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REGENERATING

DIGBETH -
A WAY FORWARD

Report by Andy Munro


December 2009
Forward
Both Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter and the
Digbeth Area have much in common not
least the concentration of creative
businesses and the fact that both areas are
very historic and unique parts of Birmingham
City albeit slightly rough at the edges – which
is part of their charm.

On this basis, I was asked by Clive Dutton


(former Director of Planning and
Regeneration) to undertake a short Study to
see whether the implementation structure
and processes that we have developed in the
Jewellery Quarter could partly be replicated
in Digbeth and what were the current issues
in moving forward the regeneration of
Digbeth.

It should be pointed out that this was


undertaken as extra curricular work and at no
cost to BCC. Part of the reason for this was
due to recognition that Digbeth has suffered
from ‘Study’ overload and most people and
organisations interviewed just want to see
some action on the ground rather than
further reviews!

Andy Munro

2
Operations Director
Jewellery Quarter Regeneration Partnership

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Contents

1. Methodology
page 3

2. Digbeth Characteristics page


4

3. Structures and Organisations


page 5

4. Progress to date
page 6

5. SWOT Analysis page


7

6.Summary of responses from the


page 9
community and stakeholders

7. Recommendations page
12

Appendix 1. Bibliography
page 15
Appendix 2. List of Organisations
page 18

4
Appendix 3. Summary of Comments
page 20

Appendix 4. Digbeth Map


page 28

5
Methodology

There are almost 50 influential organisations in


Digbeth ranging from umbrella groups such as the
Birmingham Irish Community Forum to major
landholders and players such as the Space
Foundation.

These were charted through meetings with both


Birmingham City Council officers and groups such
as the Birmingham Irish Community. A list was
then drawn up of organisations that warranted a
face-to-face meeting or contact by phone. A full list
of organisations is in the Appendices and a
summary of responses is in Section 6 of the main
part of this report.

It should be emphasised that, in many cases,


phone calls were made and messages left which
did not necessarily elicit a reply and whilst this is
not meant to be a criticism of the organisations
concerned, follow up procedure was not always
possible due to the time constraints in delivering
this report. Overall, contact has been made and
feedback received from circa 20 organisations. In
consequence I am confident that there has been
enough dialogue with organisations to ensure a
balanced view from those contacted.

Additionally, stakeholders such as Marketing


Birmingham and Advantage West Midlands and
various departments of the City Council were
contacted and an audit was undertaken on
available statistics which are in Section 2 of this
report. A desk study of various documents was also
undertaken and the full bibliography list is in the
Appendices.

6
Digbeth Characteristics

For the purposes of this study the area of Digbeth


is presumed to stretch from Moseley Street to
Fazeley Street in the one direction and from Camp
Hill to the Wholesale Markets boundary in the
other. A map is in the Appendices and the area
covered is approximately 69.79 hectares with 919
residential address points and 352 business
address points. However, it should be noted that
this information has been gleaned from ‘Address
Point’, an Ordinance Survey Mapping Exercise
which is not necessarily 100% accurate.

The City Council owns almost 200 buildings in the


area and the number of listed buildings is 23
statutory and 48 local.

Incidentally, the area chosen to represent Digbeth


is an area which most of those interviewed
recognise as being the area that should be
designated.

7
Structures and Organisations

With the demise of the Eastside Team which was


City Council lead and were arguably the custodians
of at least part of the Digbeth area, the only
current ‘strategic’ structure operating consistently
appears to be under the banner of the Birmingham
Irish Community Forum, who are a charitable
company limited by guarantee and have a team of
4½ (currently 3 in post) now funded by the Irish
Government. The Birmingham Irish Community
Forum (BICF) are members of an Irish Quarter
Board (IQB) which is chaired by Pat O‘Neill and
whose membership includes South Birmingham
College, Tony Corbett (Developers representative),
City Council Officers, and the Digbeth Business
Association.

The IQB have a sub structure with committees


relating to community, training, marketing and
development although it would appear some have
become moribund.

