Birmingham Report Spring 2015

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Birmingham Report Spring 2015 RESIDENTIAL RESEARCH BIRMINGHAM REPORT SPRING 2015 ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS THE “BUSINESS” CASE HOUSING SUPPLY AND DEMAND BUILDING THE FUTURE The UK economy bounced back strongly last year, delivering the FIGURE 2 Annual economic output 2014 highest level of growth seen in any country in the G8 nations. As the Eurozone struggles with more fiscal uncertainty, the UK is seeing job creation and starting to see Birmingham wage growth, all in an ultra-low interest rate environment. £16.8bn “ Birmingham’s mix of regeneration, re-development The country’s economic recovery from and job creation, as well as the financial crisis and resulting recession Estonia the relatively lower entry price has started to spread to the regions, and Birmingham, the UK’s second-biggest city for property, means that its £16.1bn by population, has contributed with Iceland draw to homebuyers and economic output from the city outpacing investors will likely continue to the average seen across the UK in both £9.8bn grow in the coming years.” 2013 and 2014 (figure 1). This is just one of the signs that GRÁINNE GILMORE Birmingham is enjoying a post-recession Source: UN Head of UK Residential Research renaissance, not only in terms of jobs and business growth, but also in the fabric of At present, the level of new residential the city. The Big City Plan, laid out in 2010, stock coming to the market, especially in aims to ease the stranglehold that the City Centre, is limited. Our analysis of infrastructure such as key roads are future housing supply in Birmingham placing around the city centre, thereby suggests that supply will pick up from opening up large parts of the city. next year, but that there will still be a notable annual shortfall in our forecast The activity in Birmingham, in economic period to 2019 (figure 8). terms as well as public realm planning, is also helping feed the strong demand for Birmingham’s mix of regeneration, housing, not only from the domestic re-development and job creation, as well population within Birmingham, but also as the relatively lower entry price for from those from London and the South property, means that its draw to East looking to take advantage of the price homebuyers and investors is likely to differential on offer. continue to grow in the coming years. FIGURE 1 FIGURE 3 Total annual output (GVA) Birmingham: Output by industry GVA, £bn 7% UK WEST MIDLANDS 5.0 FINANCE & INSURANCE 6% BIRMINGHAM PROFESSIONAL & OTHER PRIVATE SERVICES 4.5 PUBLIC SERVICES FORECAST 5% 4.0 4% 3.5 3% 3.0 £ billions 2% 2.5 2.0 1% 1.5 0% 1.0 -1% 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Source: Experian Source: Experian 2 BIRMINGHAM 2015 RESIDENTIAL RESEARCH Economic Service industries outstripped that of its “ Intense competition, Public Sector by an estimated £133 million, big price tags and fundamentals contributing around £4.4bn to the city’s economy last year. In fact this segment of low yields in London In terms of economic growth, Birmingham the Birmingham economy has been the star has outperformed the UK and the wider are forcing investors, performer since the recession, growing by West Midlands region for the past two years. nearly 30% since 2009 (figure 3). both domestic and Annual Gross Value Added, a measure of international, to widen economic activity, rose by 2.3% in 2013 Evidence of the sustained recovery in the and 3.3% in 2014, compared with 1.8% private sector can also be seen by net their horizons. Turning and 2.9% respectively across the UK. business creation data – in 2009 and 2010 their back on the capital The pace of economic growth in Birmingham the city lost more businesses than it gained, for regional cities that is expected to average a more moderate but in 2013 over 1,600 more companies 2.1% per year over the next five years were created than folded and provisional offer less competition outperforming the wider West Midlands figures for 2014 suggest a similarly large and higher returns, average (figure 1). net gain (figure 4). [in particular] well-run With a Gross Value Added (GVA), a measure major cities with good of economic output, in 2014 of nearly FIGURE 4 local government; £16.8bn, Birmingham’s total is currently Birmingham: Net Business Creation 2009 - 2014 comparable to that of Estonia, which had a leadership is a key total output of £16.1bn in 2013, and some 2,000 factor impacting £7bn more than Iceland. business prospects. Brimingham’s strong recovery from the 1,500 ESTIMATE This includes cities UK recession has seen employment rise such as Birmingham.” across the city over the last few years, once 1,000 again outperforming the UK and regional Source: PwC “Emerging 500 annual growth rates in 2013 and 2014. Trends in Real Estate” – Employment is set to continue to rise Europe 2015 annually by an average of 1% across the 0 next five years. -500 