What I don't understand is this: Chiltern Railways had the money and resources to restore Moor Street to its former Great Western railway grandeur and even went so far as to rebuild the new 1987 through platforms to the same style (despite the terminus still going through the endless wrangling with the DoT) - and yet why couldn't they do the same with Snow Hill and at least add some similar canopies (i.e. reinstate them more like) to its two island platforms to create more of a characterful setting rather than the blank featureless concrete wasteland we see all too readily now whenever pictures of this abomination come to view?

I mean, here were are with a GOLDEN opportunity to create two smart and attractive railheads on either side of the city connected by the same tunnel by at least softening their previously brutalist functionalism with some characterful touches and yet they have completely passed over on this. Snow Hill is a fucking eyesore and looks exactly like New Street with is horrid dingy soulless platforms underneath the ubiquitous car park. Considering the station throat has plenty of room for enlargement, an extra platform or two wouldn't have gone amiss in order to prepare for future rail expansion. Look at the pictures for yourselves: there is AMPLE room for this to be achieved - unlike at New Street where expansion is already impossible because of its restricted location.

I'd always thought Chiltern were just "Borrowing" Snow Hill, until Moor street was finished?

I'd always thought Chiltern were just "Borrowing" Snow Hill, until Moor street was finished?


Hmmmm...now you're talking.... well, I do know that they're very keen to get the BMS Terminus section re-connected so they can then terminate all their trains there instead of at Snow Hill, thus freeing up the station there for the cross city movements (Jewellery Line in particular)..... maybe that explains why they have neglected to do the same with BSH then. :dunno:

Only reason I can think of.

Can't see why they'd wait though, as it stands a chance that ownership will be passed onto them once Central lose their license anyway.

well we can all live in hope...you never know, with all the moeny being put into the snow hill scheme, they may feel the need to put some investment in the sta!

What I don't understand is this: Chiltern Railways had the money and resources to restore Moor Street to its former Great Western railway grandeur and even went so far as to rebuild the new 1987 through platforms to the same style (despite the terminus still going through the endless wrangling with the DoT) - and yet why couldn't they do the same with Snow Hill and at least add some similar canopies (i.e. reinstate them more like) to its two island platforms to create more of a characterful setting rather than the blank featureless concrete wasteland we see all too readily now whenever pictures of this abomination come to view?



Chiltern are spending an absolute fortune on Marylebone at the moment - the renovation of the station roof (after over a year, they just removed the scaffolding and the difference is amazing, the place is bathed in light). It really is the most pleasant, civilised station in London.

They've also been adding 2 new platforms at Marylebone and carrying out that project evergreen stuff on the high Wycombe line, so I'm guessing they're seriously spent out at the moment.

Despite them raping me for 470 quid a month for my Leam - London season ticket, I've got an awful lot of time for Chiltern, they are far and away the best of the TOCs.

The sooner they pick up Central services the better. I've lost count of how many times the 7.26 Leam - London service is late because the shitty fucking shed of a Central service that preceeds it is late.

Central Trains are the pits - I always associate them with two car trains (long distance travel that is - not the Cross City 323s) - from Liverpool all the way to Norwich. What sort of pathetic pea-brained thinking is that to lay on trains that inadequate - and always subject to delays? :evil:

Central Trains are the pits - I always associate them with two car trains (long distance travel that is - not the Cross City 323s) - from Liverpool all the way to Norwich. What sort of pathetic pea-brained thinking is that to lay on trains that inadequate - and always subject to delays? :evil:

I spent 5 years on that very train, I now have a car! Bostin'!

I spent 5 years on that very train

Must have been very late then. :D

I spent 5 years on that very train, I now have a car! Bostin'!

I hope that they provided refreshments and that you got a refund ?

I hope that they provided refreshments and that you got a refund ?

Are you serious? This is Central Trains you're talking about! :lol:

What I don't understand is this: Chiltern Railways had the money and resources to restore Moor Street to its former Great Western railway grandeur and even went so far as to rebuild the new 1987 through platforms to the same style (despite the terminus still going through the endless wrangling with the DoT) - and yet why couldn't they do the same with Snow Hill and at least add some similar canopies (i.e. reinstate them more like) to its two island platforms to create more of a characterful setting rather than the blank featureless concrete wasteland we see all too readily now whenever pictures of this abomination come to view?Snow Hill is dire. The only reason it's not quite as bad as BNS is that the ceilings are slightly higher, and there is some natural light from the edges. But fancy having the chance to build a new station on an empty plot and saying, "I know, I'll build a multi-storey car park, and the bottom level can be the station."

As I understand it, when the Metro is extended to Five Ways, it'll go to the left of Snow Hill instead of going into the station. So that might free up the current Metro platform.

