Snow Hill Masterplan

February 2015 Contents

Foreword 3 Contact

Planning and Regeneration Economy Directorate City Council

Click: Introduction 4 E-mail: [email protected] Web: birmingham.gov.uk/snowhillmasterplan

Call: The vision 8 Telephone: (0121) 303 3988

Visit: Office: 1 Lancaster Circus Birmingham Connectivity 12 B4 7DJ

Post: PO Box 28 Birmingham B1 1TU Development 20

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contents / snow hill masterplan 2 Foreword 3

The Snow Hill district is home to some of the City’s most valuable assets. It includes the Colmore Business District which supports over 35,000 employees and is a vital part of the economic success of the City; Snow Hill Station which acts as a principle transport hub used by several thousand people a day, and fabulous examples of the City’s grand Victorian legacy with key institutional buildings lining Steelhouse Lane.

Capitalising on these assets and maximising opportunities will be key to the continued success of the Snow Hill district and central to the ongoing prosperity of the City as a place to do business and visit. In order to strengthen its role we need to grow the area and target interventions to transform the environment and improve accessibility. The arrival of HS2 to the City Centre in 2026 will further fuel the area’s prominence as a key business destination. We have already seen the impact of HS2 on the district with the announcement by HS2 Ltd. to locate their Construction HQ at Two creating an initial 1,500 jobs.

This Masterplan has been produced to enhance the area’s assets and drive growth and regeneration activity, setting out a vision and key development principles for the district, shared with the Colmore Business District and major landowners. The redevelopment of Snow Hill Station, to create a world class transport hub akin to New Street Station; the transformation of the streets and spaces in the district creating an outstanding environment with £9.9m already committed to schemes; and the creation of St Mary’s Place, are just some of the major interventions set out in this Masterplan which will drive growth and create new focus and activity. Through this Masterplan it is envisaged that an additional 200,000sq.m of new office floor space, 4,000 new residential units and 10,000 jobs will be created.

We are pleased to launch the Snow Hill Masterplan for public consultation in partnership with the Colmore Business District and welcome your views on the vision and planned interventions for the area.

Sir Albert Bore Leader Birmingham City Council

Councillor Tahir Ali Cabinet Member for Development, Transport and the Economy Birmingham City Council

snow hill masterplan / foreword foreword / snow hill masterplan 4 Introduction 5

The Snow Hill district, within Birmingham’s City Centre, is identified in the as an Area of Transformation - a place where big changes are anticipated and where key development opportunities exist.

The growth and revitalisation of the Status of the document The location Victorian Institutions The A38 Snow Hill district is central to the The Snow Hill Masterplan has This cluster of grand historic The A38 is an important vehicular City’s ongoing economic success been developed jointly with the The Snow Hill district forms a part institutions forms a distinctive link route but a major scar in the and future growth prospects. Colmore Business District and of Birmingham’s City Centre Core, townscape, but has been subject city fabric, difficult to cross and with other key stakeholders in the area. taking in the northern section of the to some poor quality additions poor quality spaces and buildings The area is a major hub for the It has also been informed by the Core between the civic hub in the and alterations. The cluttered, low alongside it. Its width, traffic speed business, professional and financial Snow Hill Interchange Plan (SHIP), west, the Learning Quarter in the grade streetscape detracts greatly and extensive land take have a services sector. It is home to undertaken on behalf of Centro, east, the in the from the buildings themselves and major impact on adjacent sites. over 500 companies including Colmore Business District and north and Corporation Street and the area feels cut off from the rest major international businesses Birmingham City Council, which St Phillip’s Churchyard in the south. of the City Centre Core. which together occupy a total sets out a programme of projects of 500,000sq.m of office space to be delivered over a 15 year Snow Hill is a district of contrasts. and employ over 35,000 people. timeframe to improve interchange, Within a short walk the character The Masterplan builds on this connectivity and economic shifts from the grand Victorian key strength plus the many other performance around Snow Hill streets around , significant assets in the area. Station. to the high rise commercial Aston hub immediately to the east of University The transport proposals within the Snow Hill Station and further The role of the Masterplan Masterplan sit in the context of east the cluster of fine High The Snow Hill Masterplan sets Birmingham Connected, which is Victorian institutional buildings on out an approach to maximise Birmingham’s long term strategy for Steelhouse Lane. The outer edge the development of the Snow its transport system. Its vision is to of the district is dominated by the St Chads Hill district and transform its reinvent the system to meet current heavily trafficked A38 Queensway. Queensway environmental quality and overall and future mobility challenges, and St Pauls offer. Covering a 20 year period, to facilitate strong and sustainable Within the Masterplan boundary Square this Masterplan builds upon the economic growth. Measures there are a number of distinct vision and broad principles set include challenging the car culture, areas: out in the Big City Plan, providing significant investment in walking Historic Colmore a framework for the future and cycling, new mass transit routes Steelhouse Lane development and transformation of such as Metro and Sprint - bus A grid of legible and well enclosed the area. The Masterplan sets out based rapid transit - and a radical streets containing a mix of historic Snow Hill Station the following: approach to the transformation of and contemporary commercial

