Eastside, Birmingham
Encyclopedia
Eastside is a district of Birmingham City Centre
, England
currently undergoing a major redevelopment project. The overall cost when completed is expected to be £6–8 billion over a period of ten years which will result in the creation of 12,000 jobs. 8,000 jobs are expected to be created during the construction period. It is part of the larger Big City Plan project.
Excavations revealed that the area was used as farmland in the Medieval times. Archaeological excavations at the City Park Gate site revealed soil that had been used on farms. It is known that a significant area had been bought by the English monarchy and was used as a deer game park. Some of this area stretched into the Eastside of Birmingham. The only surviving part of this is Park Street Gardens. The land was sold and slowly began to develop once again as farm land.
During the Industrial Revolution
, the area was home to a massive complex of factories and workshops and was accessed by part of the canal
network, most notably the Digbeth Branch Canal
which bisects the area. The Grand Union Canal
is located along the boundaries of the area and meets the Digbeth Branch Canal at Warwick Bar
. In the late 19th century, the area was accessed by a major tram
network which ran along Albert Street. However, as the industry in the area subsided, the area fell into decline and many of the original factory buildings became derelict. The old Victorian
factory
buildings were never maintained and the canals became dirty and clogged with only small stretches being cleaned. Small independent businesses moved into the area. A major brewery
was located near Curzon Street Station and this resulted in the establishment of a public house further down the road which currently exists as a Grade II listed building.
The River Rea
, which remains largely hidden due to high brick walls surrounding it constructed in Victorian times, also flows to the extreme east of the area. The river is crossed at Deritend Bridge.
Curzon Street railway station
was a major railway station during the 19th century and served as a goods station with another terminus opposite. Unfortunately, it was located too far from the city centre and it was not successful. It failed as a passenger station and shut down in 1966 as a goods station.
Bartholomew Row received its name from Saint Bartholomew Church, which was built next to it. The church was surrounded by Park Street Gardens which were significantly cut down in size due to surrounding development. Part of the grave yard of the church still remains.
In 1983, Aston Science Park
was opened in the north part of Eastside, adjacent to the Aston University
campus. The 22 acres (89,030.9 m²) site has continued to develop and is considered a key part of the Eastside regeneration scheme.
. On February 1, 2002, a masterplan for the Eastside was developed by HOK International
and this set out the basic developments.
In 2001, the entire Eastside area was split into five sub-areas:
The first part of the plan to be implemented was the demolition of a large elevated road junction called Masshouse Circus
and the Inner Ring Road to clear land for development. This was part of a larger plan to remove sections of the Inner Ring Road
. Masshouse Circus had restricted development out of the east of the city due to its proximity and size resulting in it receiving the name "concrete collar". A bid for money from the European Regional Development Fund
was successful and this allowed the demolition of Masshouse Circus possible. This area is now being developed with the construction of highrise apartment
and office
blocks with one block complete and another under construction. Other buildings completed in the area include the New Technology Institute
, completed in 2006, and also the refurbishment of Island House
into a base for a redevelopment company. Matthew Boulton College also built a new major facility in 2005 and overlooks the Masshouse site. Both Matthew Boulton College and the New Technology Institute were the first buildings to be built on what will be the Learning and Leisure Zone. Developments on the established Aston University
campus included a new Academy of Life Sciences, a 22m extension to Aston Business School
and a 215 million student residences project on campus. These developments maintained green spaces, trees and water features on campus.
and along Curzon Street which gives its name to two developments to the rear of the station which began with the demolition of a Parcelforce
Depot. This will be called Curzon Park and will feature a major low to mid-rise mixed-use scheme with residential, leisure and hotel facilities. An outline planning application was submitted by the developers on July 27, 2007.
Next to this is one of the largest of the projects which will see large areas of land being transformed into a city park at a cost of approximately £11 million. This will be called Eastside City Park
and will cover 8 acres (32,374.9 m²). The area it will occupy is currently the car park for Millennium Point and also includes other building which are currently being demolished. Los Canarios, the first Spanish restaurant in Birmingham, was demolished in December 2009 to make way for the project. It will also incorporate an already existing park named Park Street Gardens which contains a burial ground
and was once part of a large deer park.