The surprise driver behind this economic and lost Balance of businesses created resurgence has been the private sector – -1,000 for the first time since 2001, the output from 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Birmingham’s Professional & Other Private Source: ONS 2013 Business Demography CASE STUDY: DEUTSCHE BANK IN BIRMINGHAM are, yet our teams need to be able to travel those working here can have a higher to and from there quickly if needed. standard of living than those on the same salary in the capital. Paul Anderson “Birmingham was an easy choice when it Head of Deutsche Bank came to picking a location outside “In terms of the lifestyle they Birmingham London. The key factor is the labour can enjoy, the city is almost market here, there’s a highly qualified unrecognisable compared to 15 Deutsche Bank has expanded its talent base – with skills that are highly years ago, it is a lively and exciting presence in Birmingham, with front transferable. We have been able to recruit place to be. Alternatively, our staff and back office staff all based in the highest calibre teams for compliance, can choose to live in the countryside, Brindleyplace in the business district. technology and professional services. and still be within a reasonable Paul Anderson, Head of Deutsche “For our graduate scheme we have commute of the office. Bank Birmingham, shares the reasons access to many smart young graduates “We can’t discount the proximity to behind the bank’s move, and explains from the major universities in the area. London however, and our staff can the attraction of Birmingham for a We find that these graduates value the be there within two hours, and large banking business. opportunity to have a banking career travelling there and back in a day is without having to move to London. “We have many roles within the Bank not arduous. We are very pleased which do not need to be based in “The disparity in the cost of living between with our choice of Birmingham as London, where our UK headquarters London and Birmingham means that a location.” 3 FIGURE 5 Changing face of Birmingham City Centre Private sector investment in the city is There was particularly strong occupier FIGURE 6 becoming mainstream, with a report on activity in Birmingham city centre in Birmingham office take-up, by emerging trends in real estate, from PwC, the second half of last year, with take-up sector H2 2014 ranking the city the 6th best in Europe for in Q4 alone totalling 341,164 sq ft, more investment, four places above London, than doubling the preceding three quarters % % and 7th for development. (figure 7). 16 16 16 16 There are increasing numbers of examples Total take-up for 2014 was 713,460 sq ft, % % % % of corporate investment in the city. up 7% year-on-year. Activity in 10 10 Deutsche Bank made a landmark decision these markets is being driven by the in 2013 to further expand their operations public sector, professional services and in Birmingham renting an additional banking & insurance sectors, which 4% 4% building on Brindleyplace and relocating accounted for 72% of total activity in the around 2,000 staff from London to create a second half of 2014. 3% 3% ‘HQ Campus’ (interview page 3). The buoyancy of the office market, as well 3% 3% 45% 45% More recently HS2 Ltd, the vehicle behind as the investment confidence in the construction of the new high-speed 2 2 Birmingham is perhaps captured by the % % 1 1 rail line between London and Birmingham fact that construction work has begun on % % and the North of England, rented nearly Birmingham’s most anticipated new PUBLIC SECTOR PUBLIC SECTOR 100,000 sq ft of office space. The decision PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PROFESSIONAL SERVICES commercial development scheme – the to base the headquarters of HS2 in FINANCE / BANKING FINANCE / BANKING transformation of 17 acres at Paradise TMT TMT Birmingham marks a further vote of Circus in the heart of the city centre. CHARITIES CHARITIES confidence in the city. CONSTRUCTION / ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION / ENGINEERING RETAIL / DISTRIBUTION RETAIL / DISTRIBUTION The £500m scheme is aimed at revitalising OTHER OTHER this part of Birmingham; creating a PHARMA / HEALTHCARE PHARMA / HEALTHCARE The “Business” Case substantial number of jobs, office and retail The strength of Birmingham’s economy is space and helping to attract significant Source: Knight Frank Research echoed in the activity in its office market. commercial investment. 4 % 16 % 16 45% 10% 4 % 3 % 3 % 2 1 % % PUBLIC SECTOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE / BANKING TMT CHARITIES CONSTRUCTION / ENGINEERING RETAIL / DISTRIBUTION OTHER PHARMA / HEALTHCARE BIRMINGHAM 2015 RESIDENTIAL RESEARCH connections at the heart of the city will play Infrastructure boost FIGURE 7 a key part in providing a long-term boost to Sharp rise in Birmingham office Birmingham is well positioned to attract residents and business alike.
