Post on 17-Mar-2018
The Vision...By 2010, the Jewellery Quarter will be acknowledged as the City Region’s
Creative Village, an asset to both Birmingham and the West Midlands. A truly
unique area where design quality is an integral feature of its renaissance.
A Quarter with a vibrant atmosphere which not only attracts people to live,
work, play and visit but acts as a honey pot for creative businesses ranging
from the current jewellery business base to arts and media.
We will achieve this vision through creating: -
A Dynamic Place To Do Business -encouraging a vibrant business base whilst supporting a Jewellery Industry which makes the
Quarter a unique feature to Birmingham. All set in a safe and bubbling village atmosphere
conducive to small creative businesses with a supply of appropriate, affordable
accommodation and customised business support.
How this will be achieved:
• Supporting the jewellery industry through developing a Business Support Strategy; expanding
the School of Jewellery providing research, training and learning space; incubation provision
and local initiatives such as the Trade Directory, Made in the Jewellery Quarter Mark and Brilliantly
Birmingham
• A suitable portfolio of serviced, affordable, commercial and retail units meeting the demands
of creative business
• Introduction of Community Safety measures including CCTV to provide an environment where
people feel safe doing business in the Quarter
• Development of a parking strategy which meets the varying needs of shops, manufacturers,
other businesses and residents as much as capacity will allow. This will also include the
introduction of business permits and an improvement to the Jewellery Quarter Multistorey
Car Park
• Development of a grant scheme to encourage the use of premises for economic use
Quality Buildings and PlacesDevelopers, landowners and the local authority will be encouraged to refurbish buildings
and undertake quality new developments in line with the Jewellery Quarter Design Guide.
Location and mix of these developments will be sensitively managed in line with the
Conservation Management Plan whilst ensuring that dereliction is tackled. Wherever
possible planning obligations will provide benefits to the Jewellery Quarter.
How this will be achieved:
• Substantially reducing dereliction by 50% from the current 50 sites by working
proactively in partnership with Developers, the Regional Development Agency and
Landowners. Historic and Gateway buildings such as the George & Dragon, the Nurses
Hostel (Ludgate Hill), the Gem Building (Key Hill) are typical priorities.
• Providing a ‘destination’ which befits the status of this unique area centred around the
delivery of an iconic Golden Square. A Square that can be used both for events and as
a ‘postcard’ destination for visitors.
• Using the Design Guide and where necessary enforcement powers to ensure that both
new development and refurbishment schemes meet the quality demanded by an area
aspiring to World Heritage Site status.
• Improving the public realm through better maintenance and schemes such as the
creation of Albion Square and a Kathleen Dayus ‘Trail.’
• Implementing a programme of improvements to the area’s historic Cemeteries and St Pauls
Square to ensure they can be enjoyed by both the local community and visitors drawing in
the resources from the Local Authority and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
• Improving the City Council property portfolio to ensure that it meets the need of a
Creative Village.
• Regeneration of the Pope St, Carver St and Camden St (St Georges) area.
A Connected QuarterA Quarter which is seen as a distinctive part of the City Centre but with connectivity
maximised through good signage, public transport links and effective physical connectivity.
As part of this strategy, major routes in the City Centre will be targeted and the potential of
large flagship developments to breakdown barriers will be explored.
How this will be achieved:
• Gateway signage into the Quarter will be improved.
• Improvements will be undertaken to all 5 major routes into
the Quarter
- Completion of the subway connection between Snow
Hill Station and Livery Street which will also be
strengthened with appropriate signage and improved
lighting.
- New Street/ Bennetts Hill/ Newhall Street route will be
strengthened by a creative public art trail and CCTV
cameras.
- The development of the Great Charles Street/Ludgate Hill
car park site will include the replacement of the existing
bridge connection.
- The Paradise Forum to Summer Row connection will be
improved to ensure a safer and better signposted route.
- As part of the Big City Plan proposals, the future of Great
Hampton Street will be reassessed in terms of its uses and
its design.
- Caroline Street will be improved through Urban Realm
measures and the use of the planning system to ensure a
more user friendly and attractive route.
A Sustainable
CommunityA Quarter with vibrant representation from both the business
and residential communities who are encouraged to become
actively involved in decision making. Facilities supporting the
community will include a Post Office, Churches, a Police Station
and Health Centre. Providing more affordable housing and
commercial accommodation will encourage a growing and
sustainable community stake in the Quarter.
How this will be achieved:
• Provision of a Health Centre and Pharmacy and other
necessary support facilities for the residential and business
communities.
• Supporting and growing the Jewellery Quarter
Neighbourhood Forum, Jewellery Quarter Association,
Jewellery Quarter Marketing Initiative and Friends of Key Hill
Cemetery so they become sustainable and autonomous in
the future.
• Provision of affordable housing and/or affordable workspace
in the Quarter in liaison with Birmingham City Council Housing,
Planning and developers.
A Unique Place
to VisitA Quarter where people enjoy the area’s museums and
galleries, historic buildings and cemeteries, shopping for
jewellery and eating in the Quarter’s restaurants and bars. As
part of that experience Festivals and Events will be a regular
feature.
How this will be achieved:
• Development of a World Heritage Site Bid.
• Expansion of the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter fulfilling its
potential as an anchor attraction.
• Consolidating the future of voluntary and charitably owned
visitor attractions such as the Royal Birmingham Society of
Artists and the Pen Museum.
• Refurbishment of the Newman Coffin Works in Fleet Street and
JW Evans in Albion St to create further visitor attractions.
• Providing a distinctive and appropriate public realm including
an expansion of the Jewellery Quarter In Bloom and Christmas
lights initiatives.
• Development of Festivals and Events
PzazzA Quarter that is known and marketed for its uniqueness not
only in Birmingham and the West Midlands but nationally and
internationally. This will be through a partnership between the
local business community, Birmingham City Council and
Marketing Birmingham to ensure both prospective leisure and
business visitors are made aware of and take advantage of the
Quarter’s attractions thereby help supporting the local
economy.
How this will be achieved:
• Provide a professionally presented Information Centre.
• Develop a customised Website to attract in visitors.
• Provide effective marketing material including a high quality
Tourism Guide.
• Working with the Jewellery Quarter Marketing Initiative to
effectively ‘spread the word’ with joint initiatives with travel
operators, TV and radio, hotels, conference organisers etc.
A True PartnershipCommitted to the regeneration of the Quarter through an
open, creative and joined up approach where partners feel
genuinely included in the process and therefore ownership
and responsibility on how their actions impact on our Vision
for the Quarter.
How this will be achieved:
• Provide a base in the Quarter with a dedicated team to
support the delivery of the Charter through involvement of
the local community
• Provide specialist support as necessary.
• Ensure partner commitment to both an agreed delivery
structure and regular representation/ attendance at
Partnership Boards and the sub group structure of Steering
Groups - Land and Property, Community Safety, Parking and
Transportation, Cemeteries and Green Space.
The Charter PurposeThis Charter sets out the common aims and priorities that need to be achieved in
regenerating the Quarter and fulfilling the vision of a City Region Creative Village. It also
provides a regeneration template which will dovetail with the developing Big City Plan
and the proposals for a World Heritage Site.
Members of the Partnership are:
Independent Chair
Advantage West Midlands
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce
Birmingham City Council (Cabinet Member for Regeneration)
Birmingham City Council (Director of Planning & Regeneration)
Birmingham City Council (Head of Museums and Heritage Services)
Birmingham City University
Birmingham Forward
British Jewellers Association
Business Link
English Heritage
Groundwork UK
Jewellery Quarter Association
Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Forum
Urban Splash
Ward Councillor