The area beyond the city park to the eastern boundary of Eastside is to be developed in a development named Ventureast
. This will be a technology-led park area with many-low rise buildings.
Another area of land next to Moor Street railway station
which was freed up by the demolition of Masshouse Circus will be home to a development named City Park Gate
. Originally designed by Richard Rogers
as part of the scheme for the Library of Birmingham, it was to have several residential towers however the architects pulled out when the library scheme was shelved. MAKE Architects have since been appointed. Island House and the nearby pub will be retained in the development however Eurodiscount Megastore, a large warehouse store, was demolished in November 2006. The development will be mainly residential and will form a gateway into the Eastside from the city centre. Phase 1 will be the phase covering the largest area and has a subphase known as Phase 1a which includes Island House. This will be the first phase to begin construction and will also include the subphase, Phase 2a. Phase 2 will begin construction after and this is the smallest phase. Phase 3 will be constructed last and will see the tallest building constructed. Two public squares will be created, one directly in front of Island House will be called Island Place, and the second will be between Phase 2a and Phase 2 and will be called Freeman Place. There will be numerous green roof gardens. The outline planning application was submitted on November 29, 2006 and a consultation process began in late December and ended January 3, 2007.
It is most likely that an observation tower
for the public will be constructed in the Eastside area as it was one of the main ideas for it. Originally, there was a proposal named "The Needle" which would be of a substantial height however this was dismissed as a vision. A serious proposal was put forward in September 2007 with the unveiling of VTP200. A public consultation regarding the latest design for the observation tower was announced before a complete planning application is submitted to the planning department at the city council. The proposed VTP200 would be a 200 metre tall "VerTiPlex", the tallest observation tower in Britain, has been designed by RTKL
to be a "bold and dynamic icon for Birmingham and the West Midlands in the 21st Century". The tower would consist of three rides including an eight-person vertical drop free falling lift, a see-saw peering over the edge of the tower at 125 meters high and 20 flight trainers spinning around the tower 110 meters up it. As well as rides other extreme activities are proposed including a "Walk of fear", the ability to climb to the top of the tower, a sky jump descending 100 metres and the UK's highest controlled bungee jump. In its first year the VTP200 would hope to receive 1.05 million visitors.
Major student housing is being constructed alongside the Eastside Locks development on Jennens Road. This is most likely to be targeted at Aston University
which owns land next to it and Birmingham City University
who are to construct a campus in the Eastside area, and presently have nearby campuses at Gosta Green
and Millennium Point. The complex, named Etna House, will be 13 storeys in height and is to be developed by the Watkin Jones Group. Construction work, which is being aided by two tower cranes, is currently underway.
On May 29, 2008, Birmingham City University
held a public consultation on their plans to construct a new campus on a cleared 4.17 acres (16,875.4 m²) brownfield site directly opposite Curzon Street station. The site was acquired by the university in January 2008 and they commissioned BDP Architects to design a masterplan for the site. The proposed scheme includes between 35,000 and 45,000 square metres of accommodation. The first phase of the building is expected to open to students in September 2012. The Birmingham Conservatoire is expected to move to the campus from Adrian Boult Hall
.
, in Centenary Square
in the city centre's Westside, retaining the library in the city's civic core. Birmingham City University
is now interested in the cancelled Eastside library site to relocate its conservatoire
which is currently adjacent to Birmingham Central Library
. Another project was the refurbishment of the Curzon Street railway station
which would make it the home of the Royal College of Organists
. However, a £1 million gap of funds resulted in them abandoning the project. Birmingham City Council
are now planning to renovate the building themselves and then search for a major tenant.
There was a proposal for a new station to be built in the Eastside to relieve the stress from New Street station
. The station, dubbed "Grand Central Station", was to be nearly twice the size of New Street and would handle all major railway lines. However, the proposal was called unnecessary and take up too much room. The proposal was headed and urged by Arup
who created a brochure outlining the reasons why such a station would be needed.
complex which will see the demolition of the Carling Academy
and surrounding shops plus a multi-storey car park
. These will be replaced by a 110 metre tall tower and other mid rise and low rise apartment blocks as well as offices, hotel facilities, retail and cultural facilities.
