rationalise
MoorReaStreet &the gyratory
Eastside at the
rail stations
JEWELLERY
• Providing safe and convenient top end ofAccess
the High Street, at the Bullring,
1 NEW - St. Martin’s & Moat Square 9 9
QUARTER
to rail stations 1 ST

BORDE
2 NEW - Eastside Square
EASTSIDE
CITY
connections into and through the will be central to drawing people across DI G E
AT 9
CORE

Birmingham Coach Station B ET G

WESTSIDE &
quarter. DIGBETH
from the City Core into the area. The 3 NEW - Beorma public realm H D
OO
LADYWOOD
9
FL

SLEY MIDDLEWAY
transformation the Wholesale
ofblock Markets 5
• Supporting its gritty and authentic
SOUTHSIDE
& HIGHGATE
Existing structure 4 NEW - Connaught Square HIG 9
URBAN STRUCTURE at
character. URBAN STRUCTURE in will play a key role in the redesign. Links
Prposed high
will be significantly speed rail between
enhanced viaduct 5 Custard Factory public realm 4 H ST
. D E R IT
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present
• Balancing the needs of local 20 years
businesses, residents, cultural and
Digbeth, the City
Blocks
major transformation areas
CoreSouthern
within and Southside.
Gateway 6 NEW - Digbeth viaduct park 6

URBAN STRUCTURE at URBAN STRUCTURE in

9
URBAN
URBAN STRUCTURE
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at at URBAN
URBAN STRUCTURE
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forming part of other in in 7 NEW - Typhoo Factory Basin
creative activities.
major developments 8 NEW - Warwick Bar public realm
present
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URBAN STRUCTURE at present
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viaducts
9 NEW - other key opportunities for
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Key characteristic areas with
significant
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boundaries
boundaries
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Pedestrian
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characteristic areas with Pedestrian connections
significant boundaries
Major River
Major
highwayRea
highway
barriers
barriers
Pedestrian connections Major highway barriers
Canals
RiverRiver
Rea Rea
Major highway barriers River Rea
CanalsCentral nodes
Canals © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
River Rea Canals
Central
Central
nodes
nodes Digbeth masterplan
the quarters
/ digbeth Canals Central nodes bigcityplan.org.uk
© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
Central nodes
URBAN STRUCTURE at URBAN STRUCTURE in
 The High Street will become a primary
58 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 Middleway road. It has a
strategic role which will be reinforced
through improvements to lighting,
materials and spaces.
the quarters
/ digbeth
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 re-use,
Typhoo Basin public realm proposal
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 incorporating
a permanent modern art gallery 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.
Public realm at Digbeth viaduct
The Cattle Station is 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
edgy 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. 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
59
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
60 Southside and Highgate
Southside, including the Highgate residential area, has a rich mix of existing
activities giving the area a unique spirit and vibrancy. Coupled with this character
are significant redevelopment opportunities that will complement the area to
create one of the most diverse city centre quarters that will be a major cultural
and visitor destination.
About the quarter
• The Wholesale Markets site presents
8ha of development potential on the
doorstep of the City Core.
• The historic manor house and moat
lie underneath the Wholesale Markets
site and represent part of the medieval
heart of Birmingham.
• Historic retail markets are part of
Birmingham’s rich heritage and history;
and are home to the largest inland fish
market in the UK.
• The Hippodrome Theatre with the
Birmingham Royal Ballet, is the UK’s
most visited theatre with over half-a-
million patrons every year.
• Home to the city’s Chinese Quarter
bringing in thousands of international
visitors every year and hosts the
Chinese New Year celebrations.
• 75,000 visitors to the UK’s biggest
free annual Pride Festival around the
Gay Village’s thriving, independently
owned café bars, pubs and clubs.
Southside grew from the original heart
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
“back-to-back” housing, shops and pubs
spread rapidly southwards towards and
over the River Rea.
The development of the Wholesale
Markets in the 1970s dramatically altered
the original street pattern and the
fortress-like building turns its back on
the surrounding area, leaving Southside
with fractured links and dead frontages,
thereby isolating the areas and buildings
beyond.
The removal of subways at Smallbrook
Queensway in the early 1990s improved
the pedestrian connections to the area
along the primary walking route of
Hurst Street. Investment followed with
the Arcadian Centre, the extended and
refurbished Hippodrome Theatre and the
restored historic “back-to-back” houses.
These provide significant cultural assets
for Southside alongside successful bars
and restaurants. During the last decade,
high-density residential apartment
development has provided new urban
living which has greatly increased
pedestrian activity and has begun to help
support a greater mix of commercial uses
around Hurst Street.
In the streets south of Bromsgrove Street,
some of the former industrial buildings
have been taken over by vibrant café
GUNSMITHS
QUARTER
61
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
EASTSIDE
CITY
CORE
WESTSIDE &
DIGBETH
LADYWOOD
SOUTHSIDE
& HIGHGATE
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,
down to the River Rea and beyond to
Highgate, is covered by low intensity
industrial premises. Many units provide
space for small engineering companies
and a variety of other commercial
operations. However some parts of the
area are underutilised and remain empty.
The unattractive environment isolates and
severs the Highgate area from otherwise
walkable routes to the City Core and
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
 GUNSMITHS
KEY
QUARTER

