Booming Brum 1

A day doesn't seem to go by at the moment without attention being directed towards Birmingham and this attention is well deserved.  The optimistic mood of the city looking forward, the city's motto, can almost be smelt in the air.  2015 is another of those significant years for Birmingham when it's ambition and hard work is realised in built form with developments coming to fruition and events showcasing the city to the rest of the world.  1976 saw the opening of the NEC, 1991 the International Convention Centre, 1998 host to the Eurovision Song Contest and the G8 Summit, 2003 the new Bullring and 2013 the new Library of Birmingham.  2015 continues this succession of events and developments with the opening of the redeveloped New Street Station and accompanying Grand Central Shopping Centre and John Lewis store, the arrival of the Midland Metro in the City Centre before it continues onwards to Centenary Square, the hosting of World Cup Rugby matches and the third cricket Ashes Test Match, the opening of the redeveloped Mailbox and Resorts World Complex at the NEC.  That's only a short summary of the 15 in 15 with the Birmingham Mail listing all of the 15 reasons to be in Birmingham in 2015, http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/15-reasons-brum-2015-7186792

The following is a the first part of a short summary of some, amongst the tens of developments in progress, of the developments across the city which are adding to the buzz of the city together with a few upcoming proposals.  The city really is awash with a buzz and that's just from the physical transformation.  The cultural, culinary and musical developments amongst others have shown the world just how bostin Birmingham is.  There are too many developments to fit into one article so this is the first in a series looking at the built development of Birmingham.


Starting from the western side of the city centre.

At Five Ways, Seven Capital is transforming the Westside of Birmingham with it's investment in the former Auchinleck office block to welcome the UK's first Park Regis hotel.

Across the way from that Seven Capital bought No.1 Hagley Road and is currently transforming this into apartments which will offer gorgeous views across the city.  The two photos below are taken from the former office block showing the Birmingham skyline and views of Edgbaston visible from the higher floors.

Next door to No.1 Hagley Road, Seven Capital have just submitted plans for Landsdowne House a new 16 storey residential block that will sit adjacent to the Hagley Road.

The images below are from the planning application, ref 2015/00738/PA 

Heading in towards the city centre rising student numbers has seen student accommodation become an area of investment, http://universitybusiness.co.uk/Article/a_smart_investment, with old 1980s offices on Bath Row to make way for 300+ bedroom student accommodation.  In fact Birmingham's youthful outlook with under-25's making up 40% of it's population, http://www.propertyweek.com/birmingham-is-property-jewel-at-the-heart-of-the-uk/5072731.article, offers a rich dynamic city that is alive with optimism and vigour. 

The images below show the proposed development by Bouygues Development.