The 'Sustainable Eastside' project is funded by Government Office for the West Midlands, Advantage West Midlands and the East Birmingham and North Solihull Regeneration Zone, with additional support from the Environment Agency and Birmingham City Council. The Eastside Sustainability Advisory Group aims to promote a comprehensive vision of Eastside as a regional demonstrator of sustainable development in practice, and to provide advice on Sustainable Development best practice throughout the Eastside development.
Group membership consists representatives of 17 organisations (mainly NGOs such as the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country) and individuals with professional interest in Eastside. In 2002, the Eastside Sustainability Advisory Group collectively produced a document 'Sustainable Eastside - A Vision for the Future', which lays out a vision for how Eastside can be socially, environmentally and economically successful and responsible. This was funded by Birmingham City Council's Environmental Services department.
The project continues to develop guidance, policy and procedure recommendations. These will be submitted to Birmingham City Council to consider for adoption within their planning guidance and advice to the public. Policy and decision makers will be targeted to raise awareness of sustainability and ensure relevant information is made available.
. In 2006, The Eastside Arts Picnic was held at Curzon Street Station and the Eastside Green opposite. Island House hosted a collection of visual art pieces known as the ArtsFest Art Gallery and outside the building was the showcase for Vibrant Fibre, which consisted of murals. In 2007, a sound and light show was held on the site of Curzon Park. Late in 2008, a new artist-run public gallery called Eastside Projects opened with an evolving exhibition including architecture, performance and the full gamut of visual art forms by artists from local and international artists including Liam Gillick, Laureana Toledo and Heather & Ivan Morison. The gallery is located on Heath Mill Lane and, along with Ikon Eastside and Vivid, now forms part of the largest concentration of contemporary art venues in the city.
A sound guide was created by Sound Arts Practice Liminal for Warwick Bar in which the public were invited to download the sound palate and walk around the canals.
Curzon Street Station is becoming a centre for arts in the Eastside with exhibitions including a neon light show at the base of the steps leading to the entrance of the building, which took place during June 2007. Also based in Eastside is Ikon Eastside
, a branch of the Ikon Gallery
, Eastside Projects
and VIVID
.
Birmingham City Centre
Birmingham city centre is the business, retail and leisure hub of Birmingham, England. Following the removal of the Inner Ring Road, the city centre is newly defined as being the area within the Middle Ring Road. Birmingham city centre is undergoing massive redevelopment with the Big City Plan...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
currently undergoing a major redevelopment project. The overall cost when completed is expected to be £6–8 billion over a period of ten years which will result in the creation of 12,000 jobs. 8,000 jobs are expected to be created during the construction period. It is part of the larger Big City Plan project.
History
During the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
, the area was home to a massive complex of factories and workshops and was accessed by part of the canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
network, most notably the Digbeth Branch Canal
Digbeth Branch Canal
The Digbeth Branch Canal in Birmingham, England is a short canal which links the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal at Aston Junction and the Grand Union Canal at Digbeth Junction in Digbeth....
which bisects the area. The Grand Union Canal
Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line connects London and Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles with 166 locks...
is located along the boundaries of the area and meets the Digbeth Branch Canal at Warwick Bar
Warwick Bar
The Warwick Bar conservation area is a conservation area in Birmingham, England which was home to many canalside factories during the Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries....
. In the late 19th century, the area was accessed by a major tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
network which ran along Albert Street. However, as the industry in the area subsided, the area fell into decline and many of the original factory buildings became derelict. The old Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
buildings were never maintained and the canals became dirty and clogged with only small stretches being cleaned. Small independent businesses moved into the area. A major brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
was located near Curzon Street Station and this resulted in the establishment of a public house further down the road which currently exists as a Grade II listed building.
The River Rea
River Rea
The River Rea is a small river which passes through Birmingham, England. The name of the river derives from a root found in many Indo-European languages and means "to run" or "to flow". It frequently bursts its banks after heavy rain....