JEWELLERY
QUARTER
GUNSMITHS
KEY
Open spaces
EASTSIDE QUARTER

theAccess to rail and

stations
CITY
The Masterplan Vision with City Core neighbouring KEY
1 NEW - St. Martin’s & Moat Square
CORE JEWELLERY
QUARTER GUNSMITHS
Open spaces
62 areas. Birmingham Coach Station 63
WESTSIDE &
DIGBETH QUARTER EASTSIDE
LADYWOOD CITY
Access to rail stations
1 NEW
JEWELLERY CORE

Our vision for the area is to bring about

SOUTHSIDE
QUARTER

• Supporting development of the

WESTSIDE &
DIGBETH
EASTSIDE
2 Edgbaston Street public realm Open spaces
- St. Martin’s & Moat Square
LADYWOOD CITY
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Station
significant change of the Wholesale
& HIGHGATE
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CORE

1
distinctive cultural and entertainment
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DIGBETH
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LADYWOOD
& HIGHGATE
assets. Blocks within Southern Gateway structure
2
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opportunity as a catalyst for bringing
GUNSMITHS
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QUARTER
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area. Improving the transport links
CITY EASTSIDE
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vibrant communities
major
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railstations
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part of other
11 NEW 4
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and strengthening the areas character
WESTSIDE
WESTSIDE
& &
DIGBETH
DIGBETH vacant and underused
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spaces 6 NEW -major major transformation
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developments
Connaught 2
Birmingham
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LADYWOOD
LADYWOOD

buildings. Blocks forming part of other

will create a vibrant, liveable and well- 22 Edgbaston
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6 NEW - Village Square
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7 Highgate major developments DI G
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connected part of the city centre, creating
& HIGHGATE
& HIGHGATE
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realm B ET
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a much improved family neighbourhood. Local walking routes
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River Rea Local walking routes
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liveable areas of the city centre. While
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number of key issues will need to be E
WESTSIDE &
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ST.
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addressed in order for the wider area to improved

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activity that befits a cosmopolitan part of
fulfil its potential. These include:
& HIGHGATE

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URBAN STRUCTURE at URBAN STRUCTURE in Residential
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areas Residential areas
© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.