Recommended publications
  • Draft Financial Plan 2020 - 2024
    DRAFT FINANCIAL PLAN 2020 - 2024 CONTENTS LEADER’S FOREWORD ........................................................................................................................ 1 CHAPTER 1: POLICY CONTEXT .......................................................................................................... 3 CHAPTER 2: FINANCIAL STRATEGY ................................................................................................. 12 CHAPTER 3: REVENUE BUDGET ...................................................................................................... 23 CHAPTER 4: SCHOOLS’ BUDGETS ................................................................................................... 49 CHAPTER 5: HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT (HRA) ....................................................................... 53 CHAPTER 6: COMMONWEALTH GAMES .......................................................................................... 59 CHAPTER 7: CAPITAL STRATEGY AND PROGRAMME ................................................................... 64 CHAPTER 8: SECTION 25 REPORT – ROBUSTNESS OF ESTIMATES .......................................... 73 CHAPTER 9: SECTION 25 REPORT – ASSESSMENT OF RESERVES ........................................... 82 APPENDIX A: LONG TERM FINANCIAL PLAN ................................................................................... 86 APPENDIX B: GRANTS ........................................................................................................................ 87 APPENDIX C: RESERVES POLICY
    [Show full text]
  • Building a New Birmingham the City's Development Is Attracting People and Investment Leaving the Past Behind in the Past, Birm
    Building a new Birmingham The city’s development is attracting people and investment Leaving the past behind In the past, Birmingham was often the subject of disdain. It was seen as the polluted centre of the Industrial Revolution (1750-1850) and, in the 20th century, as a concrete jungle dominated by the motor-car industry surrounding it. When that business was overtaken by German and Japanese car imports from the mid- 1970s, economic decline followed. So, in the mid-1980s, the local government began to redevelop the city as a services hub for the UK’s Midlands region, seeking to take advantage of Birmingham’s central location and network of fast road, air, and rail links. Initially, the plan focused on attracting sporting events, exhibitions, and conferences, with the International Convention Centre and The Arena both completed in 1991. Later, the Bull Ring, Birmingham’s central market since the Middle Ages, was redeveloped. The new complex opened in 2003 and has since become one of the UK’s three most popular shopping centres, with John Lewis, one of the UK’s largest retailers, as its anchor tenant. The Big City Plan In 2008, the first part of the so-called Big City Plan was launched, with the second unveiled in 2010. Today, it is well on the way to regenerating not only the city centre, but also the surrounding urban areas. Its holistic approach includes upgrading the road, rail, and communications infrastructure, as well as encouraging new residential, retail and office developments. With the aim of adding 50,000 new jobs, 1.5 million square metres of new retail, leisure, and commercial floor-space, 5,000 new homes, and of boosting the city’s economy by over £2 billion annually, the plan is claimed to be the biggest UK city development scheme ever undertaken.
    [Show full text]
  • Headlines Key Projects
    Kate Pinnock MA, AIED, AMRTPI Regeneration and Economic Development Consultant Kate is a founding Director of Ingham Pinnock Associates. She has over 10 years experience with 2012-Present leading consulting businesses in the built environment sector working on high profile Director Ingham Pinnock regeneration, economic development and masterplanning projects. Associates Kate has worked on innovative projects throughout the UK and overseas. Her track record ranges 2007-2012 from providing research and advice on initial concepts, through strategy design, detailed Associate Urban Delivery feasibility analysis and project implementation. 2005-2007 Kate is highly experienced in: procurement, compulsory purchase, funding and finance, strategic Graduate LA planning and policy, masterplanning, delivery advice, project coordination, communications and BDP research . Her clients have included charities, landowners, developers, HE and FE institutions, Local Authorities, Urban Regeneration and Development Corporations. Kate specialises in working with complex and diverse client groups and is expert in helping them to identify practical and deliverable solutions. Her rigour, integrity and exceptionally high standards are valued by clients and fellow professionals. Kate has a particular interest in the economic development and regeneration of market towns and creating spatial interventions that facilitate regeneration and economic growth. Headlines Key Projects ■ Associate Member of the Institution of Economic Development (IED) ■ Acle Economic Development
    [Show full text]
  • Re-Inventing and Re-Imagining the City of Birmingham