, which remains largely hidden due to high brick walls surrounding it constructed in Victorian times, also flows to the extreme east of the area. The river is crossed at Deritend Bridge.
Curzon Street railway station
Curzon Street railway station
Curzon Street railway station was a railway station in Birmingham that was used briefly for regular scheduled passenger services between 1838 and 1854 when it acted as the terminus for both the London and Birmingham Railway and the Grand Junction Railway, with lines connecting Birmingham to London...
was a major railway station during the 19th century and served as a goods station with another terminus opposite. Unfortunately, it was located too far from the city centre and it was not successful. It failed as a passenger station and shut down in 1966 as a goods station.
Bartholomew Row received its name from Saint Bartholomew Church, which was built next to it. The church was surrounded by Park Street Gardens which were significantly cut down in size due to surrounding development. Part of the grave yard of the church still remains.
In 1983, Aston Science Park
Aston Science Park
Aston Science Park is a science park located in Birmingham City Centre, United Kingdom. It is located alongside the A4540 road, on a site adjacent to Aston University and the Eastside area...
was opened in the north part of Eastside, adjacent to the Aston University
Aston University
Aston University is a "plate glass" campus university situated at Gosta Green, in the city centre of Birmingham, England.Established in 1895 as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School, Aston was granted its Royal Charter as Aston University on 22 April 1966...
campus. The 22 acres (89,030.9 m²) site has continued to develop and is considered a key part of the Eastside regeneration scheme.
Planning
In the late 1990s, plans for the regeneration of the area were aired to the public. The first plan unveiled was called the 1996 Digbeth Millennium Quarter Plan which presented proposals for the area around Digbeth and parts of Eastside. The 1998 Bull Ring and Markets Quarter Plan contained guidance to the Digbeth and Deritend area. Large scale projects which involved the renovation, demolition and reparation of the area started to be aired to the public. The first of these projects to be completed was Millennium Point which was completed in 2002 to replace the Birmingham Science MuseumScience Museum, Birmingham
The now defunct Birmingham Science Museum, or Museum of Science and Industry, previously the Elkington Silver Electroplating Works, is a building on Newhall Street in Birmingham, England....
. On February 1, 2002, a masterplan for the Eastside was developed by HOK International
Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum
HOK is a global architecture, interiors, engineering, planning and consulting firm. HOK is the largest U.S.-based architecture-engineering firm and the "No. 1 role model for sustainable and high-performance design." HOK also is the second-largest interior design firm...
and this set out the basic developments.
In 2001, the entire Eastside area was split into five sub-areas:
- Aston Triangle - The Aston UniversityAston UniversityAston University is a "plate glass" campus university situated at Gosta Green, in the city centre of Birmingham, England.Established in 1895 as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School, Aston was granted its Royal Charter as Aston University on 22 April 1966...
Campus - Curzon Street
- Fazeley Street
- Masshouse
- Rea Village
Construction begins
Masshouse
Masshouse is a site within Birmingham, United Kingdom which is under development with the construction of 13 new highrise blocks intended for public services, commerce and residential purposes. When completed, the blocks will have a prominent position on the Eastside skyline.-History:The Masshouse...
and the Inner Ring Road to clear land for development. This was part of a larger plan to remove sections of the Inner Ring Road
A4400 road
The A4400 was a main road in Birmingham, United Kingdom which previously formed a ring around the city centre. Junctions on the road were largely grade separated, with pedestrians kept physically separate from vehicular traffic and most junctions allowing vehicles staying on the road to pass over...
. Masshouse Circus had restricted development out of the east of the city due to its proximity and size resulting in it receiving the name "concrete collar". A bid for money from the European Regional Development Fund
European Regional Development Fund
The European Regional Development Fund is a fund allocated by the European Union.-History:During the 1960s, the European Commission occasionally tried to establish a regional fund. Only Italy ever supported this, however, and nothing came of it. Britain made it an issue for their accession in...
was successful and this allowed the demolition of Masshouse Circus possible. This area is now being developed with the construction of highrise apartment
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
and office
Office
An office is generally a room or other area in which people work, but may also denote a position within an organization with specific duties attached to it ; the latter is in fact an earlier usage, office as place originally referring to the location of one's duty. When used as an adjective, the...
blocks with one block complete and another under construction. Other buildings completed in the area include the New Technology Institute
New Technology Institute
The New Technology Institute, Birmingham is a building, training centre and media studio located in the Learning and Leisure Zone of the Eastside of Birmingham, England....