present 20 years Southside & Highgate masterplan

the quarters
/ southside bigcityplan.org.uk
 Hurst Street – festival street, a primary
64 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.
The idea of Southside’s squares, a new
network of open spaces linked by the local
walking routes, will create an improved
range of spaces. 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. 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 local space but in the longer
term could become a wider improvements
with a focal point, and improvements
to its overall quality and function will
be promoted. Across the wider area,
improved open spaces will be sought as
part of individual redevelopment schemes.
quarters
the / southside
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.
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 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.
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.
Investment in the public realm will give
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.
Southside city living
Southside has growing residential The long-term future of the pocket of Authentic City
communities with a dynamic urban industry and the fringes of the adjacent 65
village character emerging in the Chinese industrial area will be considered as part Southside’s authenticity and character
Quarter and along the Bradford Street of the masterplan’s aims to expand the are most intact and well-reflected along
corridor. Residential uses as part of the quantity and quality of family housing Bradford Street and the eastern side of
mixed-use redevelopment of derelict in Highgate. This would also result in Bristol Street where there are significant
sites within the Chinese Quarter and Gay improved connections and a higher attractive 19th century historic building
Village will continue to form an important quality environment. frontages. These features will be retained
part of Southside’s regeneration. Such as part of the regeneration of empty or
uses should be encouraged where they The Bristol Street South site has a underused buildings and sites behind. In
do not compromise the entertainment prominent frontage to Bristol Street and addition, investment will be encouraged
and leisure uses that provide the unique Belgrave Middleway and presents an throughout the area in the refurbishment
essence of Southside’s character. The opportunity for a significant mixed-use of existing character and listed buildings
diversity of the area relies on the coming landmark development based around a such as the landmark SBQ Building
together of entertainment venues, significantly improved area of public open on Smallbrook Queensway. Such an
businesses and residents to support a space. The development will provide approach will help to protect the future
dynamic community. strong links to Sherlock Street and Kent of the some of the city’s most interesting
Street as local walking routes connecting 20th century architectural features.
Highgate is a significant area of into the City Core. The site will support a
residential provision in the city centre. mix of uses that help to provide a magnet The industrial area beyond the Wholesale
Sitting on the fringe of the city centre, to draw economic and pedestrian activity Markets site will continue to provide
it has good links to areas beyond into this part of the city centre. space for small scale engineering and
the Middleway. 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.
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-to-
day 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
 commercial activities that provide jobs
66 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
redevelopment of the Wholesale Markets
site and to facilitate the growth and
improvement of Highgate residential area.
Area of Major Transformation
Southern Gateway
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
redevelopment of the Wholesale Markets
will facilitate opportunities for a much
wider area to undergo transformation.
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 Markets.
© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
quarters
the / southside
The centrepiece of this area will be Cafes, bars and restaurants will be space, and the introduction of a water Around the public square blocks and • Heritage
Moat Square, a new public space based encouraged around new squares and feature to recall the presence of the buildings should be of human scale, well- The area has a distinct character which 67
around the archaeological remains of the spaces with the opportunity to spill out. historic moat. articulated and visually diverse to reflect includes buildings, street patterns and
original Birmingham Manor House, the the mix of uses and intimate character. archaeological remains. Redevelopment
historic heart of the city. Expansion of the We will encourage a diverse variety of There will be a network of high quality Storey heights will step up square with must be sensitive and responsive to this
Southern Gateway area offers potential uses and activities within the blocks pedestrian priority streets. Digbeth High setbacks to the south and west to ensure character and retain, reuse and enhance
to extend Birmingham’s retail offer at and buildings and on the streets, and Street, Bradford Street, Moseley Street there is good daylight access throughout these features.
its northern end, graduating through embrace the Irish Quarter and reflect and Cheapside will be pleasant local the year.
niche retail, improved markets, food its heritage and culture. walking routes connecting to new family The history and archaeology of the
and leisure space around Moat Square housing, Highgate and its park, revived Any residential development should seek area, and particularly the area around
to new residential neighbourhoods Linked to the Moat Square will be the industry and commerce, public transport to provide a broad range of typology the original moated manor, will be
which offer the potential to stimulate the opportunity for a new Modern Art corridors, and the City Core. including family housing 3 to 4 stories acknowledged, respected, interpreted
regeneration of Highgate. Museum showcasing exhibitions from a high beyond the River Rea and into and incorporated in development
range of local and international artists. Street furniture and distinctive lighting of Highgate, complementing the existing proposals.
• Growth places and buildings will provide visual largely apartment-based resident
The area will form a thriving part of • Public Realm interest, encourage use, enhance safety community which will be expanded closer Key views such as St Martin’s, Rotunda,
the city centre with opportunities for A new major public square based and create a sense of place. to the core. Digbeth Police Station, the Paragon
residential, retail, leisure, entertainment, around the historic site of the original Hotel, and the Digbeth HMV Institute,
offices and high tech manufacturing Birmingham Manor House and moat, • Connectivity which reinforce the identity and character
industries. will create a focus for local culture, The historic street pattern will be restored of the area, will be identified and
leisure and performance, incorporate and enhanced, with a clear hierarchy of protected.
The city’s retail market functions will be a market function, and interpret street use and character. Streets will be
integrated within and to the western edge the history and archaeology of this pedestrianised close to the core with
of the new Moat Square and adjoining important site. shared surface off Moat Square and public
buildings, and its profile will be raised transport focused on the High Street,
by encouraging new niche and themed The change of level will be exploited to Sherlock Street and Bradford Street. The
traders to complement and extend the form terraces, activity and performance Coach station will be a key arrival point,
existing range of its offer. 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 will be made.
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. © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
Southern Gateway transformation area masterplan Example of Modern Art Museum – MOMA in New York Indicative options for transformation area – Southern Gateway
bigcityplan.org.uk
68 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.
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
GUNSMITHS
QUARTER
69
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
EASTSIDE
CITY
CORE
WESTSIDE &
DIGBETH
LADYWOOD
SOUTHSIDE
& HIGHGATE
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 conversion of the former Royal
Mail sorting office anchors a concentration
of premium retail and entertainment uses.
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.
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
 GUNSMITHS
QUARTER

