I have just been chatting to a friend about developments in the eastside of Birmingham, a subject that I am keen on as it is home to our design studio. Our creative director, Jim, has also recently moved to a new flat in Avoca court, as too have several of my friends over the past couple of years. I have limited knowledge of the Eastside plans, and have just heard various rumours and plans. I haven’t managed to find any concrete information or facts informing me of development plans or timescales. Maybe I’m not looking hard enough, or maybe there is nothing to look for at the moment? Please excuse my ignorance if so, and help guide me.
The Council’s link to information appears to be broken.
There is information about Eastside sustainability:
Eastside Sustainability Advisory Group (ESAG)
This site links me to the official Eastside site to find out more, but it’s the council one, that I already discovered does not exist.
Sustainable Eastside
An interesting ‘vision for the future’ document pdf here, from 2002!
As a ‘creative’ area I think it is important to involve all residents in development plans in order to retain the businesses and take on board peoples ideas. I have enjoyed attending events such as the lower eastside dialogues, as they offer an opportunity for people to get their heads together and share interesting ideas.
Manchester’s ‘New Islington’ plan has a web site that communicates (albeit slightly too flashy for my liking, although they do offer an alternative display) the project in a good level of detail and involves the community.
I think the Council should consider producing a web site that keeps the public fully informed of plans, and enables discussion and feedback. I am excited to be in Digbeth and watch it develop, but would like to see this development (or at least the plans and timescales) and feel in some way that we can make influencial decisions.
Nice one Andy!
Thanks for all you help today! We have linked you on the new MFG! blog. Check it out here: http://mamafeelgoodmusic.co.uk/?p=63
With you on that one Andy. I’ve found the same thing for years. I moved office down to Digbeth about 5 years ago and basically saw very little change at the ‘lower’ end, with all the action up around Millennium point at the other end.
Strikes me as a bit of a shame and an opportunity missed for there not to have been much public online dialogue or publishing to date. And any information about it seemed to be third hand via word of mouth with a rough sketch of various areas on a map.
Hopefully with the new Big City Plan there’ll be a website coming with lots of interesting content. There’s a document coming out in the next few weeks that will I assume have a big inclusion of activity in Eastside so I’m looking forward to seeing it.
You should also look around for the Olsberg report which includes an overview of what the plans are for the area in terms of how they might be relevant to digital media.
(No download I can find - not sure if it’s a public document).
BTW - This text box is tiny by the way - Mac Firefox - text appears as about 7pt!
Right, what’s going on. A lot in fact!
Millennium Point - finished in 2001 and now fully occupied.
Masshouse, phase two is underway, is at a snails pace though.
City Park - BCC have scaled it down after not winning the Lottery money. It is still going ahead, just at a slower pace.
City Park Gate - Full planning consent, building work is imminent.
Etna House - Under construction, steel is current going up.
VTP 200 - Has outline planning, awaiting full planning after a slight re-design after public consultation. New designs have been shown to the public now.
Curzon Gate - 700 apartments, due for completion by the summer.
Curzon Gate - outline planning given.
Birmingham city University - outline planing give. BIAD and Conservatoire are both moving to Eastside in the next 2010-2011. This is the same land where the Lord Rogers library was planned to be.
Venture East - land is being cleared as we speak. In for full planning in the next couple of months.
Multi-storey car park - Planning given.
discovered a little more…
Kinetic are working on a master plan for Warwick Bar, Eastside.
http://www.kinetic-aiu.com/warwick.html
Looks exciting!
There is an Eastside Community Group. Next meeting is at the old crown pub on the 20th feb 6pm. I have just spoken to Anne Parouty (Chair) who informs me that they have no web presence but have been keen to develop one. I will be attending the next meeting to see if we can get a blog set up to assist them in communicating their discussions, findings and views.