    RE-INVENTING AND RE-IMAGINING THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM LEVERAGING THE ROLE OF MULTI-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Richard Kenny, Head of Strategic Development Birmingham City Council Next 20 minutes or so • Importance of cities and the ‘game-changing’ role of Birmingham • The emerging and planned pipeline • Leapfrogging into the future – regions and the long term • The immediate pressures - council and reducing size of state intervention • The scope for universities – stepping up to the plate • Urban science – the first new collaboration Future is cities Cities - connectivity, density and complexity • By 2050 the world’s urban skeleton will be set for generations • Over 75% of the world’s 10 billion people will live in cities - about half now and 3% 1800 • Challenge for existing cities is new cities – already 1,000 cities with over 500k people • Cities are the new business sector: UK Government estimate UK market at £250 billion • New York creating an estimated $100 billion market in smart cities through applied urban science But we need more than one to make a country ! • Look at world map now only one dot in UK – London • London – a giant multiple monopoly – centre of national, administrative, economic, financial and political power • Prevailing view London at all costs – agglomeration – and £94 billion public expenditure to unlock diseconomies • Spreading ‘jam’ too thinly doesn’t work – concentrate on places that have biggest potential • Capital and labour flows to London ? Future is Birmingham: by 2025 predicted “hotspot” world city Source: Economist Intelligence Unit (June,2013) Birmingham baseline: the foundations for a unique ‘game-changer’ • Single largest local authority in UK • 1.1M pop, growing by 150,000 by 2031 • £94billion regional economy • 450,000 households, need extra 80,000 by 2031 • Youngest city – 40% of population under 25 • Multi-cultural super-diverse city – 53% white British • £7.5 billion public sector spend annually in city • Record exports, fdi, visitors per yearr • 42,000 businesses, c.
    [Show full text]
  • In Search of Local Public Management Excellence Seven Journeys to Success
    IN SEARCH OF LOCAL PUBLIC MANAGEMENT EXCELLENCE SEVEN JOURNEYS TO SUCCESS Julia Bosse Alexander Heichlinger Emanuele Padovani Jan Ole Vanebo IN SEARCH OF LOCAL PUBLIC MANAGEMENT EXCEllENCE SEVEN JOURNEYS TO SUCCESS ISBN 978-90-6779-217-2 © 2013, European Institute of Public Administration. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher, EIPA. For translation or reproduction rights please contact: European Institute of Public Administration, O.L. Vrouweplein 22, P.O. Box 1229, 6201 BE Maastricht, the Netherlands. EIPA’s website: www.eipa.eu Typeset and printed by the Publications Service, EIPA, the Netherlands With the support of the City Council of Bilbao IN SEARCH OF LOCAL PUBLIC MANAGEMENT EXCEllENCE SEVEN JOURNEYS TO SUCCESS Julia Bosse Alexander Heichlinger Emanuele Padovani Jan Ole Vanebo The European Commission supports EIPA through the European Union budget © 2013, European Institute of Public Administration / Institut européen d’administration publique Maastricht, the Netherlands / Pays-Bas www.eipa.eu The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and are not necessarily intended to reflect those of EIPA. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INTRODUCTION 1 POLITICAL MANAGEMENT BASED ON ECONOMIC STRINGENCY AND STRATEGIC BUDGETS 15 City of Bilbao CHAMPS2 - A BRAVE AND HOLISTIC BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION 33 City of Birmingham CHANGE2 IN
    [Show full text]
  • Bywater House
    ByWater House Built and Tenanted Student Property Investment in Birmingham City Centre 1 The residences ByWater House • 39 self contained high-spec studio and en-suite apartments • 250 year lease • Fully managed • Completed development • Proven track record, immediate return ByWater House is situated minutes to Birmingham City Centre and perfectly positioned within a one to three mile radius from the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University and Aston University campuses. Those studying at BCU City South Campus in Edgbaston and Gosta Green campuses will definitely find Bywater House an appealing choice. A highly secured environment for students with limited purpose-built student residences in the area, ByWater House is located among private student houses, offices and organisations. The property is accessed by FOB entry system and the site is monitored by CCTV. ByWater House is 3 minutes’ walk from Hagley Road, which is well served by local bus services (including night routes) with easy access to the city centre and Birmingham New Street, the city’s main rail interchange with direct services to London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Cardiff, Nottingham, Reading and other major UK cities. In addition, there are various amenities including a Post Office, several grocery stores, restaurants and fast-food outlets around the vicinity. 2 3 4 The location TO CITY NORTH CAMPUS A34 ByWater House 38(M) A St. Chad’s Cathedral Aston A41 UniverityM6 City Campus M5 (J6) (J1) Fire Station Childrens CHAPEL STREET Hospital COLMORE BT Tower SWAY A47 P CIRCUS BCU QUEEN SNOW HILL MILLENNIUM POINT City Centre A457 STATION ARLES & THINKTANK Campus School A T CH G of Art T ST ALBER St.