JEWELLERY
QUARTER

CITY EASTSIDE
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WESTSIDE &
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DIGBETH
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LADYWOOD
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Central © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
GREEN ATWOOD Majornodes
nodes barriers
highway
GREEN
Residential areas
CITY CORE CITY CORE Residential
Residential
Central areas
nodesareas
Westside masterplan
quarters
the / westside LADYWOOD LADYWOOD
Residential areas
bigcityplan.org.uk

Quarter boundaries
WESTSIDE WESTSIDE
 The Broad Street corridor will be the
72 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 Bus 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
quarters
the / westside
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.
New Library of Birmingham
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.
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 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.
The new library
of Birmingham
will be the
largest public
library in Europe
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 well-
connected desirable place to live.
Smart City
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.
Southern Gateway transformation area masterplan
Area of Transformation
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.
© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
• Growth
Westside is a truly vibrant area of mixed- 73
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.
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.
bigcityplan.org.uk
 • Public Realm
74 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
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 75
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.

© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.

Indicative option for transformation area – Westside Paradise Forum redevelopment proposal
quarters
the / westside bigcityplan.org.uk
76 The Jewellery Quarter
The Jewellery Quarter is a special part of Birmingham’s heritage: an asset that
supports the authentic character of the city centre and differentiates it from
other large UK cities. It also is unique internationally as a centre of excellence in
the manufacture and trade of jewellery.
About the quarter
• In recognition of its important
industrial heritage dating from
the 18th century, the city council is
working to have the Jewellery Quarter
designated as a World Heritage Site.
• It has the world’s busiest Assay
Office and Europe’s largest School of
Jewellery.
• It boasts the award-winning Museum
of the Jewellery Quarter and the Pen
Museum, together with art galleries
including the Royal Birmingham
Society of Artists.
• 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
GUNSMITHS
QUARTER 77
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
CITY EASTSIDE
CORE
WESTSIDE &
DIGBETH
LADYWOOD
SOUTHSIDE
& HIGHGATE
the green formal setting of the Georgian
St Paul’s churchyard, to the industrial
middle’s gritty streets and industrial
workshops dating from the 18th to the Key to the
20th century. The Golden Triangle retains
many of its historic 2-3 storey redbrick and Jewellery
tile roofed buildings housing the biggest
concentration of much of the area’s Quarter’s
jewellery-related businesses.
future success
The north-west portion of the quarter
contains the historic Key Hill and will be re-
Warstone Lane Cemeteries which, along
with St Paul’s churchyard, provide the establishing
quarter with pleasant outdoor spaces.
historical
The character of the quarter changes
dramatically in the 2 or 3 street blocks
linkages to
closest to the City Core between the
canal and Great Charles Street – part of
the City Core
the former Inner Ring Road. Here, under
the landmark BT Telecommunications
across Great
Tower, larger-scale office buildings, some
converted to residential, date mainly from
Charles Street
the early to mid-20th century. and improving
The building of the Inner Ring Road in pedestrian
the 1960s effectively halted the natural
spread of the City Core into the Jewellery routes to the
Quarter. Large vacant sites still front much
of Great Charles Street, accentuating the heart of the
severance caused by the road, making
the quarter as a whole difficult to find quarter.
and access on foot from the City Core
unpleasant.
bigcityplan.org.uk
 GUNSMITHS
QUARTER

The Masterplan Vision The masterplan envisages the designation

JEWELLERY
QUARTER KEY Open spaces
78 of the Jewellery Quarter as a World
CITY EASTSIDE

Clock - heart of Jewellery Quarter

79
1
CORE

Our vision is to evolve the Jewellery Heritage site, as a living industrial quarter,
WESTSIDE &
St.Paul’s Square
DIGBETH
LADYWOOD
Quarter into an urban village, driven by with the preservation of its unique historic Jewellery Quarter & Snow Hill Stations 2 St. Philip’s churchyard
its historic jewellery trade and emerging character as a key element of its future
SOUTHSIDE
Access to rail stations
GUNSMITHS
QUARTER

creative industries, with a growing success.