Central Trains (who own Snow Hill?) are dire, and won't be putting in any investment when they are going to lose there franchise soon.

Snow Hill is dire. The only reason it's not quite as bad as BNS is that the ceilings are slightly higher, and there is some natural light from the edges. But fancy having the chance to build a new station on an empty plot and saying, "I know, I'll build a multi-storey car park, and the bottom level can be the station."

As I understand it, when the Metro is extended to Five Ways, it'll go to the left of Snow Hill instead of going into the station. So that might free up the current Metro platform.

Central Trains (who own Snow Hill?) are dire, and won't be putting in any investment when they are going to lose there franchise soon.

Oh, I know all about the metro being diverted away from Snow Hill Mainline station and then the mothballed platform 4 once again being returned to heavy rail use but my anger stems from the fact that these arseholes who built the Midland Metro in the first place did not think of simply aligning the Metro tracks a little further to the left of Snow Hill station (as you approach it from the north) thus at least making provision for that fourth platform face to be retained for rail use.

If you look at the station throat as this point you can see that there IS plenty of space left of the Metro tracks so quite how this pathetic shortsighted DICK-BRAINED arrangement was ever allowed to happen in the first place really beggars belief. Just goes to prove that none of the people involved in transport planning on ANY level are actually that bright are they? Fucking incompetents. So, because of this scandalous lack of foresight, Snow Hill Station has had to soldier on with THREE platform faces cos the fourth was completely wasted as a result of the fucking Metro line running alongside it only to terminate in its own station a little further south of the platform....and then they start bemoaning the lack of capacity and platform faces at Snow Hill - when the station was built with few enough platforms for its large area in the beginning - only for this to be FURTHER reduced by a Metro line occupying the fourth one..... How fucking stupid and incompetent is that??? :bash: :bash: :evil:

and to many of you guys who may not see the problem with this, as someone who used to catch the stourbridge to dorridge/shirley train every day for 2 years and spent many a 10 minute wait in a train standing in the middle of no-where waiting for a platform to become available, the 4th platform would be very well used!

I hope they give the murals more prominence this time.


Oliver's a real chip off the old blockJun 19 2006

By Neil Elkes, Birmingham Mail

BIRMINGHAM'S landmark President Kennedy mural is waiting for a new home after being removed from its home of 37 years by the son of the artist who created it.

Artist Oliver Budd has carefully chipped away the mosaic portrait of John F Kennedy at St Chad's Circus ahead of the demolition of the pedestrian subway and redevelopment of Snow Hill Station.

The key features, including Kennedy's face, have been taken to Oliver's East Sussex studio for storage, where it will stay until a new wall is found in the Irish Quarter at Digbeth.

The giant mural was designed and installed by his late father, Kenneth Budd, in 1968. It was paid for by the city's Irish community and given to Birmingham as a lasting tribute to the assassinated US president.


Oliver Budd, aged 45, followed in his father's footsteps and has maintained the mural since the early 1980s.


"It was a great time for public art, but so many of Birmingham's murals and mosaics have been lost or damaged over the years," he said. "The city council has allowed me to look after the mural over the years so it will be easier to save."


The technique involves covering each section with a sticky mesh, cutting around it and then carefully chipping it away from the wall. He is removing and saving only key sections.


"It is more economical that way. It takes three stages to remove, transport and then re-site the mosaic which is why we are only keeping certain parts. I have the original designs and plans and will fill in the rest from these."


It also allows Oliver the flexibility to reshape and re-size the design to fit whichever new wall is chosen.


The next stage is to find a new home, as part of the redevelopment and renovation of Digbeth's Irish Quarter.


A city council spokeswoman said under the terms of the Snow Hill and St Chad's Circus redevelopment the developers must re-site the Kennedy and Great Western Railway murals.


While Kennedy is going to Digbeth, the Railway mural will be re-sited in the new public square at Snow Hill.


City regeneration chief Coun Ken Hardeman said: "After extensive consultation with the Irish community about the future of the mural we have agreed a formula for the resiting of a major part of the mural in the developing Irish Quarter."


One idea is for the mural to be the focal point of a new JFK Square.

Ooh, a new square, I like it. Lets stick it in the place of the orion building.

why the fuck would there be a JFK square in brimingham? that is the most random thing ive ever heard.

bizarre.

come to think of it why have we got a big fuck off picture of him? did i miss something? was he born here or something? wouldnt it be more feasiable to have one of good old willy clinton? at least he came here (and liked it apparently)

JFK is a Brummie. Isn't that what he said when he came here? :S

why the fuck would there be a JFK square in brimingham? that is the most random thing ive ever heard.

bizarre.

come to think of it why have we got a big fuck off picture of him? did i miss something? was he born here or something? wouldnt it be more feasiable to have one of good old willy clinton? at least he came here (and liked it apparently)

JFK was born and bred in Erdington.

