Future Developments - The Big City Plan

Working in partnership with both private and public sector organisations, the Birmingham Big City Plan covers key redevelopment opportunities and provides a coherent approach to connectivity, accessibility and legibility for the city centre.

Developed by Birmingham City Council and its partners, the masterplan outlines the objectives and of several key regeneration projects of national importance. This includes New Street Station, the Southern Gateway, the Library of Birmingham and Paradise Circus and others through a coordinated and single spatial strategy.

This will underpin the City Centre’s Transport Vision and Strategy jointly prepared by the City Council, Centro and the Business Improvement Districts, Interconnect Birmingham – a comprehensive City Centre signing and interpretation system, and the Retail Birmingham Design Strategy – for improving the identity and connectivity of the City Centre’s retail district.

By 2026 major physical developments involving New Street Station and Birmingham Airport will have taken place, including £18 billion of investment in the city; new businesses and homes.

The plan further addresses how future economic growth can be achieved by expanding the City Core area by over 25%, and in the process delivering:

In excess of 1.5 million sq metres of new office, retail, leisure and cultural floorspace
50,000 new jobs
A £2.1 billion growth in the local economy per annum
Five key areas of transformation based around New Street Station, Westside, the Snow Hill District, Eastern Core Expansion and The Southern Gateway
65,000 sq metres of new and improved public spaces and 28,000 metres of enhanced walking and cycling routes
Over 5,000 new homes to attract more families.
Sets out the value and role of heritage in supporting the creation of an authentic city centre.
Visionary proposals for each of the city centre quarters – the City Core, Eastside, Southside and Highgate, The Jewellery Quarter, Westside and Ladywood, Digbeth and The Gunsmiths’ Quarter

To find out more visit www.bigcityplan.org.uk

Key City Projects:

Birmingham drives forward schemes with international relevance including:

High speed rail
The expansion of Birmingham Airport

Examples of major real estate/infrastructure projects in the city area are:

New Street Gateway

Type of real estate: £600 Million redevelopment of a major national rail hub and interchange; improved cross-city pedestrian links and retail floor space

Involved participants: Network Rail alongside Mace who are the principal contractor and delivery partner, WS Atkins, Foreign Office Architects. The project is backed by Network Rail, Birmingham City Council, Advantage West Midlands, Centro and the Department for Transport.

The Library of Birmingham

Square meters (GLA): 20,000 square metres

Type of real estate: Cultural: new public library building, and extension and refurbishment of The REP theatre. Creation of an amphitheatre within Centenary Square

Involved participants: Birmingham City Council, architects: Mecanoo; Contractor: Carillion

Arena Central

Square meters (GLA): 30,756 square metres

Type of real estate: Mixed-use development, incorporating a vibrant mix of commercial and residential uses including active spaces, a central public square and active frontages at ground level

Involved participants: Arena Central Developments LLP - a joint venture between Miller Developments and Bridgehouse Capital.

Paradise Circus

Square meters (GLA): 32,000 square metres

Type of real estate: Collection of buildings set in a series of new streets and squares with a variety of different uses.

Involved participants: Argent & Birmingham City Council

Wholesale Markets – Upper Dean Street site

Square meters (GLA): 20,439 square metres (key corner plot of 23 acre site for redevelopment)

Type of real estate: Mixed-use scheme including a 210-bed Travelodge, a 340-bed, three -star plus Maldron conference hotel, 18,000 sq ft of retail units and 10,000 sq ft of offices, restaurants and bars.

Involved participants: Gallan Group