Certainly it is a vibrant picture of Digbeth in terms


of people and groups with an active interest in the
regeneration of Digbeth with almost 50
organisations listed in the Appendices. However,
this can be probably split into Irish Organisations
related to the Irish Community Forum in particular,
the Space Foundation (Custard Factory), the main
Residents and Business Groups, several large
developers, South Birmingham College and the
Arts, music and entertainment sector.

8
Progress to Date

There has been substantial progress to date


although much of this has been private sector led.
There are also more plans in the pipeline.

Se out below is a short summary of progress


although the list is merely to give a flavour and is
not meant to be exhaustive.

- Custard Factory
- Devonshire House
- The Bond
- Rhubarb Rhubarb and other high profile media
locations e.g. Maverick TV
- Fazeley Studios
- Residential Developments, particularly in the
Bradford Street area
- South Birmingham College Complex
- St Patricks Parade
- Bradford Street Improvements (funding
secured)
- High Street/ Corridor Study (underway)
- ‘Retention’ of ‘Irish Centre’
- Birmingham (Digbeth) Coach Station
- Marketing e.g. Website, Irish Quarter Leaflet

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Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats

A SWOT analysis is worth undertaking although


much of this is stating the obvious.

Strengths Weaknesses
• Vibrant Creative Community • Lack of Irish Heritage focal
• The Custard Factory point
Complex • Lack of awareness of the
• The Irish Community and area
Organisations • Poor image
• The Irish Pub/ St Anne’s/ • Unattractive appearance of
Heritage the area
• Available development sites • Current Low Level of
• Historic buildings and Marketing/ Marketing
architecture Materials
• The heart of Birmingham’s • Public transport links
heritage – where it all • Car parking issues
started • Lack of clear / branded
• Connected by location to signage
Eastside • Difficulty of formulating a
• Close to the City Centre, successful BIDS initiative
Selfridges and the Bull Ring • Digbeth High Street (traffic
• St Patrick’s Day Parade flows and general
• Landmark buildings appearance)
• Birmingham Coach Station • Lack of interesting retail
• Main arterial route (Digbeth opportunities – just
High Street) entertainment sector
• Most organisations share • Lack of physically defined
the same basic priorities boundary for the area
• Nearby flagship • Fine grain development
regeneration proposals – with no flagship apart from
Wholesale Markets and the Custard Factory.
Boerma development Consequently lack of
• Comparative low cost of political profile

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progressing priorities • Lots of splinter groups not
identified joined up
• Lack of basic services

Opportunities Threats
• Raise awareness of the • Larger flagship schemes in
area locally (particularly Birmingham taking up
politically), regionally, funding
nationally and globally • Credit Crunch stalling
• Improve the image of the movement on sites
area and change poor • Creatives Working from
perception Home unless Environment is
• Press and PR to gain right
greater awareness and
improve the profile of the
area
• Exploit the Irish Quarter
and Custard Factory
• Increase the range of retail
opportunities
• Encourage additional
business during quiet
periods
• Further improve access,
signage, CCTV security and
parking
• Incorporate the area into
the city’s tourism work
• Progress the findings of the
High Street/ Corridor study
• Linking into the Boerma,
Wholesale Markets,
Custard Factory and
Eastside Park proposals

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• Highways P.F. Initiative
• Eventual demolition of
Smithfield House ‘Triangle’
• Improvements to Bradford
Street to galvanise the Irish
Quarter
• River Rea, the Railways
and Warwick Bar

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Responses from the Community and
Stakeholders
More detail on the individual views are at Appendix
3 but the overall impression was that most
organisations generally had the same vision and
priorities which, in itself, was very heartening. The
main questions asked were first of all to find out
whether people’s idea of what area constitutes
Digbeth was similar. Did people think there should
be a Digbeth brand and how did that relate to the
Irish Quarter, Custard Factory etc. Was there a
shared vision and joined up working within the
community and what were the top three things
that people felt that could be done realistically
within the next three years given the lack of
available major public sector investment.

