New Street Revamp Given The Green Light
Birmingham City Council's planning committee have given the final approval to plans to redevelop Birmingham New Street station. The bold design will transform the welcome visitors to Birmingham receive, with vastly increased passenger capacity thanks to a bright, new concourse.
The station is going to remain operational throughout the work, which starts later this year. Phase 1 should be complete by 2012.
But what will make the most difference for Birmingham's commuters is reopening the Camp Hill line.
Policing the Jewellery Quarter
The local Neighbourhood Policing team have recorded a video to update residents and businesses of the Jewellery Quarter on their priorities and recent action.
This video report is a positive step in the right direction, opening up lines of communications between the police and residents.
I'm especially pleased to see the action taken on traffic and in particular one-way streets. Those living in the Jewellery Quarter and readers of my last FOCUS will know it's a big issue around here. There's still plenty of work to do in this area, but it's good to know a start has been made.
Planning Application – Eastside Park
Birmingham's brand new city centre park is a step closer to reality as an outline planning application has now been submitted.
The planned park is an unusual long, narrow shape snaking its way through the Eastside area. Beginning by Moor Street Station off Park Street, the park will wrap around the front of the new BCU campus building up to Thinktank's Science Garden in front of Millennium Point. The park then runs alongside most of the length of Curzon Street.
Commuters and travellers arriving in to Birmingham New Street from Birmingham Airport and London will get a full view of the park. For too long this major route in to the city has given visitors a negative impression of the city. It also gives the increasing number of city centre residents a space to enjoy, along with families wanting a break from shopping trips in the city.
You have the chance to comment on the proposals up to 18th February using the Council's Planning Online tool.
Planning Application – Tesco Superstore
Tesco has submitted plans for a new superstore on the edge of Birmingham City Centre, within walking distance of the Jewellery Quarter and much of Ladywood.
The land, bounded by Camden Street, Icknield Street and Spring Hill, has been derelict since 2002 when the former Brookfield shopping precinct was demolished. It had long suffered from a lack of tenants and vandalism. Tesco have owned the land for some time so an application has been expected.
But the application is for more than just a Tesco!
The existing Spring Hill Library is sympathetically blended into the development, benefitting from a new glazed entrance and external lift. There will also be four smaller retail units facing Spring Hill with office space above, a small number of maisonettes on the Brookfields side of the development and undercroft car parking.
I'm cautious of new supermarket developments and the impact they can have on local businesses. However in this case I think the development will benefit surrounding businesses - and help provide new jobs in the constituency with the highest unemployment in the UK.
Ladywood Chippie Up For National Title
I've blogged before about the terrific Great British Eatery at Broadway Plaza. Well, later this month, they're heading to London hoping to take away the title of "Best UK Fish and Chip Shop"!
Best wishes to the lads and hopefully it'll be another gong to add to Birmingham's growing culinary reputation following Lasan's win on Gordon Ramsey's F-Word last week.
I fancy some fish and chips now...
New Council Homes for Ladywood
Ladywood looks set to benefit from a share of 101 new local authority homes as part of a £5.4m Local Authority New Build (LANB) grant. New affordable homes are desperately needed in the city so I welcome this news.
I urge the Council to ensure these homes are insulated to a high standard, to keep living costs down. According to the press release, the homes will be built to "high energy efficiency standards meeting Level four of the Code for Sustainable Homes", which sounds positive.
Delivering in the Snow
This morning a small group of dedicated campaigners made it out in the snow to deliver our latest Focus leaflet to the residents of Ladywood. As we made our way around the streets, several people stopped for a chat and were pleased to see us out and about. I also noted down two items of casework and picked up a potential supporter. Not bad for a morning in which I very nearly threw my alarm across the bedroom and stayed in bed!
Local Restaurant Lasan Wins Gordon Ramsey’s F-Word
Local Jewellery Quarter restaurant Lasan has been crowned Britain's Best Local Restaurant after winning tonight's final of Gordon Ramsey's F-Word on Channel 4. It's no surprise to us Birmingham folk for whom Lasan was Birmingham's best kept secret, providing a modern twist on the traditional Indian restaurant.
I slid down the pavements to the Queens Arms in the Jewellery Quarter, one of the closest pubs to Lasan, to watch the final. It was a pub atmosphere more akin to a football match, as each score was accompanied by pantomime cheers and boos. Terrific, and totally expected for a cooking competition!
Is a Michelin Star now looming for Aktar and co?
Birmingham School Closures
Update: THURSDAY 7 JAN:
There is no blanket ban across Birmingham, but the following local schools will be closed on Thursday:
- Calthorpe Special School, Highgate
- City Road Primary, Ladywood
- George Dixon International School, City Road
- George Dixon Junior and Infant School, City Road
- Lillian de Lissa Nursery School and the Children's Centre, Bellevue, Edgbaston
- Mansfield Green School, Aston
- Oratory RC Primary School, Ladywood
- Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Birchfield
- St John's CE Primary School, St Vincent Street West, Ladywood
- Summerfield Primary, Winson Green
- William Cowper Community Primary School, Newtown
- Yew Tree Community School, Aston
WEDNESDAY 6 JAN:
The following local schools will be closed on Wednesday due to snow:
- Oratory School, Ladywood
- Heartlands Academy, Nechells
- Chad Vale Primary School, Edgbaston
- St. Clare's Catholic Primary School, Handsworth
- Westminster Primary School, Handsworth
UPDATE (Wed 06/01/10, 7.25am):
Also closed:
- Nelson Primary, Ladywood
- St Clements C of E School, Nechells
- Sacred Heart Catholic School, Birchfield
- St George's Junior & Infants, Newtown
- St George's School, Edgbaston
Plus, all campuses of the Birmingham Metropolitan College (Sutton Coldfield, Matthew Boulton, Josiah Mason, James Watt) are closed on Wednesday.
For a full list of Birmingham and West Midlands school closures, click here.
Recent Comments
- Will on Ladywood Circus Improvements
- Michael Thomas on Delivering in the Snow
- Fatima Kanji on Delivering in the Snow
- simon gray on Birmingham School Closures
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