Keep an Eye Open for Birmingham's Big Plan

Birmingham's Big City Plan, launched in February 2008, is among the most ambitious schemes in the UK, seeking to drastically alter how more than 800 hectares of land in the centre will be developed and used for generations to come. The 20-year blueprint will see the size of the centre ‘core’ increase by 25 per cent, with specialist quarters focusing on key growth sectors.

Approval of two major building projects is a major boost for The Plan that has taken place in the past month. Plans have been approved for the redevelopment of Paradise Circus and Masshouse, which will play a pivotal role in bigger schemes to redevelop Birmingham city centre.

Glenn Howells, founder of the architectural practice behind many of the schemes in the Big City Plan, felt having an over-arching strategy for the city had been of benefit for developers. He said: “What is interesting is that compared to other cities these projects are not independent – they are all part of something, which is the Big City Plan. Birmingham is the only city that has grasped this challenge.” He added: “This is something Manchester would give their eye teeth for.”

Arguably the Big City Plan began in earnest in 1990, following the Highbury Initiative, in which a group architects, planners, politicians and cultural leaders came together in a symposium to suggest how to improve the city centre. The strategy was narrowed down so that the 2008 document paved the way for the creation of more than 50,000 new homes and 50,000 new jobs, with progress already under way in some areas – the £600 million redevelopment of New Street Station, the new Library of Birmingham, the Midland Metro extension and Eastside City Park, the first new city centre park since Victorian times.

In principle there are six objectives for the Big City Plan:
* A ‘Liveable City’, providing high quality living space within an accessible, safe and attractive environment.
* A ‘Connected City’, enabling pedestrians and cyclists to move around easily and an efficient public transport system.
* An ‘Authentic City’, offering a unique and diverse experience through architecture, arts and culture. 
* A ‘Knowledge City’, utilising and supporting its universities, colleges and businesses.
* A ‘Creative City’, supporting creativity and industry in all its forms. 
* A ‘Smart City’, responding to the challenge of climate change through sustainable growth.

Mr Howells said the wider strategy behind the redevelopment sets Birmingham apart, and has already helped bring in investment to certain parts like Eastside, where Matthew Boulton College and Birmingham City University have focused spending.

He said: “This has been going for a long time, and it is going in a direction. And there is no change in that direction. This is a place where people want to invest because it is certain.” He added: “When that 25 years started there were no universities around the city. What is transforming the city is the number of young people, who will hopefully stay and invest here. We need to harness that. Rather than a difficult neighbour to business, academia is actually a natural bedfellow.”