, completed in 2006, and also the refurbishment of Island House
Island House (Birmingham)
Island House is a locally listed building in Birmingham's Eastside area.Built in 1912, Island House vaguely resembles the Flatiron Building in New York City...
into a base for a redevelopment company. Matthew Boulton College also built a new major facility in 2005 and overlooks the Masshouse site. Both Matthew Boulton College and the New Technology Institute were the first buildings to be built on what will be the Learning and Leisure Zone. Developments on the established Aston University
Aston University
Aston University is a "plate glass" campus university situated at Gosta Green, in the city centre of Birmingham, England.Established in 1895 as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School, Aston was granted its Royal Charter as Aston University on 22 April 1966...
campus included a new Academy of Life Sciences, a 22m extension to Aston Business School
Aston Business School
Aston Business School is the business school of Aston University in Birmingham, England. Founded in 1967 it offered its first MBA programme in 1968. In 2006 it opened a new £22m extension including new study rooms and two new lecture theatres....
and a 215 million student residences project on campus. These developments maintained green spaces, trees and water features on campus.
Curzon Park
The majority of the development is centred around Curzon Street railway stationCurzon Street railway station
Curzon Street railway station was a railway station in Birmingham that was used briefly for regular scheduled passenger services between 1838 and 1854 when it acted as the terminus for both the London and Birmingham Railway and the Grand Junction Railway, with lines connecting Birmingham to London...
and along Curzon Street which gives its name to two developments to the rear of the station which began with the demolition of a Parcelforce
Parcelforce
Parcelforce Worldwide is a courier and logistics service in the United Kingdom. Parcelforce Worldwide is a trading name of Royal Mail Group Ltd.Its international partner network allows it to extend its delivery reach worldwide...
Depot. This will be called Curzon Park and will feature a major low to mid-rise mixed-use scheme with residential, leisure and hotel facilities. An outline planning application was submitted by the developers on July 27, 2007.
Eastside City Park
Eastside City Park
Eastside City Park is a proposed urban park in Birmingham, United Kingdom, projected to cover at least . The scheme is part of the Eastside regeneration programme, and is expected to be completed in 2013...
and will cover 8 acres (32,374.9 m²). The area it will occupy is currently the car park for Millennium Point and also includes other building which are currently being demolished. Los Canarios, the first Spanish restaurant in Birmingham, was demolished in December 2009 to make way for the project. It will also incorporate an already existing park named Park Street Gardens which contains a burial ground
Burial Ground
Burial Ground is the ninth studio album by Swedish death metal band Grave, released in June 2010.-Track listing:# "Liberation" - 3:40# "Semblance In Black" - 7:50# "Dismembered Mind" - 6:10# "Ridden With Belief" - 7:57# "Conquerer" - 4:44...
and was once part of a large deer park.
High Speed 2
Eastside is the proposed location for the terminating station for High Speed 2 (HS2). It is expected that once HS2 is complete journey times from London into Birmingham City Centre will be reduced to only 45 minutes with the potential to bring £1.5 billion of investment into the region.Other projects
Ventureast
Eastside Locks is a major mixed-use development in the Eastside area of Birmingham, England. It is located next to the City Park development and opposite Curzon Gate. It is alongside the already completed Millennium Point and will cover the area to the rear of the building on top of the area...
. This will be a technology-led park area with many-low rise buildings.
Another area of land next to Moor Street railway station
Birmingham Moor Street railway station
Birmingham Moor Street railway station is one of three main railway stations in the city centre of Birmingham, England. The Grade II listed old station building has been partially renovated to its 1930s condition at a cost of £11 million....
which was freed up by the demolition of Masshouse Circus will be home to a development named City Park Gate
City Park Gate
City Park Gate is a major mixed use development by Countryside Properties in the Eastside area of Birmingham, England. Designed by MAKE Architects, Associated Architects and Buro Happold, City Park Gate is on a prominent site alongside Moor Street Queensway, Birmingham Moor Street Station and a...