the A38. buildings and supporting uses. Great Charles Street • A vision for the area including a series of Big Moves to bring Millennium The Masterplan will be a non- High-Rise Commercial Point about major transformation. statutory planning document Part of the City’s central business prepared in the context of the • A radical approach to improving district, this area is dominated by principles and proposals of the connectivity covering public modern glass, steel, and concrete Birmingham Development Plan: St Phillips transport, public realm and office buildings on large plots Colmore RowSquare the statutory planning document walking and cycling. clustered around Colmore Circus that provides the planning policy and Snow Hill Queensway. This area Corporation Street • Principles for redevelopment, framework and overarching has been the focus for recent and incorporating a clear urban strategy for the whole of the City. ongoing commercial development Paradise design framework; proposals for including the One and Two Snowhill Circus how the historic environment can Following consultation, the Snow developments and complementary be utilised and opportunities for Hill Masterplan will be formally retail uses. New Street major investment including the approved by the City Council’s n Moor Street area’s Enterprise Zone sites. Cabinet and will help to inform Station NORTH future decisions on development NOT TO SCALE • A strategy for delivery. and investment in infrastructure. PLAN 1 Masterplan area New Street Station Bullring

snow hill masterplan / introduction introduction / snow hill masterplan Historic context city and the area contains a number Wider City Centre 6 of buildings of exceptional interest 7 The Masterplan area takes in and national importance. context some of the City’s most distinctive The Masterplan area is set within historic areas; the Colmore Row The Steelhouse Conservation the context of the wider City Conservation Area, the Steelhouse Area takes in the eastern portion Centre and has boundaries with the Conservation Area and a part of of the Masterplan area and forms following areas: the Jewellery Quarter Conservation an interface between the Snow Area. Hill Station area and the Learning Quarter. The Conservation Area Civic Core The Colmore Row Conservation Victoria Square is the City’s incorporates a superb example of Area forms the western portion primary public space, surrounded unbroken Victorian and Edwardian of the Masterplan area and by landmark historic buildings Gun Quarter townscape extending along covers the civic and commercial which make up the City’s civic Corporation Street and augmented heart of Birmingham. The quality heart. The area will see a major by the Children’s Hospital on and diversity of its architecture, redevelopment with the Paradise Steelhouse Lane. This includes particularly that of the late scheme following the relocation of a nationally significant group of nineteenth and early twentieth the library to . centuries, reflects Birmingham’s red brick and terracotta buildings development from a prosperous in which the Learning provide the unique centrepiece. market town to a great provincial Retail Core Quarter The Retail Core extends from the St Chads City’s primary shopping destination Queensway at the Bullring shopping centre via the soon to open Grand Central Jewellery Birmingham to the refurbished Quarter Victorian Mailbox in the west. It also takes Institutions in key streets and arcades that High Rise Commercial provide a diverse shopping offer. Within this core are the City’s major

shopping streets; Corporation Steelhouse Lane Street, New Street and the Snow Hill streets in the vicinity of St Philip’s Station Great Charles Street Churchyard.

Historic Colmore Jewellery Quarter The historic heart of the jewellery trade and home to many of Colmore Row Birmingham’s best historic Curzon buildings, the Jewellery Quarter HS2

is a key opportunity area for Corporation Street future tourism, business, creative industries and residential growth. Retail Core Civic Core

Learning Quarter New Street The rapidly expanding concentration of educational uses in Eastside is home to thousands of students and world class academic New Street facilities. Station n NORTH Birmingham Curzon NOT TO SCALE The arrival of HS2 in the City Centre PLAN 2 Masterplan context in 2026 will provide a major new national transport connection and stimulate the transformation of surrounding areas of Eastside, The Victorian Law Courts Digbeth and the City Centre Core.

snow hill masterplan / introduction introduction / snow hill masterplan 8 The vision 9

To create an exceptional business destination that offers high quality distinctive places, excellent connectivity and a diverse range of uses including attractive residential environments. The vision will be driven by a number of Big Moves.

