The Birmingham Offer

Key Developments

It is estimated that there is currently £17.5 billion worth of investment over the next 10 years in Birmingham. £11.8 billion worth of investment is either planned or underway in the city centre alone.

Developments by sector, Birmingham City Centre over the next 10 years

Source: Locate in Birmingham. Birmingham Developments 2008

Click here to view the new Birmingham Developments publication. This contains details of current and proposed building schemes in Birmingham.

Background to Birmingham's Developments

Birmingham emerged in the late 1980's as the epitome of the European entrepreneurial city, an ambition which built upon the successful precedent of the National Exhibition Centre. Priority was given to developing Birmingham's potential as a business tourism hub of national and international significance, and the NEC, which opened in 1976 was the first initiative to broaden the city's economic base.

The International Convention Centre was conceived as a complement to the NEC, taking advantage of the city's strategic central location and existing expertise in business tourism to exploit a perceived gap in the conference market. Its siting in the city centre was a deliberate attempt to spur the regeneration of the central district which was seen to be falling far short of its potential and one of the key assets to be exploited in restructuring the economy of the city.

The key objective was to broaden the city's economic base with a significant presence of international scale in a fast-growth sector. Related objectives were to provide a catalyst for wider regeneration in the vicinity; to attract inward investment and employment growth; and to create a new image for the city in national and international markets.

Key city developments include:

 ICC: The ICC formed the core of the Broad Street Redevelopment Area and was intended to provide the best purpose-built convention centre in Europe and one of the best concert halls in the world. It includes 11 halls and provides a new home for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Some £50 million of the cost was borne by EU (then EC) Structural Funds, and the remainder by the city council. Opened in April 1991.  Cost £180.00 million.

 Symphony Hall: Provides magnificent rehearsal and administrative facilities for the CBSO. Currently the Music Director of the Orchestra is Sakari Oramo, who succeeded Simon Rattle in 1998. More recently, Sir Simon Rattle has been named chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

 National Indoor Arena: Venue with maximum capacity of 13,000 used primarily for sporting events of national and international scale, and also for entertainment and exhibition/conference activities. Some £23 million was raised by the city through the sale of the Brindleyplace site, with an extra £3 million from the Sports Council. Opened October 1991.  Cost £57.00 million.

Hyatt Hotel: Four star hotel with 319 rooms and extensive leisure facilities. Intended to complement the ICC and provided a major modern addition to the city skyline. Opened July 1990.  Cost £31.00 million.

Centenary Square: A major pedestrian public space providing an extensively landscaped approach to the ICC area from the city centre core. Using primarily hard materials, with limited green space, the square includes high-profile pieces of public art and is the city's prime site for civic and public events. Cost £3.10 million.

 Ring Road Downgrading: The lowering of the inner ring road at the juncture between the above investments and the traditional city centre core. Subways were replaced by a wide pedestrian bridge, creating an attractive and legible connection between the two areas. This linked the ICC to the main commercial and retail districts and formed the heart of the emerging visitor corridor. Completed in 1989.  Cost nearly £3.00 million.

 Canalside Infrastructure: Several initiatives to improve the environment of the canals themselves plus new towpaths, bridges, access points, and signage. Cost £3.00 million.

During the 1990's a rolling programme of improvements to the urban environment and public realm integrated the earlier projects into the wider city centre fabric, including:

 Victoria Square: Re-designed as a traffic free space with extensive new landscaping and public art.  Cost £6.70 million.

Pedestrianisation of Upper New Street: Completing the unbroken pedestrian link between the ICC and New Street Station.

Smaller streetscape initiatives: Including the first surface level pedestrian crossing between the core and the Jewellery Quarter.

 Smallbrook Queensway/Hurst Street: Lowering of the inner ring road and removal of subways to create a traditional intersection and surface pedestrian crossings at the juncture between the core and the Chinese/Markets Quarter.

More recently there have been high-profile developments built, adding to the variety and regeneration of the city centre and Birmingham as a whole:

Baskerville House: Former City Council Offices, Broad Street, Grade II listed building. Providing showcase Grade A office space on 7 floors and 143 car parking spaces. Completed 2007. Cost £100.00 million.

Beetham Tower: A mixed use tower of 420 feet (130 metres) at Hill St and Suffolk St providing 165 apartments and a 211 bed Radisson SAS Conference hotel. On site of former AEEU building, will include 7,000 sq ft office; 7,000 sq ft retail, health club, and A4 use and car parking facilities. Completed 2006. Cost £50.00 million.

Fort Dunlop: Six storey scheme, fronting the A47 and the M6, which has created a gateway mixed development in addition to a contemporary 100 bedroom Travelodge hotel. Consisting of 300,000 sq ft of high quality offices. Completed 2006. Cost approx. £40.00.

Over the next few years there are plans for a variety of new schemes that will enhance Birmingham's offer to new investors.

The Hub, Birmingham: Located between junctions 6 & 7 of the M6, offering purpose-built warehouse and industrial accommodation. Cost £150.00 million.

Snowhill: Proposals to transform the area adjacent to the Snow Hill station, to create a financial and legal quarter, including offices, Birmingham's first five-star hotel, retail, over apartments, and two public squares. Completion due 2010. Cost £500.00 million.

Birmingham's New Hospital: To replace the Queen Elizabeth and Selly Oak Hospitals and will provide new forms of patient care with diagnostic and treatment areas, wards and support services on one site. It will be the first new general hospital in Birmingham for over 60 years. Completion due 2011. Cost £545.00 million.

Arena Central: The mixed use city centre development will include offices, retail, leisure, and residential elements. The project will comprise the next step in the rejuvenation of the "west-end" of Birmingham City Centre, following on from the success of the International Convention Centre, Symphony Hall, National Indoor Arena and Brindleyplace. Completion due 2012. Cost £500.00 million.

Attwood Green/Park Central: The regeneration scheme is set to revitalise the concept of modern inner city living by providing new commercial and housing opportunities, enhanced amenities and improved local environment. Phase one (Park Central) will comprise commercial space, new homes, leisure facilities, and the largest park within Birmingham's Ring Road area. Completion due 2013. Cost £261.00 million.

Eastside: A 10-year plan to create new quarters for new activity. These include the completed Millennium Point; the proposed Technology Park; a Media Village; and a Learning Quarter. The new City Park will be the centrepiece of the scheme, with 'green' links to the city centre and onto the canalside. Ongoing project. Cost £6.00 billion.

Birmingham Gateway: Proposals to double the size of the current concourse to house all waiting rooms and other facilities. Completion due 2013. Cost £600.00 million.

Paradise Circus: Flagship project to reposition Birmingham to compete more effectively for service sector investment by creating one of the finest commercial office development opportunities to be made available in the UK during the next 10 years. To involve the relocation of the Central Library to a shared site with Birmignham Repertory Theatre. Cost £900.00 million.

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