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What area do you think is covered by
Digbeth?
Most people settled on the area that is identified at
Appendix 4 but there was the occasional plea for
something slightly different. For example, one
interviewee felt that the Deritend brand was still
historically important and should remain separate
to Digbeth. One or two others also felt that the
area of Digbeth on the City Centre side should
encroach a bit further into “Eastside” area by
Curzon Street and Millennium Point.

Do you think there should be a Digbeth


Brand, covering the Irish Quarter, Custard
Factory etc?

One or two interviewees felt that the area was very


organic and didn’t need a brand but the consensus
seemed to favour a Digbeth brand possibly with a
sub plot for areas such as the Irish Quarter and the
Custard Factory/ Quarter.

Most respondents were comfortable with a Digbeth


offer being around culture, music, heritage (i.e.
where Birmingham first started) the Irish tradition –
all with a sort of “Left Bank” feel particularly given
the increasing student and creative population.

Is there a shared vision and joined up


working in the community?

When questioned closely, most of those


interviewed felt the majority of organisations had
the same agenda but, on the other hand, it was felt
that there was no real joined up working.

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What are the top three things that you feel
can be done in the next three years?

Undoubtedly improving the urban realm and in


particular Digbeth High Street were most popular
although Fazeley Street and Bradford Street were
also mentioned.

Signage was seen as an integral part of


improvements and assistance with marketing
generally. In terms of better connectivity, the long
term vision of demolishing the “Smithfield House
Triangle” was seen as a major objective in opening
up Digbeth to the city centre core. Improved
services were also particularly mentioned and
included a cash point and broadband although in
the latter case I understand that Digital
Birmingham are already looking at this aspect with
providers.

On more general points, the need for flexible


planning was mentioned with niche retail although
there was also some concern about more
residential development particularly given the
tensions in the entertainment sector. In terms of
bigger schemes, the idea of utilising the railway
route for walkways either through or along the
viaduct were mentioned together with raising the
River Rea and proceeding with the Warwick Bar
proposals.

Perhaps the most heartening aspect was that none


of the priorities were particularly unrealistic in
financial terms and, in some cases, could be
tackled by bending existing main programmes
creatively.

15
Recommendations

It is a major plus that there seems to be a real


community ‘passion’ for Digbeth although it seems
that this passion has yet to really transfer upwards.
It is also quite obvious that most people have got
Study/ Report ‘fatigue’ and are impatient about
what they see as painfully slow progress on
Digbeth issues. In my view there now has to be a
plan to raise the game but in a structured and co-
ordinated manner and it is recommended the
following steps are taken.

Step 1. The City Council to take the lead on


organising a Digbeth “Summit”
Similar to the previously successful one
held in the Jewellery Quarter.

Invites would include community


representatives, public and private
stakeholders and politicians. The event
would therefore need to be planned well
in advance to ensure there are no excuses
for non attendance and could be a one
day event including a tour of the area –
and if time didn’t permit it would have to
be undertaken virtually through a
presentation.

Step 2. As a result of the Summit and as part of


the Summit objectives, an Action Plan
would be drawn up with some quick wins
and with public sector stakeholders taking
joint responsibility with the community for
delivery.

16
Step 3. Subsequently set up a Digbeth
Partnership ‘Board’ (which would
incorporate the existing Irish Quarter
Board) with a revised membership with a
number of regalvanised sub groups to
move things forward.

In my view, this also needs Birmingham City


Council buy in, in terms of staffing and would be,
initially, a City Council Officer assigned to work full
time (or at least half of the week), on an
‘Animateur’ basis. This would need to be backed
up by Administrator time, which could quite
possibly be secured through a Graduate Placement
Scheme.