. Originally designed by Richard Rogers
Richard Rogers
Richard George Rogers, Baron Rogers of Riverside CH Kt FRIBA FCSD is a British architect noted for his modernist and functionalist designs....
as part of the scheme for the Library of Birmingham, it was to have several residential towers however the architects pulled out when the library scheme was shelved. MAKE Architects have since been appointed. Island House and the nearby pub will be retained in the development however Eurodiscount Megastore, a large warehouse store, was demolished in November 2006. The development will be mainly residential and will form a gateway into the Eastside from the city centre. Phase 1 will be the phase covering the largest area and has a subphase known as Phase 1a which includes Island House. This will be the first phase to begin construction and will also include the subphase, Phase 2a. Phase 2 will begin construction after and this is the smallest phase. Phase 3 will be constructed last and will see the tallest building constructed. Two public squares will be created, one directly in front of Island House will be called Island Place, and the second will be between Phase 2a and Phase 2 and will be called Freeman Place. There will be numerous green roof gardens. The outline planning application was submitted on November 29, 2006 and a consultation process began in late December and ended January 3, 2007.
It is most likely that an observation tower
Observation tower
An observation tower is a structure used to view events from a long distance and to create a full 360 degree range of vision. They are usually at least tall and made from stone, iron, and wood. Many modern towers are also used as TV towers, restaurants, or churches...
for the public will be constructed in the Eastside area as it was one of the main ideas for it. Originally, there was a proposal named "The Needle" which would be of a substantial height however this was dismissed as a vision. A serious proposal was put forward in September 2007 with the unveiling of VTP200. A public consultation regarding the latest design for the observation tower was announced before a complete planning application is submitted to the planning department at the city council. The proposed VTP200 would be a 200 metre tall "VerTiPlex", the tallest observation tower in Britain, has been designed by RTKL
RTKL
RTKL is a global architecture, planning and design firm. The firm was founded in 1946 by Archibald Rogers and Francis Taliaferro in Rogers’ grandmother’s basement in Annapolis and is now one of the largest architectural firms in the world...
to be a "bold and dynamic icon for Birmingham and the West Midlands in the 21st Century". The tower would consist of three rides including an eight-person vertical drop free falling lift, a see-saw peering over the edge of the tower at 125 meters high and 20 flight trainers spinning around the tower 110 meters up it. As well as rides other extreme activities are proposed including a "Walk of fear", the ability to climb to the top of the tower, a sky jump descending 100 metres and the UK's highest controlled bungee jump. In its first year the VTP200 would hope to receive 1.05 million visitors.
Major student housing is being constructed alongside the Eastside Locks development on Jennens Road. This is most likely to be targeted at Aston University
Aston University
Aston University is a "plate glass" campus university situated at Gosta Green, in the city centre of Birmingham, England.Established in 1895 as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School, Aston was granted its Royal Charter as Aston University on 22 April 1966...
which owns land next to it and Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University is a British university in the city of Birmingham, England. It is the second largest of three universities in the city, the other two being the Aston University and University of Birmingham...
who are to construct a campus in the Eastside area, and presently have nearby campuses at Gosta Green
Gosta Green
Gosta Green is an area in the city of Birmingham, England. It lies at the edge of the city centre, about three-quarters of a mile to the north-east of Birmingham New Street station via Corporation St or the High St....
and Millennium Point. The complex, named Etna House, will be 13 storeys in height and is to be developed by the Watkin Jones Group. Construction work, which is being aided by two tower cranes, is currently underway.
