A NEW vision of how Birmingham’s Eastside could be transformed into a creative and cultural hub has been unveiled.
 
Academics from Birmingham City University’s School of Architecture worked alongside Node Urban Design on the plans, which propose vast new areas of public space, enhanced creativity and a dynamic new quarter to support the city’s thriving start-up sector.
 
The plans, known as the Knowledge Hub, include the creation of the STEAMhouse campus – an innovation centre aimed at driving economic growth through arts and creativity – which has been earmarked for the heart of Digbeth.

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Proposals include a new digital screen for Millennium Point which would showcase movies and art.

The vision continues the changing face of Birmingham’s Eastside which has already been transformed by multi-million pound investment into new buildings by BCU.

The masterplan is expected to benefit from the arrival of HS2 in the city, together with the extension of its Metro network.

The project, which is likely to cost several million pounds, would be expected to create thousands of long and short terms jobs in the city and help support economic growth by creating an area which supports education, innovation and business.
 
It is hoped that the changes would help the city grow by providing an area where new and existing business could thrive and take advantage of Birmingham’s reputation as one of the UK’s biggest start-up hotspots.
 
The vision will be presented by Birmingham City Council and Birmingham City University Vice Chancellor Professor Cliff Allan to a host of investors and construction experts at the international property show MIPIM, which takes place in Cannes next week.

The areas of Eastside which the project has earmarked for changes include:
 
•         Corporation Plaza – Includes a new shared square, a new pavilion for food and retail business start-ups, improve walking and cycling facilities and a new art wall.
•         Aston Square – Includes a new meeting space, new cycle storage facilities, multi-functional pavilion with café and recharging point for electric pod for us in the Knowledge Hub area.
•         Jennens Park – Includes cutting the carriageway from four to two lanes, creating a park and playground with a focus on health and wellbeing, installing new pedestrian routes, providing a series of pavilions and improving connections to Millennium Point and the new Conservatoire.
•         Cinema Square – Includes new multi-purpose space, outdoor digital screen for films and art, exhibition space for students and new paving and lighting linking the Eastside Park.
•         Curzon Street – Includes extending the Eastside Park area, priority for walkers and cyclists, and integration with Midland Metro tram extension and the new HS2 railway station.
•         Eastside Locks – New space for residential and student accommodation as well as business use, protection of historic buildings, links to transport and the creation of an art and lighting installation.

Kate Kershaw, director at Node, said: “The employment opportunities with this are potentially huge when you consider the innovation and growth of small businesses.
 
“It’s about fostering innovation, getting those start-up units and encouraging students to collaborate with one another as well as collaboration between educational establishments, innovation and businesses themselves.
 
“We want to create something that’s completely individual to Birmingham.”