Expanded Office Core With the arrival of HS2 the Snow environment, creating a legible At the heart of the Snow Hill district Hill district will see its attractiveness network of streets and spaces new landmark developments will as a key location for business, which connect into the wider City extend the City’s central business professional and financial services Centre to bring life and activity. district, providing a sustainable grow significantly. It will have a Enhanced streetscapes will supply of high-quality office key role as a hub for HS2 related support opportunities to integrate space complemented by a mix businesses kickstarted by the sustainable travel modes into of uses creating 24/7 activity, and decision to locate the HS2 the area and improve facilities supporting strong business and construction headquarters to the for walking, cycling and public residential growth across the area. Enhanced routes to the HS2 transport. Masterplan area. terminus will be delivered including further extension of the Midland Great Charles Street Boulevard Snow Hill Station Metro and improved pedestrian The Queensway (A38) will be Snow Hill Station will be routes. reconfigured to restore sustainable transformed, creating an attractive connectivity to this part of the rd va high-quality public transport le East-West Connection City Centre, freeing up land for ou et B St Mary’s interchange at the heart of the A grand pedestrian and cycle development and supporting tre Place s S district. The improvement of the route will be created, running the introduction of an enhanced le ar station will unlock development h from east to west via Colmore integrated transport system. C opportunities and facilitate the t Expanded Row to Steelhouse Lane. This will Connections will be restored to the a Office Core re provision of new routes through tie together the different parts Jewellery Quarter, facilitating the G and around the station. The of the district which make up the extension of the central business n o ti approach will be modelled on Masterplan area, reconnecting district and creating opportunities N c e e the highly successful Birmingham w nn the Steelhouse Lane area and the for major redevelopments. There o St Snow Hill C Gateway project which is City Centre Core into the Learning will be two phases of localised re st et Station e transforming Birmingham New Quarter. intervention; in the short- -C -W o Redevelopment st Street Station. lm a medium term these will provide o E Public realm interventions re immediate benefits while the -J H St Mary’s Place e S Public realm interventions major infrastructural changes are w 2 e C In the Steelhouse Lane area the l on throughout the area will provide developed and brought forward le n reconfiguration of major institutions r ec a consistently high quality y tiv over the longer term. Q ity will unlock new sites with significant u a r redevelopment potential to t e r create a new sustainable urban C o neighbourhood; St Mary’s Place. n n New uses and activity will be e c t introduced, including innovative i v

i and exciting opportunities to t y reuse the area’s valuable historic buildings. These new uses will feed into, and be supported by, the nearby Learning Quarter.

North/South Connectivity Significant improvements to north/ south connectivity will be made, enhancing pedestrian routes through the district to the Jewellery n NORTH Quarter, New Street Station and the NOT TO SCALE Retail Core. Old and new around Steelhouse Lane PLAN 3 Big Moves

snow hill masterplan / the vision the vision / snow hill masterplan 10 11

Great Charles Street Boulevard

snow hill masterplan / the vision the vision / snow hill masterplan 12 Connectivity 13

Connectivity is the key to making successful places. Linking the Snow Hill district to the wider City Centre and beyond is a key ambition of the Masterplan.

Improved connectivity and the for investment and business. With Medium/longer term: creation of a consistent, high improved connections to the HS2 • Reconfigure Snow Hill Station, quality public realm, will be central terminus, the Snow Hill district will enhancing passenger experience to the transformation of the area become one of the best connected and creating new pedestrian and the realisation of its huge business locations in the country. routes. potential. • Develop efficient new integrated Key projects to transform transport links with New Street Principles connectivity Station and Birmingham Curzon St Chads The Masterplan seeks to deliver Queensway Short term: to enhance local, regional and radical enhancements to the national connectivity. pedestrian environment. Improved • £9.9m has already been secured routes will give priority to from the Local Growth Fund, • Create new public thoroughfares pedestrians and cyclists, linking Enterprise Zone and Colmore through the heart of the district, together a series of landmark Business District to implement enhancing both east-west and public spaces which will provide key proposals which will be north-south connections. amenity space and form attractive brought forward over the period settings for new development. 2015-2020. These works will • Transform the public realm to Snow Hill tie in with major public realm provide a world-class visitor and Station Steelhouse Lane Public transport provision will enhancements across the City user experience. be greatly improved with the Centre brought forward under enhancement of the Metro, the the Enterprise Zone City Centre • Radically reconfigure the Great Charles Street introduction of the Sprint - bus Public Realm Improvement Queensway, creating new links rapid transit system - and the Programme. with adjacent Quarters. rationalisation of bus routes and stopping facilities. Interchange between public transport modes will be enhanced and new Colmore Row connections provided between the City’s transport hubs at New Street Corporation Street Station, Moor Street and the HS2 Birmingham Curzon terminus at Birmingham Curzon. HS2 Station

The downgrading of the Queensway will bring about a New Street transformational change to the nature of the City Centre, allowing Moor Street the Snow Hill district to be Station reconnected with the neighbouring New Street Quarters, supporting economic Station growth and stimulating major n development. NORTH NOT TO SCALE

The arrival of HS2 to the City KEY Centre in 2026 will create a step change in accessibility and further Masterplan boundary Improved walking routes enhance the area’s attractiveness M Metro route/station Pedestrian crossing zones Intergrated transport zone Canal