I have also discussed with the Irish Community


Forum the idea of at least one of their experienced
members of team being loaned out for 50% of their
time although currently they are funded by the
Irish Government to deliver on Irish issues. This
would utilise some of the experience already
existing within the Irish Community Forum Team
(although the counter argument might be that they
would have some natural bias). Either way, I think
a small but targeted resource would suffice to
ensure with the right public sector commitment,
there could be some real progress made in
Digbeth.

Additionally, I would recommend that, still using


the City Council’s Graduate Placement Scheme, a
Graduate would also be employed to consider
options for a Business Improvement District. My
own initial view is that Digbeth may not be suitable
simply because most successful bids are in areas
where there are ‘front of house’ facing businesses

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such as a retail area where image and marketing
are particularly relevant to the businesses
themselves. Alternatively areas like Colmore Row
have heavy weight financial players albeit in the
office and commercial areas.

However, I do think that the idea of a Business


Improvement District scheme needs a bit more
exploration even if it is to conclude that it is not
appropriate.

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Appendix 1

Bibliography

(1) Bullring / Markets Quarter Supplementary


Planning Guidance (March 1998) This
Supplementary Planning Guidance was meant to
cover the period until 2006 and it covers the
south side of Digbeth High Street. Predictably
it majors on mixed use, city living, retaining
historically important buildings, improving
Digbeth High Street to make it more
pedestrian friendly, improving the street scene
(including trees) improving Highgate Park and
opening up the river.

(2) (Axis) Concept study into the Irish Quarter


(June 2000).
Commissioned by the Birmingham Irish Community
Forum, it puts forward the case for the Irish Quarter
and includes ideas on specialist Irish retailing, an
Irish Cultural Centre, the Kennedy Memorial Public
Square, mixed use, an Irish Hotel, raising the River
Rea and improving Digbeth High Street.

(3) Irish Quarter Marketing Plan (2006) A


paper by the East Birmingham
Regeneration Team and including a
SWOT analysis suggesting activities
including the Irish Quarter leaflet, Irish
Quarter Guide, Irish Business
Sponsorship, Branding with a strap line,
Web site, City Dressing, In Bloom etc.

(4) Building an Irish Quarter (June 2006). This brochure


relates to an exhibition which was held focussed on

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the areas architects, architecture and development
proposals.

(5) Birmingham Irish Quarter Business Plan (2007


Draft). Development paper by the Birmingham
Irish Community Forum.
This covers the potential Irish Quarter offer - pubs,
music and Irish culture history, potential tourism
(apparently there are 1800 first and second
generation Irish people in the West Midlands),
improvements to Digbeth Coach Station, improved
urban realm and connectivity, independent retail
businesses, an Irish Cultural Centre, public spaces,
trails and a redesigned and improved Digbeth High
Street.

(6) Irish Quarter Student Study 2007. Mainly focussed


on Section 106 potential and undertaken by students.
It considers Section 106 policies, procedures and
constraints with some suggestions on how they might
be applied, new developments and planning
approvals.

(7) Digbeth Business Survey 2007. This was triggered


by the Irish Forum and was a collaborative study
involving a number of stakeholders with Birmingham
Chamber heavily involved in delivering the report.
The findings are fairly predictable for an area with
lots of small businesses with no knowledge of
support that is available ranging from train to gain
and computer training to rates relief. However, on the
plus side, it showed that Digbeth businesses were
generally stable and mainly of the micro variety. The
Study covers a slightly wider area than the area
suggested as Digbeth in this report but interestingly
one of its main findings was that the major negative

20
comment from businesses was about the Digbeth
“image”.

(8) Warwick Bar Conservation Area (Character Appraisal


and supplementary Planning Policies March 2008).
(9) A six page leaflet for tourists including a pub guide
and map about the Irish Quarter (2008).
(10) Irish in Birmingham (2008) - A six page
(A3 divided) leaflet sponsored by the Big City
Plan which refers to the Irish Festival and BCP
initiatives plus interesting” facts and figures.

