Pictured above: An artists impression of Centenary
Way
A two day public exhibition has been launched this week on ideas
for the potential redevelopment options for Paradise Circus in
Birmingham city centre.
Developer Argent is working jointly with Birmingham City Council
to look at the potential for redeveloping the eight acre city
centre site and the two day exhibition seeks to identify the key
issues and redevelopment objectives for Paradise Circus.
Lying between Centenary Square and Chamberlain Square, the site
includes existing buildings such as the Copthorne Hotel,
Conservatoire, Birmingham Central Library and Paradise Forum.
Together, the Council and Argent aim to transform the area,
creating a lively, attractive and welcoming new city centre
environment at Paradise Circus. Working alongside Glenn
Howell Architects and transport planners, Peter Brett Associates,
the current focus is on producing a pre master planning vision for
the seminal site as Gary Taylor, managing director for Argent
explains:
"Paradise Circus is the most strategically important piece of
land in need of regeneration within Birmingham's central core.
There is no other eight acre site in the UK which
demonstrates so glaringly the urban design conflicts created in the
1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The successful movement of people and
traffic through Birmingham city centre pivots on Paradise Circus
and we are committed to exploring redevelopment opportunities for
this area in order that it can successfully meet the future needs
of the people of Birmingham.
"The plans we are sharing showcase the potential for development
which we believe Paradise Circus holds. We want to give the
historic buildings in the area a setting befitting of their status
while also bringing fresh and pleasurable opportunities for people
to work, visit and travel across the area. This is a massive
project to undertake and one which will take years of careful
planning before a spade hits the ground, but we firmly believe this
redevelopment is critical to the future success of Birmingham as a
city.
Pictured above: An artists impression of Congreve
Pasage
"The images which we are sharing at the exhibition indicate how
changes to the area could be approached. With the new Library
of Birmingham already under construction, our aspiration is for a
comprehensive redevelopment involving the removal of the current
library and creation of an attractive pedestrian route to the new
library in Centenary Square."
Leader of Birmingham City Council, Mike Whitby added: "The
public exhibition aims to outline our early aspirations for the
Paradise Circus site to the people of Birmingham. This is the start
of an inclusive approach to the redevelopment of a key piece of
city centre land which represents one of the best development sites
available in Europe right now.
"Whilst representing challenges it is also an amazing
opportunity for the City Council and Argent to continue the process
of transformational change for Birmingham, a city that has come so
far over the past few years. Our joint venture is the next
significant step in creating a Birmingham that seeks to play a
major role as an international destination in the future.
"At present the quality of movement through Paradise Circus is
not easy and successfully improving this through the redevelopment
of the area would be a major step in addressing the connectivity
issues already identified in the Big City Plan and ensuring
Birmingham has both a civic and cultural heart.
"Having already demonstrated its ability to rejuvenate urban
areas such as Brindleyplace in Birmingham, Argent is the ideal
joint venture partner to drive forward proposals for Paradise
Circus. This is about building for the future of Birmingham and
setting down a marker for the city to realise its place as a
globally significant city which is gaining a reputation for great
civic renewal."
Birmingham based Glenn Howells architects has produced some
conceptual ideas for Paradise Circus displayed at the public
exhibition. Speaking about the practice's approach to the
visioning exercise undertaken to date, Glenn Howells commented:
"Paradise Circus is an extremely complex site which presents the
immediate issues of connectivity, historic buildings, public realm
and sustainability alongside many others, which require careful
consideration before moving forward. The sketches which we
are sharing showcase our preliminary thoughts on how these issues
could be addressed having considered technical restrictions and the
commercial viability of the site. The site offers huge
potential to Birmingham from creating safer pedestrian routes and
reconnecting the Jewellery Quarter with the city centre, to
creating a sustainable mixed use environment with significantly
increased employment opportunities. Our ultimate aim is for
Paradise Circus to be a part of the city in which people want to
work, visit and socialise and we look forward to receiving feedback
on our initial steps towards achieving this."
The feedback received at the public exhibition will enable
Argent and its team to progress towards pre masterplanning work for
Paradise Circus. Once further work is complete, it is likely
that additional public consultation will be undertaken in
approximately 12-18 months time, before an outline planning
application is submitted in summer 2011.
For those unable to attend the exhibition, a website showcasing
the initial concepts for Paradise Circus will be available at
www.paradisecircus.co.uk from 9 February. Feedback forms for
the project can be also completed and submitted online.