Transformed Colmore Row PLAN 4 Movement

snow hill masterplan / connectivity connectivity / snow hill masterplan Enhanced routes the recent enhancement of this At the centre of this route, the and the Retail Core in the south. 14 Permeability, legibility and visual space has supported this role. reconfiguration of Snow Hill Station Pedestrian movement into the 15 amenity will be enhanced through However there is a marked change will have significant benefits to Retail Core and towards New Street the targeted investment on routes in character from one side of the east/west connectivity, creating Station will be supported through through and within the Masterplan square to the other; the quality of an opportunity for free pedestrian the improvement of key routes area. Pedestrians and cyclists will the environment for pedestrians movement via a new route running across St Philip’s Churchyard to be prioritised. reduces. In addition, Colmore from Livery Street through the new Temple Street, along Upper Bull Circus and Snow Hill Queensway station concourse and emerging Street, along Bennett’s Hill and Reconnecting east and west Snow present significant barriers to near One Snowhill. This route through the . Hill district pedestrian movement. will continue onwards through A consistently high quality the Post and Mail and into the In advance of the reconfiguration east-west route will be created. To address this disconnection Steelhouse Lane area with an of the Queensway, pedestrian Connecting Victoria Square to between east and west Snow Hill improved pedestrian crossing movement across Great Charles Colmore Row, Snow Hill Station, district, a coherent and legible and environment on Snow Hill Street will be enhanced through Steelhouse Lane and across thoroughfare will be created Queensway. a package of measures, delivered the Queensway to the Learning connecting a number of existing partly via the Paradise re- Quarter. and improved public spaces. This A new landmark public space, Snow development, and including Historically this route connected route will reconnect the civic core Hill Gateway, will be created at the improvements to the Newhall the Town Hall and Council House to to the transformed Steelhouse Lane entrance to the station, linking St Street surface level crossing, the the Law Courts and Hospital via St and onward over the reconfigured Philip’s Square to Colmore Plaza, pedestrian footbridge at Ludgate Philip’s Churchyard. The continuity Lancaster Circus to the Learning placing the focus on pedestrian Hill/Church Street and the Livery of this route was lost during Quarter. movement and extending the Street subway. post-war highways interventions quality of Colmore Row into this Colmore Row will be enhanced important node for movement and In the longer term the and, as a result Colmore Row St Mary’s Place and Steelhouse Lane now lack through restricting vehicular access connectivity. transformation of Great Charles coherence and consistency. and re-arranging bus stop facilities. Street and the corresponding A direct cycling connection will Colmore Circus Queensway will be reduction in traffic flows will allow The pedestrianisation of a section be brought forward, running into reconfigured to provide a legible more extensive new pedestrian of Snow Hill Queensway to create the Steelhouse Lane area and relationship and stronger alignment links to be made linking the Already the Snow Hill district’s On Steelhouse Lane a landmark Colmore Square provides a channel linking onward to the wider cycling with Colmore Row and Steelhouse Jewellery Quarter to the City busiest pedestrian thoroughfare, public square will be created. The for pedestrian movement, and network. Lane and a more pedestrian- Centre Core. the new public space will deliver a Locally Listed wall at the front of friendly environment. greatly improved user experience the Children’s Hospital will provide Livery Street will be enhanced and will support the further the backdrop to an inviting green Steelhouse Lane will be upgraded, alongside the improved station development of the station’s role plaza which will become the front continuing the quality and and will provide a key link to the as the hub of a public transport door for the new residential and character of Colmore Square and Ludgate Hill development sites and interchange. This will tie in with business uses associated with the making use of the considerable onward into the Jewellery Quarter. the reconfiguration of the station refurbished buildings and provide width of the street and the and the accompanying new a pleasant place to rest within unique architectural quality of developments and supporting the the City Centre where visitors can the Steelhouse Lane area’s Public spaces expansion of the office core. appreciate the grandeur of the buildings. Wider pavements will Landmark public spaces will form surrounding buildings. accommodate street trees and the centrepiece of the transformed In the Colmore Row area, the a cycle lane within a high quality Snow Hill district, providing focal example set by the creation of On Whittall Street, the creation of public realm, creating a green, points within the network of Church Street Square will be another new public space will be pleasant and attractive setting for walking routes and stimulating extended to other key streets in the a precursor to surrounding new the area’s fine historic buildings. investment in surrounding sites. area, making use of space currently developments and will provide a Smaller public and private spaces dominated by car parking to create catalyst for well-designed places to throughout the district will provide high quality pedestrian areas. be created. Wider connectivity amenity space for residents and Cornwall Street will be the first Enhanced routes will connect the workers. street to be upgraded in this way. A series of further public and Snow Hill district to major transport private spaces will be created hubs at New Street Station and At the front of Snow Hill Station A new pocket square will be through future redevelopment Birmingham Curzon and establish will be Snow Hill Gateway - an created at the junction of Newhall of the Children’s Hospital and closer links with the Jewellery enhanced public square and Street and Colmore Row. The Dental Hospital sites, enhancing Quarter, the Retail Core and the attractive arrival point for the City removal of traffic signals and the setting of retained historic Learning Quarter. Centre. Forming the centrepiece the extension of the footway will buildings. This will include the of the district, this pedestrian- creation of St Mary’s Place at the , Church Street and transform the junction, placing a friendly space will have stronger centre of the new development, Livery Street form key connections greater emphasis on pedestrian connections to Colmore Row, St on the site of the historic St Mary’s between the Snow Hill district, amenity and facilitating more Philip’s Square and Colmore Square. Gardens. the Jewellery Quarter in the north efficient traffic movement.

