£25m regeneration plans for Birmingham city centre revealed
Plans for a £25m regeneration of Birmingham’s city centre – which include bringing Victoria Square’s famous ‘Floozie in the Jacuzzi’ fountain back into use – have been revealed.
Proposals to improve the city centre as it prepares to welcome around half a million more visitors to the city during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will be discussed at Cabinet on 29 October.
The multi-million improvements to public spaces in the city centre, set out in the report, will include:
– Renewing 40,000 sq m of public realm
– Repair and restore The River fountain in Victoria Square
– Extending the pedestrian area around Victoria Square
– Improving security measures at 19 city centre locations
– Replacing pavement, lighting columns, CCTV and street furniture
– Public realm assets improvement
Councillor Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Our city centre welcomes more than 42 million people a year, and following the regeneration works around Centenary Square and Paradise, it’s now time for us to revitalise the business and retail areas.
“Birmingham 2022 provides us with an opportunity to bring forward these improvements and these exciting plans will ensure we can offer a world-class welcome to all for the Commonwealth Games – and beyond.”
The proposed works will be carried out in two phases. The first stage will include improvements to Victoria Square, Colmore Row, Waterloo St, New St, Ethel St, Lower Temple St and Temple St. The second phase will incorporate areas around Bennetts Hill, Temple Row, High St, Union St, Union Passage, Warwick Passage and Needless Alley.