& HIGHGATE
3 NEW - Ludgate Hill public realm
KEY
M
Open spaces
JEWELLERY
QUARTER GUNSMITHS
Metro stops 4 St. Chad’s public realm
residential population. Key to its future
QUARTEREASTSIDE
CITY
Clock - heart of Jewellery Quarter
JEWELLERYCORE
KEY 1Open spaces
St.Paul’s Square
success will be re-establishing historical
QUARTER
WESTSIDE & While the quarter has all the qualities 5 NEW - Livery Street canal area under viaduct
Existing block structure
DIGBETH

8
LADYWOOD CITY EASTSIDE

Jewellery Quarter
Clock - heart & Snow Hill
of Jewellery Stations
centre’sQuarter 21 St.St.Paul’s

GR
CORE
to make it one of the city most Philip’sSquare
churchyard
links to the City Core across Great Charles
6
WESTSIDE &

.H
Newhall Square
SOUTHSIDE DIGBETH
Access to rail stations Blocks within Snow
realmHill District &
32 NEW
LADYWOOD

Street and improving pedestrian routes to

& HIGHGATE
authentic and desirable
Jewellery Quarter areas in which
& Snow to
Hill Stations - Ludgate
St. Philip’s Hill public
churchyard

AM
M Metro
Accessstops
live we will address a number of key issues
to rail stations 43 NEW - Ludgate Hill publictransformation
Westside major areas
7
SOUTHSIDE

the heart of the quarter. St. Chad’s public realm realm NEW - Golden Square

PT
& HIGHGATE

WAY
Blocks forming part of other
M forExisting

ON
in order it to fulfil
Metro blockits
stops potential: 54 NEW
structure - Livery
St. Chad’s Streetrealm
public
major
canal area under viaduct
developments 8 Warstone Lane & Key Hill cemetaries

ST
Big Ideas 65 Newhall

IDDLE
Square
• Lack of Blocks
public within
Existing Snow
spaces
block Hill District
beyond
structure St &Paul’s NEW - Livery Street canal area under viaduct
Rail viaducts 9 NEW - Albion Square
Westside major transformation areas
Square.Blocks
Blocksforming
within Snow
part ofHill District &
other
76 NEW - Golden
Newhall Square
Square
The Jewellery Quarter, alongside 10 NEW -Kettleworks open space

OOD M
Westside
major major transformation areas
developments 87 Warstone Existing
Lane &
NEW - Golden open
Key
Square Hillspaces
cemetaries
Digbeth, remains a key component of • Poor connections with
Blocks forming the
part of City
other Core.
Rail viaducts
major developments 98 NEW - Albion
Warstone Square
Lane & Key Hill cemetaries 8
Birmingham’s unique heritage as the ‘City • The long-standing vacant and New open spaces
109 NEW
NEW-Kettleworks open space

LADYW
Rail viaducts
Existing open spaces - Albion Square
of 1000 Trades’. These sorts of areas make underused sites along key main
a city worth visiting. Grainy but special Existing
New openopen spaces
spaces 10 Canal space
NEW -Kettleworks interventions
open space
corridors. 7
to our city, it is vital that its authentic New space
open spaces Primary walking routes
Canal interventions
character is both protected and cared for, • Supporting small jewellery design, Local walking routes M
Primary
manufacturing walking routes businesses
andinterventions
Canal space creative Canal
for both visitors and the local community Local walking routes
to enjoy. and adding further
Primary
Canal economic
walking routes activity. Rail line
Local
Rail linewalking routes A38 Corridor

FRE
• How development
Corridor pressures can be
Canal
A38 Major road interventions and
The quarter has all the ingredients to Rail line
Major road interventions and and 5 4

DER
GUNSMITHS
QUARTER effectively managed
A38 Corridor
to maintain improved pedestrian crossing 10
make it a place where people will want toKEY improved pedestrian crossing 1
enhanceMajor
the qualities of the historic

ICK
road interventions and Open spaces
JEWELLERY
QUARTER
visit and live. Its proximity to the City Core
EASTSIDE improved pedestrian crossing
environment.

ST
CITY
Clock - heart of Jewellery Quarter 9
and the competitive rents make it an ideal 1 St.Paul’s Square
CORE

WESTSIDE &
DIGBETH
LADYWOOD
place to locate creative businesses. Jewellery Quarter & Snow Hill Stations 2 St. Philip’s churchyard 3

ST

.
ST
GE
Access to rail stations
SOUTHSIDE

3 NEW - Ludgate Hill public realm

ES
OR
& HIGHGATE
SA 6

RL
GE
URBAN STRUCTURE at M
URBAN STRUCTURE in
Metro stops 4 St. Chad’s public realm ND