snow hill masterplan / connectivity connectivity / snow hill masterplan The reconfiguration of Lancaster The extension of the Metro to area. The reconfiguration of the 16 Circus, potentially including the serve Birmingham Curzon will bring station will allow new routes to 17 removal of the A38 flyover and the Snow Hill Station and the new be formed connecting the east Queensway, will create Lancaster HS2 terminus to within minutes of and west sections of the Snow Hill Place - a new public space joining each other. This new connection district, working in parallel with the Steelhouse Lane area and the will have a significant effect on improvements to the public realm. Learning Quarter. The subways will movement of people and enhance be filled in and the centre of the the attractiveness of the area Key principles: Circus raised to road level, allowing around the station for investment. • Enhanced user experience of the for at-grade pedestrian crossings station. and safe cycling routes connecting Public spaces around the station to the City Centre Core. This space will be enhanced in a co-ordinated • Reconnecting Historic Colmore will become the gateway to the manner to support the needs of and the Steelhouse Lane area. transformed Great Charles Street interchanging transport modes boulevard. including Metro, Sprint and bus • Major new development services. This approach will be opportunities around the guided by consideration of the transformed station. Integrated transport most appropriate arrangements The Snow Hill district will be for vehicles and public transport • Enhanced interconnectivity and served by the transformed Snow movements and relationship to key interchange. Hill Station at the centre of an pedestrian desire lines. outstanding public transport Reconfiguring the station interchange. Snow Hill Station has much in Steelhouse Lane The station at the heart of the common with Birmingham’s New Snow Hill Station This will be established and district Street Station. Both stations Church enhanced by: Snow Hill Station is at the centre underwent redevelopment during of the Snow Hill district, serving the second half of the 20th Street • The current extension of the P 12,000 passengers a day and Century, emerging as utilitarian r Midland Metro to New Street Great Charles Street Boulevard io ry providing key regional and national and unattractive stations which Q Station and future phases which u transport links. The station will be ee will extend onward west to are difficult to navigate and form nsw ay Centenary Square and south to reworked, creating a high quality barriers to pedestrian movement the HS2 terminus at Curzon. arrival experience that befits the across the City Centre Core. The important business role of this New Street Gateway project is Colmore Row • The introduction of the Sprint rapid transit system, providing

Corporation Street a new attractive and efficient transport mode running through the district.

• The reconfiguration and New Street optimisation of bus routes to improve journey times and reduce congestion.

New Street The interchange will be connected Station to the City’s other major transport n nodes at New Street and Moor NORTH NOT TO SCALE Street Stations by new Metro links and improved walking and cycling routes. These enhancements will be combined with wider measures KEY brought forward across the City Masterplan boundary to reduce traffic levels, improve Public spaces the pedestrian environment and support businesses. This enhanced Main routes transport infrastructure will respond Canal to the opportunities created by the arrival of HS2 and maximise the resulting economic benefits. PLAN 5 Public realm and walking Colmore Square