    [Show full text]
  • FINAL EDGE Statement of Aims 21.3.17
    Transport and Works Act 1992 Transport and Works (Applications and Objections Procedure) (England and Wales) Rules 2006 — Rule 10(2)(c) The Midland Metro (Birmingham City Centre Extension, etc.) (Edgbaston Extension Land Acquisition) Order CONCISE STATEMENT OF THE AIMS OF THE PROPOSALS 1. Introduction The West Midlands Combined Authority (“WMCA”) is a statutory body established by the West Midlands Combined Authority Order 2016 (S.I.2016/653) under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2016. It is the successor body to the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive. In 2005, the Secretary of State for Transport made the Midland Metro (Birmingham City Centre Extension, etc.) Order1 (“the 2005 Order”). The 2005 Order authorised the construction and maintenance by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive of an extension to Line 1 of the Metro system in Birmingham (“the Birmingham City Centre Extension”) from Snow Hill Station through the city centre and on to Broad Street, via Five Ways to 54 Hagley Road in Edgbaston. It also provided for powers of compulsory acquisition for the purposes of the scheme and included protective provisions for specified bodies. The Birmingham City Centre Extension as authorised by the 2005 Order is being implemented in stages. Discharge of the relevant pre-commencement planning conditions began in 2010. However, the powers of compulsory acquisition conferred by the 2005 Order expired in July 2010. A further Order (the Midland Metro (Birmingham City Centre Extension, etc.) (Land Acquisition and Variation)) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/545) was successfully promoted by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive to refresh its powers of compulsory acquisition for the construction of the second part of the Birmingham City Centre Extension from Stephenson Street to Centenary Square (and to provide for a variation of the alignment of the tramway within Paradise Circus, Queensway to integrate with the redevelopment of Paradise Circus).
    [Show full text]
  • Birmingham the Heart and Soul of the West Midlands Birmingham 2–3 the Heart and Soul of the West Midlands
    Birmingham The heart and soul of the West Midlands Birmingham 2–3 The Heart and Soul of the West Midlands Brilliant Birmingham Birmingham Facts and Stats Welcome to Birmingham, the The second largest city in the UK, rich in Birmingham Town Hall and the Argent history and scattered with hidden gems, Centre. Birmingham’s innovation continues UK’s largest regional city: Birmingham is a hub of culture and today, being home to one of the UK’s a multicultural and innovation. With influences from across the premier research universities, as well as world, you can encounter anything from a Britain’s leading digital hub. innovative heartland at the English folk festival to Brazillian street art centre of Britain’s new with a world of experiences in between. However, Birmingham’s history lays far Divided into distinct quarters, the city centre beyond the borders of the West Midlands. Total population: Population growth to 2035: Percentage of people aged under 25: railway revolution. offers a unique mix of cultural attractions, as Birmingham is a multicultural city, which well as a range of restaurants, including celebrates its links to numerous countries several Michelin starred and countless bars and cultures. The city hosts over 50 festivals and clubs. Birmingham has something to throughout the year to celebrate diversity in m % % offer each of the 34 million visitors who are it’s own spectacular fashion. Welcoming the 1.1 16 37 drawn to the city every year. Chinese New Year in style, Birmingham’s free annual street festival attracts up to 30,000 Birmingham has a history of innovation and people.
    [Show full text]
  • Urban Policy 2018 | Manhattan Institute
    CONTENTS About the Manhattan Institute .....................................................iv Contributors ............................................................................. v Foreword ................................................................................ix Chapter 1. The Dos and Don’ts of Civic Branding Aaron M. Renn ...................................................................1 Chapter 2. Precision Policing William J. Bratton and Jon Murad ................................ 21 Chapter 3. Unclogging the Permit Pipeline Stephen Goldsmith and Michael Hendrix .....................39 Chapter 4. News Deserts: No News Is Bad News Judith Miller ...................................................................59 Chapter 5. Building a Housing Ladder Howard Husock ..............................................................77 Chapter 6. Rethinking Urban Planning in Detroit—and Beyond Peter D. Salins .................................................................95 Chapter 7. Benchmarking Homeless Shelter Performance Stephen Eide ..................................................................117 Chapter 8. How the User Experience (UX) Can Build Greater Trust in Local Government Stephen Goldsmith ....................................................... 143 ©2018 Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. All rights reserved. Urban Policy 2018 ABOUT THE MANHATTAN INSTITUTE he Manhattan Institute for Policy Research develops and disseminates new ideas that foster greater economic choice T and individual responsibility.
