MIPIM 2016: Birmingham has announced more detail about its £500m proposals for the regeneration of the city’s wholesale markets site, known as Smithfield.
Initial proposals for the prime 35-acre Smithfield site were unveiled at last year’s MIPIM event in Cannes. This year, the Birmingham contingent will officially launch the Smithfield masterplan on Thursday at the 2016 MIPIM event.
The masterplan includes details of a major new public space at the heart of the scheme, to be called Festival Square, alongside new cultural buildings, hotels, restaurants and leisure space. Proposals also include new indoor markets, pedestrian boulevards, squares, parks and gardens. New images of how the scheme will look have also been released.
John Clancy, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Birmingham Smithfield puts people right at the heart of an exciting project that will in turn transform lives. Over the next decade, this will continue at a dramatic pace as new jobs, transport facilities and residential communities are delivered and I’m confident our plans for Birmingham Smithfield will create a place for people that stands the test of time and sets the standard for sustainable development.”
The 10-year phased development will deliver more than 3.2m sq ft of commercial space within the new cultural quarter and 2,000 new homes, adding £470m GVA to the local economy.
The launch of the plan marks the start of an eight-week public consultation exercise.
The site sits within the city centre enterprise zone and is a natural extension to the Bullring shopping centre, which attracts over 40m visitors per year, and is also close to the revamped New Street station. It is one of the largest city centre development opportunities in the country and will be served by an extended Midlands Metro tram system.
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