snow hill masterplan / connectivity connectivity / snow hill masterplan transforming New Street Station Restoring connections between a pedestrian prioritised square, as it refocuses its transport system Significant changes to the required, and cross-city traffic 18 into a 21st century transport hub the east and west of the Snow Hill bringing legibility to the station and and continues to remove barriers to Inner Ring Road are being would need to be diverted to other 19 with new key routes through district providing a clear and user friendly growth. brought forward at Paradise routes including the Middleway, the station and a transformed Snow Hill Station has always acted transport interchange experience. Circus Queensway through the leaving only local access traffic passenger experience. The as a barrier between the Historic Birmingham Connected has begun redevelopment of Paradise Forum. using the much reduced remaining redevelopment will deliver the Colmore area and the wider Snow Improving the experience a debate around refocusing the This will deliver improvements road capacity. refurbishment of the Pallasades Hill district. Redevelopment of By introducing natural light City’s transport system and, through to crossing facilities and the shopping centre to form Grand the station and the introduction into the platform areas and the the White Paper, sets out a series pedestrian environment. In This would facilitate the Central Birmingham, anchored by of a new concourse will allow for main concourse area, a vastly of interventions and long term addition, the investment being improvement of St Chad’s Circus the new John Lewis department new pedestrian routes connecting superior passenger experience projects to shift the focus toward made in the Middleway through by making use of redundant road store. A similar approach to Livery Street to Snow Hill Plaza. will be created. In addition, new public transport and re-prioritising Pinch Point and Enterprise Zone space and creating a focal point accessibility and connectivity will be The change in ground level and the pedestrian routes through the road space. The dominance of road funding is already facilitating the for the City Centre Core’s interface taken at Snow Hill Station, however need to cross the new Metro route station concourse will introduce infrastructure and its land take is refocussing of traffic away from with the Constitution Hill/Great the redevelopment will be focussed are design challenges which will new activities and the opportunity no longer an accepted position the City Centre Core, reducing the Hampton Street corridor. A further around office rather than retail uses. be resolved by the introduction of for retail and food and drink for cities looking to future growth. number of daily journeys passing benefit would be the opportunity lifts and stairs and clear pedestrian facilities. Birmingham Connected and the through the centre along the A38. to transform Lancaster Circus into The reconfiguration of the station crossings over the Metro track. Snow Hill Interchange Plan (SHIP) ‘Lancaster Place’ - the potential will follow these key principles: study recommend that the function Major changes to the A38 would removal of the gyratory and A38 Delivering opportunities for quality Enhancing the appearance, The A38 Queensway of the remainder of the Queensway require a series of interventions flyover creating opportunities for new developments at the heart of visibility and legibility of the The Queensway presents a major through the City Centre be to mitigate transport impacts. A new development sites and open the district station itself challenge to improving connectivity assessed in order to investigate significant modal shift to public space. The reconfiguration of the station The station and its main Colmore and environmental quality in the the scope for a reconfiguration of transport and cycling will be will be facilitated by the removal Row entrance are currently City Centre. Through Birmingham the Queensway and the scale of of a part or all of the multi-storey embedded within other buildings, Connected, a series of actions are the resulting social, economic and car park which currently sits above and can be difficult to locate for envisaged leading to the long term environmental benefits. the concourse and platform area. visitors to the City. To overcome aspiration of breaking this major New development will be brought this, the main entrances of the physical barrier. Building on the themes and forward in place of the car park, station onto Livery Street and Snow findings of Birmingham Connected forming a high quality office-led Hill Queensway will be transformed Consisting of Lancaster Circus, and the SHIP study, initial feasibility development, with potential for and given prominence within the St Chad’s Circus, St Chad’s work is underway which will complementary retail components, street scene. Snow Hill Gateway Queensway and Great Charles consider opportunities for changes with direct access to the station and will help to give prominence to the Street, the Queensway is the to the A38 taking in Great Charles associated facilities. Colmore Row frontage, creating remaining northern portion of Street, the A38 tunnels and the Birmingham’s Inner Ring Road - Queensway as far as the Mailbox the ‘concrete collar’. Forming an in Westside. Further technical and urban motorway, the Queensway design work will be undertaken supports tens of thousands of as a part of the implementation traffic movements every day but of Birmingham Connected which constitutes a formidable barrier to will develop options and costs to movement and isolates surrounding support the development of a long areas including The Jewellery term solution. Quarter, Gun Quarter and Learning Quarter from the City Centre Core. Such a step to reconfigure the Queensway would follow the The vision of this Masterplan precedent set by the removal is to transform the Queensway of Circus during the between Lancaster Circus and mid-1990s which facilitated the Paradise Circus Queensway into a regeneration of the Eastside area series of attractive boulevards and and the creation of the Eastside public spaces, leaving the road to City Park which opened in 2012. function as a local distributor rather Continuing this principle around than a through route and urban the Northern section of the motorway. The reconfigured route Queensway has the potential to would feature dedicated space for deliver similarly huge regeneration buses and cycle traffic. This would benefits, as have been secured unlock land for new developments, through the conversion of urban support improvements to public motorways across the world in transport movement, create cities such as New York, Seoul and opportunities for regeneration and Luxembourg City. make a bold statement for the City Colmore Square from Steelhouse Lane The Lumina development

snow hill masterplan / connectivity connectivity / snow hill masterplan 20 Development 21

The Snow Hill district has vast potential for new development and for the reuse of existing buildings. New high quality business and residential space will be created in keeping with the Snow Hill district’s strong existing character, providing space for growth and enlivening its streets.

Principles Key development projects • The creation of St Mary’s Place New developments within the through the redevelopment • Redevelopment of Snow Hill Snow Hill district will be expected and innovative reuse of historic Station and the replacement of to deliver high quality architecture buildings in the Steelhouse Lane the multi-storey car park with a utilising innovative technologies to area including the Children’s series of large office buildings of create sustainable and functional Hospital, Central Police around 15 storeys. buildings. The design of buildings Station, Law Courts and Central will respond to the surrounding Methodist Hall. • Development of the Ludgate Hill context and respect the existing Enterprise Zone site to provide a character and scale of buildings. • Other opportunities in the district * flexible mixed-use development including the redevelopment with excellent transport links. The conversion and reuse of of the NatWest Tower at 103 * historic buildings will be a key part Colmore Row, the Post and Mail of the redevelopment of the district • Further expansion of the office Scheme, Phase 3 of Snow Hill * and sensitive and creative solutions core into the area to the West of Queensway and the restoration will be required which retain Snow Hill Station and around St of the historic Grand Hotel on historic fabric and character while Chad’s Cathedral. Colmore Row. delivering new uses and activity. * New developments will be required to bring life and activity to streets through the provision of active frontages. Where this is not possible, alternative measures such as green or art walls will be encouraged. This will be particularly important along key routes and around public spaces. Tall buildings of greater than 15 * storeys may be appropriate at key gateway locations. Such buildings will be required to reflect the highest architectural standards and to respect and respond to the surrounding context, particularly in the vicinity of listed buildings.