(11) Digbeth, Deritend, Bordesley High Streets


Conservation Area (Character Appraisal and
Supplementary Planning Policies March 2009)

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Appendix 2

List of Organisations

Adam & Eve - Katie


Advantage West Midlands - Adrian Middleton –
0121 380 3508
A J Mucklow - David Foulkes - 0121 504 2101
Anchor Inn - Jerry Keane
Big Bull - Sue Bevan
Birmingham Connaught Club - Paul Owens 0777
8029786
Birmingham Irish Community Forum Ltd - Michelle
Aucott 0121 634 1543
Birmingham St Patrick’s Day Parade - 0121 633
7241
Birmingham Irish Heritage Group - Patsy Davis -
0121 7738928
Bryant Priest Newman – Richard Newman – 0121
233 1818
Cllr Yvonne Mosquito
Country and Metropolitan Housing
Department UB40 - Tony Corbett - 07532 053485
Digbeth
Digbeth Business Association - Richard Trengrouse
– 0121 694 6359
Digbeth Institute
Digbeth is Good - Nicky Getgood
Digbeth Residents (Neighbourhood Manager) -
Andy Sheppard - 0121 675 6542
Digbeth Trust - Nigel Potter - 0121 753 0706
EC Arts - Claire Farrel - 07804 507172
Friction Art - Sandra Hall - 0121 772 6160
Friends of the Earth - Chris Crean
Gigbeth
Glenn Howells Architects - Glenn Howells - 0121
666 7640

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ICIS - Mike Finkill - 07710 175347
IKON Eastside - Helen Legge - 0121 248 0708
International Stock - John Cullen - 0121 443 3111
Irish Development Board - Mike Nangle - 0121 608
1864
Irish Quarter Regeneration Board - Pat O’Neill -
0777 5420232
Irish Welfare & Information – Bridie - 0121 604
6111
Joe Holyoake – 0121 633 8918
Keep Digbeth Vibrant
Kinetic - Bob Ghosh - 0121 212 3424
Locate in Birmingham - Mike Loftus - 0121 303
7822
MADE - Julia Ellis - 0121 633 9333
Marketing Birmingham - Tim Manson / Neil Rami -
0121 202 5115
Mike Finkill - ICIS - 07710 175347
Moseley Arts
National Express
Naus Group
New Digbeth Whisperer
Paragon Hotel
Police - PC Phil Bates or Kate Ollis
Rhubarb Rhubarb - Lorna
Sandhar & Kang - Aftal Kang - 0121 622 2941
Salhia Developments - Alistair Grills - 0208
9402284
Selfridges - Steve Jones - 0121 600 6627
South Birmingham College - M Hopkins 07802
380158
Space Foundation - Bennie Gray - 07973 5777773
Spotted Dog - John Tighe 772 30121 7723822
St Ann’s Church
The Arches
The Bond
The Chinese Community Centre

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The Digbeth Landlords Association
The Harp
The Rainbow – Lee McDonald
Vivid - Yasmin Clifford - 766 7876
White Swan - Angela Rattigan 0779010 3228

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Appendix 3

Summary of Comments
These summaries have been graded, wherever
possible:-

1. What area do you think is covered by


Digbeth?
2. Do you think there should be a Digbeth
Brand?
3. Is there a shared vision and joined up
working in the community
4. What are the top three things you feel could
be done in the next three years
5. Any other issues

Advantage West Midlands (Adrian Middleton)

1. -
2. -
3. -
4. Would like to see improvements to Digbeth
High Street implemented and hope to assist
in progressing developments such as Typhoo
Wharf, Warwick Bar, the Beorma and the
Beorma Quarter amongst others. Would also
like to see a Digbeth Animateur similar to
that initially kick started the Jewellery
Quarter
5. -

Birmingham Irish Community Forum (Michelle


Aucott/ Yestine Williams)

1. From Moseley Street to Fazeley Street and


from Camp Hill to Wholesale Markets

25
2. Yes to a Digbeth Brand as long as the Irish
Quarter was branded as a discrete part of
that
3. Generally a shared vision but not particularly
good joined up working
4. Priorities would be marketing (including
effective website), signage, urban realm and
events
5. Need for niche retail