HA
PI M
URBAN STRUCTURE at URBAN STRUCTURE atin URBAN
5 NEW - LiverySTRUCTURE in TS

.C
present URBAN
20 years STRUCTURE Street canal area under viaduct P

GR
Existing block structure AR
ADE NE
present 20 years
present
Blocks within Snow Hill District & 20 years
6 Newhall Square
W
HA
LL
Westside major transformation areas
Blocks forming part of other
7 NEW - Golden Square ST

major developments 8 Warstone Lane & Key Hill cemetaries 2

Rail viaducts 9 NEW - Albion Square
Existing open spaces 10 NEW -Kettleworks open space
JEWELLERY JEWELLERY
QUARTER QUARTER

JEWELLERY
New open spaces
JEWELLERY
QUARTER QUARTER

Canal space interventions Quarter boundaries

JEWELLERY JEWELLERY
QUARTERPrimary CITY CORE QUARTER
CITY CORE
walking routes Quarter boundaries
Pedestrian connections
Local walking routes CITY CORE
CITY CORE Metro line with
Pedestrian stops
connections
Canal
Rail line Major
Metrohighways
line with barriers
stops
Quarter boundaries
A38 Corridor Central nodes
Major highways barriers
CITY CORE © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
Major road interventions
CITY COREand
Pedestrian connections
Central nodes
improved pedestrian crossing
Metro lineJewellery
with stops
Quarter masterplan
quarters
the / jewellery quarter bigcityplan.org.uk
Major highways barriers

Central nodes
 Liveable City
80
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
quarters
the / jewellery quarter
surrounding jewellery shops, designers
and manufacturers that make the area
special.
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
Improved pedestrian connections, both
into the quarter and in forming the links
between activities and open spaces, will
be vital. Currently, a major impediment
to the vitality and attractiveness of the
quarter are the poor connections with the
City Core.
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
Golden Square proposal
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 mixed-use 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.
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
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.
In creating an urban village, 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
Proposed public realm improvements to create a useable space under Livery Street viaduct
Triangle and the industrial middle
contains the greatest concentration 81
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.
bigcityplan.org.uk
82 The Gunsmiths’ Quarter GUNSMITHS
QUARTER
83
The Gunsmiths’ Quarter owes its name and much of its character to its historical JEWELLERY
QUARTER
links with the manufacture and trade of guns established in the area toward the EASTSIDE
CITY
end of the 18th century. While much of the gun related activity has ceased the CORE
area is still a significant source of employment-generating activity but which has WESTSIDE &
DIGBETH
seen the reintroduction of residential uses, growth in commercial activity and the LADYWOOD

expansion of student accommodation in recent years.

SOUTHSIDE
& HIGHGATE

About the quarter

• Historic links to the manufacture and
trade of guns is now confined to the
Price Street area.
• 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, with around 95 companies
employing some 500 people.
• 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.
An established residential estate sits in
the north-west with a school and open
spaces.
The Masterplan Vision
The overall vision for the Gunsmiths’
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 Gunsmiths’ Quarter is an area of
opportunity. Its central focus 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.
While the quarter has opportunities for new
development and activity we will address a
number of key issues in order for its current
assets to be utilised and opportunities
realised. These will include:
• The isolated and detached position of
the area 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
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.
Although the quarter has experienced
periods of redevelopment activity at St
Chad’s Circus and within the canal corridor,
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.
bigcityplan.org.uk
 The canal corridor is an ideal means to
84 aid pedestrian movement east and west
between areas of the city centre. We are
committed to delivering improvements
to The Birmingham and Fazeley Canal
along its length, supported through
Section 106 money and gains from future
development activity. 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.
In the longer term the creation of a
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
The presence of the existing residential
area, bounded by Hospital Street, 85
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.
NEW
Development will need to respond to the JOHN
STRE
strong street pattern and other historic ET W
EST
assets to ensure the authentic character
is retained, making it an interesting and
distinctive place to live and work.

NE W T O W
new urban park at Lancaster Circus will but is also a key feature for future 6
improve pedestrian linkages with the City development activity. Along the canal

GR
Core and to the Aston University campus. corridor developments will need to

.H
AM
utilise this asset and provide high

N RO
PT
Liveable City quality liveable environments. Such 6

ON

W
developments will need to respond to

SUMMER LANE
ST
Responding to the objectives for the the requirements of the City Centre Canal

.
5 ST
wider city centre and the strengths and Corridor Framework and maximise the OT

ET
G
BA

E
challenges of the quarter our approach asset as an environment for residential,