n NORTH NOT TO SCALE

KEY Masterplan boundary Re-used buildings M Metro route/station New development Tall buildings cluster zone Canal Active frontage * Key City landmarks Livery Street and transformed Snow Hill Station PLAN 6 Development plan

snow hill masterplan / development development / snow hill masterplan 22 23

The transformed Snow Hill Station

snow hill masterplan / development development / snow hill masterplan The following are details of the significant buildings. This will sit Ludgate Hill and enhance the setting of St Creating St Mary’s Place a comprehensive approach to 24 principle development areas within alongside the renovation of 55 The development of the Ludgate Chad’s Cathedral, and create a The Steelhouse Lane area redevelopment can be achieved. 25 the district. Colmore Row to create 15,000sq.m Hill Enterprise Zone site on the prominent gateway into the Snow will experience a significant At present, the Steelhouse Lane of Grade A office space. fringe of the Jewellery Quarter will Hill district. change in character and use area is dominated by large Historic Colmore provide a flexible mix of office, over the Masterplan period. institutional uses such as the The area around Colmore Row is The redevelopment of 103 Colmore residential, hotel and leisure uses Major developments in the The reconfiguration of the area Children’s Hospital, the Victoria Birmingham’s traditional business Row on the site of the NatWest centred around a new public space immediate vicinity of the station, will create St Mary’s Place - a Law Courts and the Central Police hub, possessing a unique character Tower for office/mixed use will and incorporating existing historic including Snowhill, Lumina, Post & sustainable neighbourhood of Station. The planned departure and wide array of heritage assets create an elegant and distinctive buildings fronting onto Ludgate Mail and Ludgate Hill will deliver city living, education, leisure and of these institutions presents a including some of the City’s best building in keeping with the Hill. Building heights will range high quality office-led uses which business based activity around the number of major opportunities listed buildings and civic spaces. character of the Conservation Area from 5 to 15 storeys in keeping with will take full advantage of the new unique character of the existing for development, both new build The improvement of the area will and with active frontages onto the surrounding context and the connections and improved public historic fabric. and through the reuse of existing focus on building upon its existing Colmore Row and Newhall Street. character of the Jewellery Quarter realm. historic buildings. Through this strengths and role at the heart of Should the existing building be Conservation Area and nearby This Masterplan sets out broad new development a new identity the City’s commercial activities. demolished in advance of new listed buildings. This will be supported by a flexible principles for redevelopment, will emerge for the area, centred development coming forward, the mix of uses complementary to however it will be expected that a around a vibrant mix of new Further development of office uses site will become a temporary public This redevelopment will be the business focus in the Historic detailed Masterplan will be created uses and activities to create a will be supported alongside new space, tied in with the surrounding supported by improvements in Colmore area and around the as part of any planning application sustainable City Centre urban complementary retail and leisure public realm. connectivity and public realm station. exercise for the area to show how neighbourhood. development which will contribute to overcome the historic barrier to the creation of new diversity and The former City Council offices formed by Great Charles Street. activity, enlivening the streetscape. at 96-102 Edmund Street present The site will benefit from the High quality new developments will a significant development proximity of the Colmore business preserve and enhance the character opportunity at the heart of the district, the existing residential of the Colmore Row Conservation Conservation Area. These fine population of the Jewellery Area. listed buildings are suitable for a Quarter, and the enhanced footfall sensitive conversion scheme to delivered by improvements to The restoration of the Grand deliver a mixture of uses potentially the station and wider transport Hotel at the junction of Colmore including residential, hotel and interchange, in particular the Row and Church Street will bring office alongside ancillary retail and Jewellery Quarter entrance to Snow

back into use one of the area’s food and drink units. Hill Station which leads directly out St Chads most prominent and historically into this part of the district. Queensway