On May 29, 2008, Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University is a British university in the city of Birmingham, England. It is the second largest of three universities in the city, the other two being the Aston University and University of Birmingham...
held a public consultation on their plans to construct a new campus on a cleared 4.17 acres (16,875.4 m²) brownfield site directly opposite Curzon Street station. The site was acquired by the university in January 2008 and they commissioned BDP Architects to design a masterplan for the site. The proposed scheme includes between 35,000 and 45,000 square metres of accommodation. The first phase of the building is expected to open to students in September 2012. The Birmingham Conservatoire is expected to move to the campus from Adrian Boult Hall
Adrian Boult Hall
The Adrian Boult Hall is the main concert hall of the Birmingham Conservatoire in central Birmingham, England. It is named after the conductor Adrian Boult....
.
Cancelled projects
Plans by the City Council to locate the Library of Birmingham at Eastside were abandoned in favour of developing the new library on a shared site with the Birmingham Repertory TheatreBirmingham Repertory Theatre
Birmingham Repertory Theatre is a theatre and theatre company based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England...
, in Centenary Square
Centenary Square
Centenary Square is a public square on Broad Street in central Birmingham, England, named in 1989 in celebration of the centenary of Birmingham achieving city status in 1889....
in the city centre's Westside, retaining the library in the city's civic core. Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University is a British university in the city of Birmingham, England. It is the second largest of three universities in the city, the other two being the Aston University and University of Birmingham...
is now interested in the cancelled Eastside library site to relocate its conservatoire
UCE Birmingham Conservatoire
Birmingham Conservatoire is an international conservatoire and a major concert venue, its main platform being the Adrian Boult Hall. Prior to 1989, it was known as the Birmingham School of Music and was one of the faculties of Birmingham City University, the only one out of the nine conservatoires...
which is currently adjacent to Birmingham Central Library
Birmingham Central Library
Birmingham Central Library is the main public library in Birmingham, England, and the largest non-national library in Europe. It is managed by Birmingham City Council...
. Another project was the refurbishment of the Curzon Street railway station
Curzon Street railway station
Curzon Street railway station was a railway station in Birmingham that was used briefly for regular scheduled passenger services between 1838 and 1854 when it acted as the terminus for both the London and Birmingham Railway and the Grand Junction Railway, with lines connecting Birmingham to London...
which would make it the home of the Royal College of Organists
Royal College of Organists
The Royal College of Organists or RCO, is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, but with members around the world...
. However, a £1 million gap of funds resulted in them abandoning the project. Birmingham City Council
Birmingham City Council
The Birmingham City Council is the body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974. It is the most populated local authority in the United Kingdom with, following a reorganisation of boundaries in June 2004, 120 Birmingham...
are now planning to renovate the building themselves and then search for a major tenant.
There was a proposal for a new station to be built in the Eastside to relieve the stress from New Street station
Birmingham New Street Station
Birmingham New Street is the main railway station serving Birmingham, England, located in the city centre. It is an important hub for the British railway system, being served by a number of important long-distance and cross-country lines, including the Birmingham loop of the West Coast Main Line,...
. The station, dubbed "Grand Central Station", was to be nearly twice the size of New Street and would handle all major railway lines. However, the proposal was called unnecessary and take up too much room. The proposal was headed and urged by Arup
Arup
Arup is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom which provides engineering, design, planning, project management and consulting services for all aspects of the built environment. The firm is present in Africa, the Americas, Australasia, East Asia, Europe and the...
who created a brochure outlining the reasons why such a station would be needed.
Nearby projects
One development set to start in late 2006 is the Martineau GalleriesMartineau Galleries
Martineau Galleries is an important proposed mixed-use development for Birmingham, England as it will connect the Eastside to the city centre core and is also located on the High Street, a major retail area.- Pre-1960s development :...
complex which will see the demolition of the Carling Academy
Carling Academy Birmingham
-History & Former Venue:The former venue of the O2 Academy was known in the 1980s and 1990s as the Hummingbird and previously the site of the Rank Ballroom. The venue underwent refurbishment in the late 1990s and opened as the Birmingham Academy in 2000, being rebranded as the "Carling Academy"...
and surrounding shops plus a multi-storey car park
Multi-storey car park
A multi-storey car-park is a building designed specifically to be for car parking and where there are a number of floors or levels on which parking takes place...
. These will be replaced by a 110 metre tall tower and other mid rise and low rise apartment blocks as well as offices, hotel facilities, retail and cultural facilities.