The Kennedy clan still all drink in The Bagot.

*unconvincing face*

The Birmingham JFK Coach Station.

They can play that bloody U2 song whenever a Coach comes in, classy!

JFK was very popular with the Irish, and I guess the local Irish community felt they needed a memorial to him.

I like the mural, and look forward to seeing it reinstated. It also means the Snow Hill square may be started soon!

Not convinced about JFK square though...

Speaking of the various Birmingham Mosaic Murals, where have they all gone? wasn't there one in the old bullring at Manzini Gardens and in the old Colmore Circus Underpass, have they all been skipped?

A JFK square would certainly draw in tourists.

JFK was born and bred in Erdington.

The Kennedy clan still all drink in The Bagot.

*unconvincing face*

Serious?

Lol Splop

Serious?

Yep, Rose Kennedy was the land lady for many years. Teddy had been drinking there the night of the Canalquidick scandal.

Pah! I fell for that. :wallbash:

I was composing some of the speeches he made, in a Brummie accent.

"Wim going to the moon! Bostin' ay it?" :lol:

:lol:

"Ich bin ein Berminger" or something like that!

sadly i dont imagine it will be as exciting in translation as I am a donut.

Snow Hill vital link reaffirmed

Transport bosses are expected to reaffirm their commitment to a major regeneration and transport scheme in Birmingham city centre next week.

A report on the creation of a new northern entrance to Snow Hill Station recommends continued support despite concerns that the project is running late.

It highlights the fact that the Snow Hill Second Access scheme is a crucial link to rail services for the booming Jewellery Quarter / Great Charles Street area and is important to the city’s regeneration. The new northern entrance will also make journeys more convenient for thousands of passengers. The issue is due to be discussed by members of regional public transport body Centro-PTA at a meeting next week (Monday 3 July).

The report to councillors says the contractor Edmund Nuttall Ltd, who started work in June last year, ran into early difficulties excavating the complex Victorian structure where a new access way will be tunnelled under the tracks. A number of project deadlines were then missed. Engineers say the work is progressing, but the additional entrance to Snow Hill Station is now likely to open several months later than planned.

(“We have kept a very close eye on progress to make sure this important scheme becomes a reality,” comments Centro-PTA chairman Cllr Gary Clarke. “It will provide a significant improvement to public transport in this part of Birmingham and it has received all-party support, particularly because of the regeneration benefits which are already paying off.”

Centro-PTA is investigating the likelihood that costs will increase because of the delays and because of some extra work involved due to the difficult ground conditions – but councillors say they are determined rigorously assess claims made by the contractor. The report to next Monday’s meeting suggests the final cost for the £10 million scheme could rise, following notification by contractor Nuttalls that they believe their costs could rise by some £3.9 million. Centro is working with its advisors and Nuttalls to minimise costs arising from the complex nature of the project.

“I have already called in independent engineering experts to advise on the project and assess risks,” says Cllr Clarke. “Costs and delays have arisen because of the difficulties working within this historic railway structure. We are validating all contract changes and charges to make sure they are appropriate before we will agree to any increases.”

Both Centro-PTA and Birmingham City Council, which approved the scheme last Spring, say the new station entrance will be much more convenient for passengers who currently have to cross the A38 by bridge or subway, then walk up a hill for five minutes before doubling back along the platform and ending back almost where they started in order to catch a train. The regeneration benefits stressed by Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet are even more significant. The site adjacent to the new station entrance has recently been sold for almost five times its original value in a multi-million pound development deal to provide offices, leisure and retail, a hotel and city centre apartments.

Good news! Well, the majority is.

Do we know what the original timeframe for this was?

Ballymore names Birse Civils for Snow Hill redevelopment

Jul 19 2006



Developer Ballymore Properties yesterday named Birse Civils as contractor for the first phase of its £400 million mixed use scheme at Snow Hill in Birmingham in a move which signals that the redevelopment of the city centre site is set to get under way.

The Midlands office of Birse CLhas been awarded the contract to carry out major infrastructure improvements at the 3.65 acre site, adjacent to Snow Hill Station.

The first 50-week phase to transform the area will involve significant reconfiguration of the highways and public walkways, which have characterised Snow Hill Queensway since the 1960's.

Reflecting its status as both a gateway for those entering the city from the A38 Aston Expressway and surrounding routes, as well as an important link to the Jewellery and Gun Quarters, the Snow Hill Queensway/St Chads Circus intersection will become two traffic-signal controlled T-junctions with surface level pedestrian crossing facilities.

Ballymore says Snow Hill Queensway will become a landscaped boulevard with two lanes of traffic, creating a more enticing area for pedestrians and will include public areas linking Colmore Row with the proposed development.


