Pictured above: Gary Taylor addresses delegates at
MIPIM in Cannes
Delegates at MIPIM have had an exclusive insight into the
rebirth of the eight-acre Paradise Circus site in Birmingham.
Gary Taylor, chief executive of Argent, gave a running report on
the current thinking behind his company's plan to address the
planning mistakes of the 1960s and 1970s that have blighted the
long view from Centenary Square into the city centre for so
long.
In a low key presentation with architect Glenn Howells, which
attracted a growing audience from passing delegates at the
international property conference in Cannes, he mapped out how they
planned to open up the site.
"We believe this is the most important piece of real estate in
Britain with the potential to bring this area back to life.
"We are in an exclusivity agreement with the City Council with
the view to giving the public realm back to the people."
He said that in planning terms the Paradise Circus was
"pretty illegible" and with the Library of Birmingham moving in
2013 and a number of 25-year leases ending around that time, there
was a once in a lifetime opportunity to do something special with a
key city centre site.
Glenn Howells said the Paradise Circus project represented a
fantastic chance to create a project that would be woven into the
wiring diagram of the Big City Plan - which is due for a major
relaunch with detailed plans for Birmingham in July.
He said it was important to respect the historic buildings in
their setting - and demonstrated the pedigree of the site by using
an 1851 map of the area.
"This project is in no way defined at present but we are
presenting what we believe is some very clear thinking on how we
might take it forward.
"The opportunity is there to complete the ring around the old
Town Hall and frame views of the Council House. We want to create
an environment that respects the setting and puts these historic
listed buildings in their correct setting."
Gary Taylor concluded: "The prize is big enough and important
enough to make it worth doing and we are proud to have been
selected to take this project forward."