Bryan Priest Newman (Richard Newman)

1. From the Middle Ring Road to Moseley


Street / McDonald Street and from Curzon
Street to Camp Hill
2. No need for Digbeth Brand or for clear
boundaries in view of the area’s unique
character
3. No real shared vision or joined up working
4. There needs to be both vision for the High
Street and some early implementation.
Opening up the River Rea is a priority
5. Big City Plan should be key for Digbeth but its role
and connections are not particularly clear

Community (Brendan O’Neil)

1. From the Wholesale Markets to Highgate and


all of Deritend as far as Bordesley Bridge and
Eastside as far as the Inner Ring / Watery
Lane
2. Yes with cohesive signage and branding
3. Shared Vision should be about positioning
Digbeth as Birmingham’s Left Bank
4. Allow organic growth and let it be spikier and
unpredictable; flagship new build e.g. Irish
Arts Centre

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Concept Design Solutions Ltd (Tony Corbett)

1. Fazeley Street to Moseley Street and to


Wholesale Markets and Camp Hill
2. Yes it should be Digbeth Brand with the Irish
Quarter retaining an identity within that
brand
3. The shared vision amongst the community
and the city council officers but not the
politicians
4. There needs to be political support and then
therefore joined up thinking at Birmingham
City Council
Branding and Marketing of Digbeth and in
particular reference to the High Street
5. Consider trails across the area to Highgate
Park.

Digbeth Business Association (Richard


Trengrouse)

1. -
2. Digbeth should be Birmingham’s Left Bank
3. -
4. -
5. Much more potential to bring out the heritage in the
area. Don’t forget Polish and Italian heritage

Digital Birmingham (Raj Mack)

1. -
2. -
3. –
4. –
5. Will be surveying businesses regarding the
introduction of 100 megabytes per second

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bandwidth then ongoing discussion with
providers

EC Arts (Claire Farrell)

1. From Selfridges to Camp Hill, from Fazeley


Street to Highgate
2. Yes there should be a Digbeth Brand with sub
plots such as the Irish Quarter, the Custard
Factory, etc.
3. Instinctive vision and aspirations are shared
but they are not really joined up
4. An Animateur / small Digbeth Team, Way
finding and signage and improving Digbeth
High Street

Friction Arts (Sandra Hall)

1. Camp Hill from the Wholesale Markets,


Moseley Street to Fazeley Street
2. Keep the areas branded separately, i.e.
Digbeth, Irish Quarter and Deritend
3. Generally there is a shared vision amongst
the community
4. A green area / greening a safer area and
better connectivity

Friction Arts (Lee Griffiths)

1. From Millennium Point along Watery Lane up


to the Moseley Road and then past the
Paragon to Pershore Road, Sherlock Street
and then down to Curzon Street Station
2. Strong Branding but preferably that could be
difficult given the various agendas and
personalities
3. No shared vision

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4. A cash point and other services, more
support for small business and initiatives

IKON Eastside (Helen Legge)

1. Digbeth High Street and surrounding areas at


both sides
2 No overall branding appropriate but signage
would be good for individual attractions
3. Generally same views are shared
4. Basic provision such as a cash point,
improving street lighting and improving top
of Fazeley Street / Digbeth High street where
it connects to the city centre

Joe Holyoake

1. Fazeley Street to Moor Street, Cheapside to


the Ring Road
2. Any Digbeth Brand should be separate to
Deritend and the Irish Quarter
3. It was generally a shared vision but the
planning approach tends to be a bit rigid
4. Re-address the planning policy particularly
focussing on issues on diversity and scale,
improve urban realm public space and
address issues on the River Rea
5. Involve the community and raise the profile of the
area

Kinetic (Bob Gosh)

1. Bradford Street to Fazeley Street and from


Trinity Street to the edge of Moat Lane
2. Yes it should be a Digbeth brand
3. No real shared vision or joined up working
currently

