Birmingham launches city centre ambitions
Birmingham has unveiled its new “central heart” prospectus, set to provide 5,000 homes and more than 4m sq ft of new commercial space in the centre of the city.
Birmingham City Council, along with key private sector and institutional partners, launched the ‘once in a generation’ opportunity at MIPIM, the international property conference in Cannes.
The prospectus brings together several major city centre sites, including Martineau Galleries, Martineau Place, Cherry Street, Cannon Street, Carrs Lane, Union Street, 42 High Street, and City Arcade, Birmingham Central Heart will regenerate around four hectares of “under-used” retail and office space.
Joanne Roney CBE, managing director of Birmingham City Council, who’s leading the delegation at MIPIM, said the authority was now working with government-backed finance institutions to secure funding for central heart schemes,
“The Birmingham Central Heart prospectus outlines one of the most exciting investment opportunities in the UK, but it is not just about buildings,” she said.
“Our message to investors is clear; if you want to back a growing, youthful, diverse city with a clear plan and a strong partnership between the council, business and communities, Birmingham is the place to invest.”
The city council says it wants to double green space in the central area, creating new places to relax, play and meet in the city’s busiest streets.
Birmingham Central Heart will act as a key gateway between HS2 Curzon Street Station, the Bullring, New Street Station, the Colmore Business District and the wider city centre, with new linear green routes, safer streets for walking and cycling and better links to employment, education and cultural destinations.
Birmingham City Council has worked with major landowners, developers and Business Improvement Districts, including Central BID and Colmore BID, to develop a shared vision for the area and give investors certainty.
Councillor Sharon Thompson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said: “By promoting these opportunities on the international stage, Birmingham City Council aims to bring forward development that will directly benefit businesses and residents across Birmingham.
“The city has a strong track record of delivering major development schemes, and working in partnership with our Mayoral Development Corporation, Business Improvement Districts, landowners, public sectors partners, investors and developers, our ambition is to turn the vision of Central Heart into reality.
“Securing responsible investment into Birmingham Central Heart is one of the most effective ways we can achieve this and in doing so deliver on our priorities of providing more new homes, workspaces and improved public realm in the city centre.”
The launch comes three days before a Mayoral Development Corporation is set to be established for East Birmingham by the West Midlands Combined Authority, set to help push through more than £10bn worth of high-profile projects for the city, including the Sports Quarter and Knowledge Quarter schemes.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “There’s never been a better time to invest in the West Midlands. With record funding and new devolved powers we are moving faster than ever to transform our region through projects like Central Heart Birmingham.
“My focus is not on grand visions that sit on paper, it’s on delivering prosperity that reaches all communities. That’s more homes, better-paid jobs, and the right infrastructure to give everyone the best opportunity to get on in life.
“We already have the confidence of the private sector with billions of pounds of investment coming into the Sports Quarter and Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, and we’ll go even further with Central Heart Birmingham as part of the HS2-led regeneration of the city.”