    [Show full text]
  • Export Markets and Inward Investment: the Role of Local Councils Final Report to the Local Government Association July 2012
    Export markets and inward investment: The role of local councils Final report to the Local Government Association July 2012 Export markets and inward investment: The role of local councils Final report to the Local Government Association Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. i 1: Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 2: Current trends in international trade and inward investment ......................................... 3 3: Current and potential roles of local authorities in supporting international trade and inward investment .................................................................................................................. 15 4: Conclusions and implications .......................................................................................... 22 Annex A: Case studies ........................................................................................................ A-1 Annex B: Secondary data analysis .................................................................................... B-1 Annex C: Local authority service inventory ...................................................................... C-1 Contact: Robert Willis Tel: 0207 307 7157 email: [email protected] Approved by: Christine Doel Date: 24/07/12 Director www.sqw.co.uk Export markets and inward investment: The role of local councils Final report
    [Show full text]
  • Governance and Urban Development in Birmingham: England's Second
    Governance and urban development in Birmingham England’s second city since the millennium Acknowledgements This report was written by Liam O’Farrell, Research Associate at the University of Birmingham with funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation as part of the “Democratic Foundations of the Just City” project, which was a comparative study of housing, urban planning and governance in three European second cities: Birmingham, Lyon and Zurich. The project was a collaboration between the University of Zurich’s Centre for Democracy Studies Aarau (ZDA) and the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Urban and Regional Studies (CURS). The report was made possible through the support of a number of colleagues, including Dr Peter Lee at the University of Birmingham’s CURS; Dr Eric Chu, previously at CURS and now at the University of California, Davis; Oliver Dlabac and Roman Zwicky at the University of Zurich’s ZDA; and Dr Charlotte Hoole at the University of Birmingham’s City-REDI. Unless otherwise cited, photographs in this report were provided by Roman Zwicky, part of the research team. Birmingham analysis maps were produced by Dr Charlotte Hoole using publicly available ONS datasets. We would like to thank those working in the housing sector across the city who generously shared their knowledge and experience of planning and development in Birmingham. The “Democratic Foundations of the Just City” project was supported by: • The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), by means of a research grant for the project “The Democratic Foundations of the Just City” (100012M_170240) within the International Co-Investigator Scheme in cooperation with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) in the UK.
    [Show full text]
  • Wealth Creation Is Only Achieved Through Business” Architect Quizzed on Proposed Library Designs Perspectives Spring - Summer Final.Qxd 27/7/09 3:16 Pm Page 2
    Perspectives Spring - Summer Final.qxd 27/7/09 3:16 pm Page 1 BIRMINGHAM PerspectiveSPRING - SUMMER 2009 s JOURNAL OF BIRMINGHAM CIVIC SOCIETY “Wealth creation is only achieved through business” Architect quizzed on proposed library designs Perspectives Spring - Summer Final.qxd 27/7/09 3:16 pm Page 2 “The most ambitious and far reaching citywide development project ever undertaken in the UK” Cllr Mike Whitby Leader, Birmingham City Council Birmingham is a great international city, renowned for civic innovation, urban invention, racial and cultural diversity, as well as its creative and educational achievements. The city has made tremendous progress over the last twenty years, regularly being hailed as one of Europe’s success stories, with over £10 billion of planned investment in the city centre alone. However, the city has changed dramatically over the last twenty years, especially with the changes to the inner ring road, making the city centre much larger. Both physically and economically new challenges and new opportunities are now on the agenda, and a new masterplan is needed that will help to unleash the tremendous potential of creativity and diversity of what is the youngest city in Europe. Covering the greater city centre, the full 800 hectares out to the ring road, the Big City Plan will shape and revitalise Birmingham’s city centre over the next twenty years - physically, economically, culturally, creatively - and there will be extensive engagement with colleagues, partners, stakeholders and our citizens to help achieve this. For more information please visit www.bigcityplan.org.uk Perspectives Spring - Summer Final.qxd 27/7/09 3:16 pm Page 3 Birmingham Perspectives Spring - Summer 2009 Contents Does the city have the know-how to Front cover: Concept design for the new Library see recovery? I was fortunate to attend the Birmingham 10 Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham champions the city's skills.
    [Show full text]