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4. Improvements to the public realm particularly
on Digbeth High Street and possibly Fazeley
Street, the strength of the market, the brand
and improved signage

MADE (Julia Ellis)

1. Fazeley Street to Moseley Street, Camp Hill to


Wholesale Markets
2. Yes there should be a Digbeth Brand but
without diluting it with sub plots
3. No real joined up thinking or working
particularly at the BCC end since the demise
of the Eastside team
4. Improve the urban realm, or incentives to
creative industries to relocate in empty
buildings and improve public transport e.g.
the Big City (Cross City) Bus
5. Strong points for Digbeth Industrial Heritage,
quality in canals and MADE would like to see
a trail leaflet and a bike hire scheme

Marketing Birmingham (Neil Rami)

1. -
2. Yes there should be a Digbeth Brand
3. There needs to be a joined up vision and
working which is not in place currently
4. -
5. Marketing Birmingham are very supportive of
Digbeth events such as Gigbeth, the Irish
pubs, St. Patrick’s Festival etc.

However whilst they focus on marketing events,


they also recognise the attraction of the Irish
Quarter, Custard Factory / music, student “Left
Bank” image and Birmingham’s heritage.

30
Mucklows (David Foulkes)

1. -
2. -
3. -
4. More flexible use of planning policies and
encouragement of retail

Neighbourhood Team (Andy Sheppard)

1. -
2. –
3. Enthusiastic community
4. Services e.g. supermarket, cashpoint, post
office; canal improvements/ living; digital
district

Resident (Adam Crossley)

1. Curzon Street / Highgate Park


2. Yes there should be a Digbeth Brand
3. No shared vision or joined up working -
Politicians don’t want to know
4. Top 3 priorities are the urban realm,
particularly Bradford Street, a free cash point
and less large scale development
5. Organise residential community with formal
status, such as a neighbourhood forum

Sandhar & Kang (Rob Kang)

1 -
2 -
3 -

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4 Higher marketing profile for Digbeth, more
use of ERDF and urban public resources and
install the “next generation” Broadband

South Birmingham College (Mike Hopkins)

1. Highgate Park to Fazeley Street and Allison


Street to Moseley Street
2. Generally a shared vision but needs to be
more joined up
3. Yes it should be a Digbeth brand with the
Irish Quarter as a sub brand (Area even has
its own flag!)
4. Signage, improving Digbeth High street.
Knock down the Smithfield House triangle
5. Recent survey showed creative business
to increase from 18% to 25% of all
businesses and this needs to be taken
into account. Planning needs to be
flexible and community safety
perceptions improved although crime
rate is generally low

Space Foundation (Dave Peebles)

1. Moseley Street to Fazeley Street and Camp


Hill to Wholesale Markets
2. There should be a Digbeth Brand
3. Generally a shared vision and joined up
working
5. Top priorities Urban Realm, signage,
marketing and branding Raising the
River Rea, and the viaduct walkway

Spotted Dog (John Tighe)

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1. Camp Hill to the Wholesale Market and from
Highgate border to the other side of Fazeley
Street
2. Yes it should be a Digbeth Brand and John
mentioned the “Free State Digbeth flag”
3. Yes generally a shared vision although there
needs to be more joined up thinking at the
City Council end because of the problem of
mixed use
4. Some money on Highgate Park,
improvements in services and revisit the
abacus scenario with tighter controls on
residential development

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Footnote

This report has been undertaken mostly in my own


time and has therefore been undertaken at very
little cost to Birmingham City Council.

Attempts were made to contact as many


organisations and people as possible but failing to
do so was merely because of lack of time or lack of
response.

If anybody has been misrepresented in the


Comments section I can only apologise but the
overall thrust of comments remain similar.
Obviously there are differences in opinion but
there ought to be plenty of potential for
compromise at “the edges”.

I would like to thank all those who have bothered


to respond or took time out to meet me or speak to
me over the phone.

Andy Munro

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