STR
to future development opportunities of leisure and employment activity. 6

N
the area will be as much about supporting KEY

ATIO
GUNSMITHS

Authentic City
QUARTER

it as a location for employment activities JEWELLERY

Snow Hill Stations - 2nd entrance Open spaces

POR
QUARTER

as creating opportunities to enhance CITY EASTSIDE

5
1
CORE

Access to rail stations St Paul’s Square

its appeal as a place to live and relax, The proximity to the historical environment

COR
WESTSIDE &
DIGBETH
LADYWOOD

utilising those assets which can make it an of the Jewellery Quarter formed by the M Metro stop 2 NEW - Livery Street canal area under viaduct

LO
SOUTHSIDE

authentic part of the city centre. conservation area with its building quality 3
& HIGHGATE
St. Chad’s public realm
M

VE
DA
Existing block structure
and street pattern will be important to 4

Y
NEW - Lancaster Circus open space

ST
With its industrial focus the quarter guiding future activity along Constitution Rail viaducts 5 NEW - various canal space opportunities
NSWAY
has retained a strong street grid pattern Hill and Great Hampton Street, creating
Existing open spaces 6 NEW - open spaces in need of improvement Q U EE 4
throughout its core with a mixture a key gateway into the city centre. DS
of 19th and 20th century buildings. New open spaces CHA
2 3 ST
However, having undergone periods Light industrial and manufacturing-based 1
Canal space interventions
of piecemeal redevelopment since the activity will continue to be an important Local walking routes
mid 20th century, the quarter has lost its asset but opportunities for gradual Canal
clear refrences to the gun industry and regeneration of outlying areas through 8
A38 Corridor
urban quality throughout. The housing mixed-uses will help to make more Major road interventions and
estate in the north-west and new office,
GUNSMITHS
KEY
efficient use of land and buildings and improved pedestrian crossing
QUARTER

commercial and, most recently, student

JEWELLERY
QUARTER introduce greater activity
Snow to one
Hill Stations - 2nd of the
entrance Open spaces
EASTSIDE

accommodation along the southern and more isolated parts of the city centre.
CITY

1
CORE

Access to rail stations St Paul’s Square

eastern edge have introduced a mix of
WESTSIDE &
DIGBETH
LADYWOOD

uses to the quarter, but with a different

SOUTHSIDE The area M
has theMetro stop
remnants of a distinct 2 NEW - Livery Street canal area under viaduct

