Address city living or Birmingham will lose future professionals
BIRMINGHAM is in danger of losing subsequent generations of young professionals if the Big City Plan does not address housing needs sooner, former Birmingham Future chair Alex Bishop has said.
Speaking at a Birmingham Future event, Ms Bishop, a partner at Shoosmiths and an advocate of city living, said the plan’s long–term ambitions did not address the city’s immediate housing needs.
She said: “In the longer term, the Big City Plan talks of the potential to turn Highgate and Ladywood into family-oriented neighbourhoods – both positive ambitions which we whole heartedly endorse.
“However, this will involve massive demolition and rejuvenation of existing residential and industrial stock, completely revamping the infrastructure of those areas and will potentially take decades.
“After the excitement surrounding the possibility of the Icknield Port Loop regeneration in the first Big City Plan, it is disappointing so little focus was placed on it this time round.
“Likewise, it is positive that the Jewellery Quarter is being seen as an attractive focal point for our liveable city – but, again, very little detail as to how this will be achieved.”
She said while the Big City Plan had to cover long term ambitions, people did not want to wait 20 years for somewhere to live.
“In that time, we risk losing generations of young professionals who will relocate to another city which can offer them what they want – aspirational family housing (not more one or two bed apartments), 24/7 city living and a sustainable city centre infrastructure. We need some quick wins and soon,” she said.
Many young professionals liked living in Birmingham city centre, she said, and they wanted to make their family home in the city.
However, she said at the moment this was not possible and instead, they were forced out into the suburbs or to other cities.
Birmingham Future is calling on the city’s next generation of professionals to make their voices heard during the plan’s consultation.
“The Big City Plan needs our full support but it is important that the consultation feedback the council receives comes from those who will still be living and working in the city centre in 15 or 20 years’ time – not just those currently sitting at the top of their career,” said Ms Bishop.
