The Big City Plan: What the industry thinks

LEADING figures from Birmingham’s property industry joined civic dignitaries today to launch the ‘Big City Plan’ – a blueprint for the future development of the city centre and surrounding area.

Key highlights include proposals to build 1.5m sq metres of new office, retail, leisure and cultural floorspace, transforming New Street station and other areas and new and improved public spaces.

Figures involved in the project give their thoughts on the Big City Plan.

Chief executive of Birmingham Chamber Of Commerce Jerry Blackett said: “The Big City Plan was an exciting concept, but nothing more; the latest masterplan provides welcome meat on the bones, the new team turning it into something you can visualise in detail.

“It confirms that Birmingham does have a sense of global ambition. This is important at a time of scarce investment funding from the pound, dollar and yen: Birmingham now has a convincing story to sell. It was great to see it record the importance of the private sector and a clear partnership agenda.”

• Big City Plan Stage 2 is revealed – click through to read more.

Gary Taylor, right, managing director of Brindleyplace developer Argent, said: “I’m encouraged by how the city in the current economic climate is focusing on what it can deliver in five priority areas.

“There would have been a danger in trying to please everyone, but focusing on what can be delivered in the next three to five years is really important, allowing the city’s resources and manpower to be properly utilised. The developments in the Masterplan are linked together really well.”

Gary Cardin, head of the Birmingham office at property consultancy Drivers Jonas Deloitte, said: “A lot of hard work has been put into this by the city council, turning what was a strategic document into a plan-style that the development industry will understand.

“Transport and development are often treated like two very separate departments working on different themes, but this masterplan puts them together, focusing on the importance of investment partnerships, people joining to see the end game and understanding the right plans to get us there.”

Chief executive of Marketing Birmingham Neil Rami, left, said: “This is the most comprehensive destinations toolkit the city council has produced for the development agenda for a generation.

“It’s honest and authentic – realistic about what we can deliver, given the climate of public funding.

“It’s not spreading the jam too thinly but laying out that, for now, these are enough and quite exciting in themselves, taking us in a strong direction.”

Glenn Howells of Glenn Howells Architects said: “This is the first time I’ve seen clear suggestions creating a fantastic, workable city.

“There is a very clear pedestrian wiring diagram showing how connectivity is not just for vehicles.

“It’s a proper, navigable map around the city, crucial whenever developments happen in different areas as without that we can’t get them to connect with each other.”

Director of the Mailbox Alan Chatham said: “In my view the city centre masterplan is a very clear, easy to understand document which carries Michael Parkinson’s visioning study strongly forward.

“At a time when securing investment into our cities is of paramount importance, it will give confidence to investors because we have a coherent plan in place to help them understand the key areas in which they will be encouraged to invest.”

Pic right: An impression of the Moat Square development proposed as part of the Big City Plan’s vision for the Wholesale Markets site in Birmingham.