3
& HIGHGATE
St. Chad’s public realm
urban fabric. character whichExisting
includes buildings,
block structure
street
patterns and archaeological remains. 4 NEW - Lancaster Circus open space
The proximity of the quarter to Eastside RedevelopmentRail viaducts
must be sensitive and 5 NEW - various canal space opportunities
and a growing student population responsive to this
Existing open spaces 6 NEW - open spaces in need of improvement
© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Birmingham City Council 100021326, 2010.
character and retain, reuse and enhance
New open spaces
these features. Gunsmiths’ Quarter masterplan
quarters
the / gunsmith’s quarter Canal space interventions bigcityplan.org.uk
Local walking routes
Canal
8
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:
Construction works at the Library of Birmingham due to be finished by 2013
Delivery
• Increased cooperation and joint
working with the city centre Business
Improvement Districts to deliver fine
grain regeneration in the City Centre.
• Joint working with Marketing
Birmingham on marketing the
masterplan as a whole and the
opportunities within it to the
investment markets.
• Coordination of public sector
investment by the development of the
Place Based Initiative to maximise the
objectives of public sector resources.
• 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.
• Taking forward the Vision for
Movement through partnership
working between the private sector, the
city council and Centro.
• 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.
• Working with the emerging Local
Enterprise Partnership and its partners
to link the masterplan to the objectives
and implementation framework of the
LEP
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 the
collective resources of Birmingham City
Council, Jobcentre Plus and the Skills
Funding Agency 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 ‘Way-
Finding’.
• 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:
• Accelerated Development Zones,
providing infrastructure funding
supported by future business rate
income streams
• Community Infrastructure Levy
– setting tariffs for funding as
public infrastructure required by
developments
• Utilising emerging European funding
regimes such as JESSICA to support
projects.
• Further Business Improvement Districts
in areas such as Southside, Jewellery
Quarter and Digbeth.
• 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.
87
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.
• Exploring the redevelopment of
Paradise Circus as one of the priority
projects for piloting Accelerated
Development Zones.
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
bigcityplan.org.uk
 private sector, to deliver significant
88 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.
In the short to medium term the focus for
the city council will be on:
• Working with Ballymore to support the
completion of the 2nd office phase of
the Snow Hill scheme.
• Supporting the regeneration /
refurbishment of the KennedyTower,
“the strip” and associated land working
with Bruntwood and Abstract Land.
Construction of: Golden Sq.
in Jewellery Quarter
Construction of Eastside City
Park & Science Garden
City centre wayfinding Phase 1 & 2
Construction of Ormiston
Academy
Church St. public realm improvements
Bradford St. public realm improvements
Construction of Library of Birmingham
Construction of New Street Station
2010 2011
Delivery
• 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.
• Facilitating Birmingham Development
Company with the submission of a
planning application for the Post and
Mail building.
• Supporting the redevelopment of the
Ludgate Hill surface car parks.
In the longer term the focus for the city
council will be on:
• Supporting Ballymore in bringing
forward a viable scheme to deliver the
3rd and final phase of the Snow Hill
scheme.
• Consulting on options for the creation
of a pedestrian friendly link across
Church Street – Ludgate Hill.
• Supporting the refurbishment /
redevelopment of Lloyd House.
• Working with the Children’s Hospital to
maximise regeneration opportunities in
the area.
Development competition for Wholesale Markets / start on site 2015
Big City Plan
2012 2013
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.
In the short to medium term the focus for
the city council will be on:
• Enabling the construction of the
Ormiston Academy for 900 students in
the Performing Arts.
• Delivering Eastside City Park and
Science Garden and completing the
currently under construction multi-
storey car park.
• Supporting the role of Birmingham
Science Park Aston through its
Centrum Project.
• 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.
Construction of Paradise Circus
2014 2015
• Supporting the delivery of new mixed-
use development at Eastside Locks,
Curzon Park and City Park Gate.
In the longer term the focus for the city
council will be on:
• Supporting the integration of High
Speed 2 in the city centre and the
development of the new terminus
building.
• 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.
In the short to medium term the focus for
the city council will be on:
• 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 2011.
• 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.
In the short to medium term the focus for The delivery of our ambitions for the city
the city council will be on: centre can only be achieved through the 89
involvement of the wider Birmingham
• Supporting the redevelopment of New
community; our public sector partners,
Street Station, seeing the new station
landowners and developers, businesses
concourse (phase 1) opened in 2012,
and the citizens of Birmingham. As we
with the station completed and fully
make progress toward achieving our
open (phase 2) by 2015.
goals the masterplan will evolve acting
• Producing a draft masterplan and as an ‘organic document’, in response to
supplementary guidance for the Hill changing circumstances.
Street and John Bright Street area in
2012.
• Delivering the First Phase of wayfinding
improvements in 2012.
Delivery outside the Areas of
Transformation.
Waheed Nazir
The Big City Plan is not all about big
Director of Regeneration
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.
• 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.
• The opening of the Digbeth HMV
Institute as a new music venue, to
support the development of Digbeth
as a Creative and Cultural Quarter.
bigcityplan.org.uk
90
Acknowledgements Image credits
In producing the city centre masterplan a number of individuals and organisations have Glenn Howells Architects
provided valuable input throughout the process. Special acknowledgement is made to: Eastside aerial view on page 50
Professor Michael Parkinson CBE Moor Street and New Street Station link on page 53
Glenn Howells Architects View towards Eastside Station from Fazeley Street on page 55
Paradise Forum redevelopment proposal on page 75
Marketing Birmingham
Argent MAKE Architects
Chamber of Commerce City in light Retail Birmingham lighting proposal on page 40
City ID Cathedral walks improvement proposals (before & after) on page 41
Make Architects
AEDAS Birmingham
Peter Brett Associates Post & Mail Square proposal on page 43
Urban Initiatives Moat Square proposal on page 65
Mecanoo
Foreign Office Architects
Foreign Office Architects
New Street Station eastern square on page 26
AEDAS Birmingham New Street Station southern approach from Southside on page 44
Atkins
Mecanoo
Centenary Square with new library of Birmingham on page 26
The contents of this masterplan have been informed by a range of studies and New library of Birmingham on page 72
background work including:
• Interconnect Birmingham vision for a walkable city (2010) – a study to support the Lovejoy Capita
creation of a more welcoming, easier to understand and navigate city centre Golden Square proposal on page 80

• Revised Eastside Masterplan (2010) – providing concepts for Eastside responding to British Cycling
the proposals for High Speed 2 Promotion of cycling in the city on page 20
• Vision for Movement (2010) – setting the strategy for public transport, pedestrian
movement and future use of 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 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
• The Big City Plan Work in Progress Report (2008) – set out the issues and options for
the future transformation of the city centre.
www.bigcityplan.org.uk