"Sustainable Eastside"
"Sustainable Eastside - A Vision for the Future", published in 2002, sets out the aspirations for the sustainable regeneration of Eastside. The Eastside Sustainability Advisory Group was also set up in 2002 to support the mainstreaming of sustainable development in Eastside. As a result, Birmingham City Council agreed to undertake the innovative step of co-locating sustainability advisors with the Eastside team. The Sustainability Advisors are employed by Groundwork Birmingham and Solihull and took up their posts in October 2003.The 'Sustainable Eastside' project is funded by Government Office for the West Midlands, Advantage West Midlands and the East Birmingham and North Solihull Regeneration Zone, with additional support from the Environment Agency and Birmingham City Council. The Eastside Sustainability Advisory Group aims to promote a comprehensive vision of Eastside as a regional demonstrator of sustainable development in practice, and to provide advice on Sustainable Development best practice throughout the Eastside development.
Group membership consists representatives of 17 organisations (mainly NGOs such as the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country) and individuals with professional interest in Eastside. In 2002, the Eastside Sustainability Advisory Group collectively produced a document 'Sustainable Eastside - A Vision for the Future', which lays out a vision for how Eastside can be socially, environmentally and economically successful and responsible. This was funded by Birmingham City Council's Environmental Services department.
The project continues to develop guidance, policy and procedure recommendations. These will be submitted to Birmingham City Council to consider for adoption within their planning guidance and advice to the public. Policy and decision makers will be targeted to raise awareness of sustainability and ensure relevant information is made available.
Arts and culture
Since 2006, Eastside has hosted a number of events as part of ArtsFestArtsFest
ArtsFest is an annual arts festival held in September in Birmingham, England.Since 1997 ArtsFest has brought together free short demonstrations of dance, music, film and theatre to concert halls, theatres, and open-air stages in various parts of central Birmingham...
. In 2006, The Eastside Arts Picnic was held at Curzon Street Station and the Eastside Green opposite. Island House hosted a collection of visual art pieces known as the ArtsFest Art Gallery and outside the building was the showcase for Vibrant Fibre, which consisted of murals. In 2007, a sound and light show was held on the site of Curzon Park. Late in 2008, a new artist-run public gallery called Eastside Projects opened with an evolving exhibition including architecture, performance and the full gamut of visual art forms by artists from local and international artists including Liam Gillick, Laureana Toledo and Heather & Ivan Morison. The gallery is located on Heath Mill Lane and, along with Ikon Eastside and Vivid, now forms part of the largest concentration of contemporary art venues in the city.
A sound guide was created by Sound Arts Practice Liminal for Warwick Bar in which the public were invited to download the sound palate and walk around the canals.
Curzon Street Station is becoming a centre for arts in the Eastside with exhibitions including a neon light show at the base of the steps leading to the entrance of the building, which took place during June 2007. Also based in Eastside is Ikon Eastside
Ikon Eastside
Ikon Eastside is an art gallery in the Digbeth area of Birmingham, England.The gallery opened in 2006 as a second venue for the long-established Ikon Gallery in Brindleyplace...
, a branch of the Ikon Gallery
Ikon Gallery
The Ikon Gallery is an English gallery of contemporary art, located in Brindleyplace, Birmingham. It is housed in the Grade II listed, neo-gothic former Oozells Street Board School, designed by John Henry Chamberlain in 1877. The gallery's current director is Jonathan Watkins.Ikon was set up to...
, Eastside Projects
Eastside Projects
Eastside Projects is an artist-run space as public gallery in Digbeth, Birmingham, England.Eastside Projects was conceived by artist-curator Gavin Wade and is organised by a founding collective comprising Simon and Tom Bloor, Céline Condorelli, Ruth Claxton and James Langdon...
and VIVID
VIVID (media arts)
VIVID is a centre for the production and exhibition of media art, located in the Digbeth area of Birmingham, England.Established in 1992, VIVID works with contemporary new media and artist moving image through production, commissioning, exhibition and event programmes.VIVID commissions and exhibits...
.