Pictured above: Stephen Pycroft, Mace Chief Executive; Cllr Paul Tilsley, Deputy Leader Birmingham City Council; Rob Ewen, UK Regions Director; Simon Dale, Regional Director.

The Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council has vowed that the local authority will work alongside the city's construction professionals to push a pipeline of multi-million pound projects through the recession and beyond.

Speaking in front of more than 400 representatives from the construction and project management sector at the Mace Group Autumn reception held at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, cllr Paul Tilsley outlined some of the key opportunities and challenges facing the city. 

The event was hosted by Mace, which has a regional office in Edmund Street, and is involved in a number of major regeneration projects in and around the city including Birmingham Gateway, the redevelopment of the LG Arena, Birmingham International Airport and Eastside.

Cllr Tilsley told the audience that public sector-led regeneration projects faced a challenging future as central government investment became increasingly tight while also noting that major projects would always split opinion.

He said: "It's fair to say that never will any major project produce consensus - the Library is proof that the detractors will always shout loudest.

"However, it takes strength and courage of one's convictions to do what is right, and you can be assured that the City Council will continue to work with you - the private sector - to do what we can to make Birmingham the global city we know it can be."

The Deputy Leader explained that despite the downturn in the economy there were still major projects taking place which presented major opportunities for the city.

He said: "Despite the challenging market conditions, the City has a pipeline of major projects either in progress or about to commence which must give us all cause for optimism.

"Birmingham Gateway is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown and work started on site just last month.

"As someone who has heard all of the deliberation and debate and had to endure the deferrals and delays, that was a very proud day indeed.

"Finally, after so many years of frustration, work on the new City Library will next year begin and the excavations have already started.

"Birmingham International Airport's £50 million New International Pier has now completed with the next challenge being the Runway Extension which will provide a step-change in the ability of Birmingham's businesses to compete in the global marketplace while also opening our region up to the world's tourism markets.

"The redevelopment of Edgbaston Cricket Ground will help to ensure Birmingham retains its status as a test venue in the face of increasing competition from other grounds around England - and Wales.

"Eastside, once seen as the most challenging piece of the regeneration jigsaw, is being delivered piece by piece as the various sub-projects that form this tremendous opportunity - such as BCU's city centre campus development, the Brit Academy, City Park and Eastside Locks - are all progressing."

Councillor Tilsley also praised the hosts for their work in helping to successfully deliver a number of the city's top projects.

He said: "I am pleased to say that our hosts this evening, the Mace Group, have been a key player in the team which has helped to ensure our regeneration portfolio has been able to progress.

"I know the Mace team, as Delivery Partner on Birmingham Gateway project, will be playing a key role in ensuring our city has the station it deserves, have been instrumental in ensuring Baskerville House is the symbol of success it is today, have this year successfully handed over the projects at the LG Arena and Birmingham International Airport while their long-term involvement in the Eastside development further demonstrates the high regard in which the company is held here in Birmingham and beyond."

Simon Dale, Regional Director for Mace, said: "The autumn reception is always an excellent opportunity for the property sector to get together and network. I think it's fair to say that such opportunities have been few and far between in recent times so it was great to see so many people turn out.

"Mace is passionate about supporting the work of local authorities and our other public sector partners in delivering world-class projects that put Birmingham and the West Midlands on the map and we hope to continue to do so for a long time to come."