Birmingham Big City Plan: What to Expect in 2022

Since the Big City Plan began in 2010, Birmingham has changed dramatically.

From a war-torn, concrete jungle, the city is now unrecognisable. The question investors may be wondering; what will the Big City Plan bring in 2022?

As the biggest city after London and with a population of 1.1 million, Birmingham has been conscious of living up to its title. In the past, Birmingham has not quite fulfilled expectations. After suffering heavily in World War 2, the city was rebuilt from bombed rubble into a “concrete jungle”. The Inner Ring Road, the Bull Ring Shopping Centre and the redevelopment of New Street Station were all built in the 1960s. However, as a result of using cheaper, modern materials, the city’s reputation began to precede itself. Even more so when the poorly built city centre train station, New Street, was voted ‘the worst train station in Britain’. It became apparent in the early 2000s that this city required a rebrand.

In 2010, the Big City Plan came to fruition. Birmingham City Council describes the plan as an aspirational framework for how the city centre will be improved over 20 years. The Big City Plan is the most ambitious and far-reaching development initiative ever undertaken in the UK. By planning for the next 20 years of development, Birmingham city centre will become world-class. Fast forward to now, we are past the halfway point of this mammoth project. As we can see, Birmingham continues to change shape and grow. For anyone looking to invest in this ambitious and energetic city, you may be wondering what we can expect to see from Birmingham’s Big City Plan in 2022.

What has been achieved?

• Regeneration of New Street Station – the £600 million Gateway scheme
• £188 million regeneration of the art Library of Birmingham
• £129 million extension of the Metro Line from Snow Hill Station to New Street Station
• £12 million regeneration of the new urban City Park

Birmingham has surpassed the halfway point of the Big City Plan. Already, it has exceeded all expectations. Economic growth is far above national levels, and the unemployment rate is at an all-time low. As a result, Birmingham is now the eighth-best city for work-life balance. A study by Shawbrook Bank revealed that on average employees spend 32.7 hours a week working. Not only does this stand at 1.1 hours below the national average, but also it is the third-lowest in the UK. Therefore, the city is becoming a magnet for young professionals.

Possibly the biggest contributor to the success of the project has been the regeneration of New Street Station. In 1960, developers stacked a shopping centre and car park on top of the structure. The station became a dark and dingy basement and a large obstacle in the way of pedestrian movement. For anyone first arriving in Birmingham, it was indicative of the concrete jungle that lay ahead. However, the £600 million Gateway scheme is helping to regenerate large parts of the city, the New Street Station included. The new station successfully brings a “bright and modern” central focus point. A vast-lit top atrium, now the Grand Central shopping centre allows for daylight to continue further down the platforms, along with several new entrances and exists to enhance pedestrian accessibility.