Expansion of the Office Core Expanded Office Core St Mary’s Office uses will continue to be the Place mainstay of the Snow Hill district, and will be expanded as a business core in the vicinity of Snow Hill Ludgate Hill Station and Snow Hill Queensway. Snow Hill This will sit alongside the Station Steelhouse Lane redeveloped Paradise Circus as an expansion of the central business

district. Great Charles Street Historic The redevelopment of the station, Colmore including the demolition of the multi-story car park above the

station, will create the potential for Colmore Row a series of sizable landmark office buildings which will sit alongside and complement the One and Corporation Street Two Snowhill developments. The reconfiguration of the A38 at St Chad’s Circus will create the potential for further significant mixed-use development, New Street potentially including tall buildings n of greater than 15 storeys. New NORTH NOT TO SCALE developments in this location will Newhall Street-Colmore Row need to be designed to protect PLAN 7 Key development projects New Street Station

snow hill masterplan / development development / snow hill masterplan The revitalised Steelhouse Lane courtyard pattern, looking inward The large resident population of 26 area will provide a link between the on private areas while presenting students constitute a significant 27 Learning Quarter and the business active uses on the perimeter, market with the potential to core of the City Centre, both in particularly on frontages to key support commercial activity terms of physical connectivity and streets. including specialist retail and as a place for new enterprise and services at ground floor. innovation. New developments will The cluster of educational uses provide a flexible range of uses and student accommodation in In the long term the reconfiguration focussing on a mix of residential the Learning Quarter represents an of Lancaster Circus will facilitate and commercial accommodation. opportunity to extend educational new views and connections to the The growth of the district’s uses and supporting facilities into landmark fire station. Opportunities business and residential sectors the Steelhouse Lane area. New will arise for significant new mixed will support the provision of a developments will cater for post- use development making use of range of cafes, restaurants and bars graduate and professional users, land formerly occupied by highway concentrated around Colmore Row providing business start-up and infrastructure. and Steelhouse Lane. Hotels and incubation space. provision for leisure and amenity will support these primary uses.

The area contains a number of valuable and distinctive historic buildings which are interspersed among more modern buildings. This presents opportunities for large- scale redevelopment featuring the retention and re-use of all of the historic buildings alongside new developments. New buildings will respect the scale and character of historic buildings and will preserve key views. This approach will transform the Steelhouse Lane area whilst drawing upon and supporting the existing character through protecting and enhancing its historic core.

As the buildings are expected to be sequentially vacated over the next 10 years their re-use is critical to retaining the vitality of the area. Innovation and flexibility will be required to identify uses which are suited to the buildings and which will work alongside new development to retain and enhance the heritage offer of the area. Appropriate new uses for historic buildings may include education, leisure, business incubator, residential or student accommodation.

The Children’s Hospital site will be redeveloped as a desirable residential-led mixed use scheme built around the historic elements, accommodating taller buildings on the periphery and private amenity space within blocks. New development blocks will follow a Masterplan development proposals

snow hill masterplan / development development / snow hill masterplan 28 Delivery

The delivery of the Masterplan proposals will be progressed in close collaboration with Colmore Business District along with other partners and stakeholders including the development community, Centro, Network Rail and the Jewellery Quarter Business Improvement District (BID).

Funding for public realm • Proposals for the redevelopment • Public transport enhancements enhancements will be identified of Snow Hill Station will be including initial Sprint routes and from a variety of sources including developed in collaboration further extension of the Metro to BID resources, Enterprise between the City Council, Curzon HS2 and Five Ways. Zone funding and Community Network Rail, Ballymore and Infrastructure Levy. This will sit Centro. £125k has been secured • Reconfiguration of the A38 alongside an existing £9.9m fund and feasibility and development Queensway to create a boulevard for public realm improvements, work is in progress. featuring new public spaces consisting of Local Growth Fund, and opening up major new Enterprise Zone funding and • Enhancement of Queensway development opportunities. contributions from the Colmore crossings including Great Charles HS2 enters service and the Business District, which has been Street Footbridge, Newhall Street connections between new allocated for the implementation of crossing and Livery Street subway. terminus and Snow Hill district are the SHIP Delivery Plan. The future in place. maintenance of spaces will be fully • Completion of major considered including the role of developments including Post and developers or the BID. Mail, Ludgate Hill, Lumina and developments. The Masterplan proposals will be delivered on a phased basis. • Opening of HS2 engineering An indication of the anticipated headquarters. timescale is as follows: • Metro Extension to Centenary Square. Short term 2014-2018 • In collaboration with Centro and the Colmore Business District a Medium/long term 2018-2031 £9.9m package of public realm • Further public realm works measures will be delivered including Colmore Queensway including: and Colmore Row. - Creation of Snow Hill Gateway at the front of Snow Hill Station. • The departure of the Children’s Hospital and the development - Major public realm and highway of a programme for the improvements to Colmore Row, reconfiguration and renewal of Livery Street, Newhall Street, the sites and the reuse of historic Steelhouse Lane, Colmore buildings. Circus and Great Charles Street Queensway. • Snow Hill Station redevelopment Waheed Nazir - Area-wide cycle parking and de- and creation of associated new Director of Planning and cluttering measures. linkages. Regeneration

snow hill masterplan / delivery