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The proposals also include a public square fronting St Chads Church, incorporating the landmark back into the heart of the city centre.

Ballymore's development manager, Richard Probert said: "This is a crucial stage in kicking off the project and the appointed Birse CL team with its experience and proven expertise is set to undertake a vital role in the timely and efficient delivery of the scheme."

He added: "Ballymore Properties has been working closely with Birmingham City Council and the region's public transport organisations, to formulate an integrated approach to the phased schedule of works.

"Together we are committed to ensuring that public inconvenience is kept to a minimum during the first stages redevelopment and that public safety and awareness are of utmost importance."

Glyn Holt, regional business development director of Birse CL, also said: "We are thrilled to be a part of the team behind the Snow Hill development and are looking forward to working with Ballymore Properties on this prestigious project for Birmingham."

Formerly leased on a temporary basis to Birmingham City Council as a public car park, the vacated parcel of land at Snow Hill Queensway and its surrounding road networks is set to undergo a complete transformation.

KPMG has selected the site for its Birmingham headquarters. The landmark agreement will see the firm relocate its Birmingham operations to Building One.

http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/business/tm_objectid=17408273%26method=full%26siteid=50002%26headline=ballymore%2dnames%2dbirse%2dcivils%2dfor%2dsnow%2dhill%2dredevelopment-name_page.html

Ah - more traffic disruption but hey - we're Brummies and we aren't used to having a city centre without roadworks ;)

And it will DEFINITELY be worth it :happy:

so really then, its going to be a while before we actually see and BUILDING work as the road system has to be changed first???

Well, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that the first phase can begin whilst the roads are being done.

In fact isn't it due to start early 07?

well yes but the roads are also expected to be completed in march 07...... which is early 07 lol

...that's not far away really...

Well, dunno if i am jumping the gun here, but I was at Snow Hill station today... and the car park (on which the development is supposed to be happening) has been closed and there are signs to show this, all of the trees and plans between the station and the car park have been cleared, and they have started work on Snow Hill queensway to what seems like remove the raised planters (or whatever they are) in the central reservation... Does this mean that somehing is happening - FINALLY!! Or am I just getting hopes up?

nope nope....the road works have starting in turn snow hill into a open boulavard and none round-about junction and the plans for the office buildings are just crossing the Ts and doting the Is of the s106 and should be starting later this year...


....IT HAS STARTED!

There are also diggers and something else which I'm not too sure what its purpose is near the back in a patch of cleared land. They weren't working. I think they were just sitting there so they could be moved when a bit of land closer to the station becomes available.

But if Woody says its started... ITS STARTED!

Fantastic, some good news and something actually HAPPENING at last! It will def improve this part of town.

Can't seem to find the St. Chads thread, so I'll put this picture of the 60s construction of the roundabout here, not that it'll matter, it'll be photobucketed to "city of tiny lights" size, well it's probably something I'm doing wrong, but err.. anyway..

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/chad.jpg

I think a patch of land has been bought up near by to be used as a temporary car park whilst another is being developed. I read it somewhere on the meetings and decisions page.

St Chad's Circus / Snow Hill Queensway roadworks



As part of the proposed Snow Hill development, major changes to Snow Hill Queensway and St Chad’s Circus are required. Once complete the prestigious £400 million redevelopment scheme will bring to the city in excess of 500,000 sq. ft of high quality office space in two distinctive buildings. In addition 200 apartments are planned, along with retail and leisure space overlooking new public areas.

Starting on 24 July 2006 are the road works to change Snow Hill Queensway and St Chad’s Circus, turning this important intersection into a pedestrian-friendly environment with an attractive landscaped public square to front St Chad’s Cathedral. St Chad’s Circus will become two linked traffic signal controlled t-junctions with the subways removed and replaced by street-level pedestrian crossing facilities. Snow Hill Queensway will become a landscaped city street giving access to the city centre, proposed development and bus stops. In addition, re-waterproofing and structural improvements to the St Chad’s underpass will be carried out above the tunnel (without the need for planned closures or lane restrictions through the tunnel).






Overview of where the work is taking place - click and drag to move image around or view the full image.





Timescale for the work


Start Snow Hill Queensway roadworks
24 July 2006

Start St Chad’s Circus roadworks
10 August 2006

Complete Snow Hill Queensway
January 2007

Temporary closure of St Chad’s Circus slip roads
14 January 2007 to 17 June 2007

Complete St Chad’s Circus
October 2007







What are the temporary traffic, bus and pedestrian management arrangements during the roadworks?
Traffic and Cyclists
There are two main traffic management stages during the roadworks. Stage 1 is 24 July 2006 to 14 January 2007, Stage 2 is 14 January 2007 to 17 June 2007, during which time the slip roads onto and off from St Chad’s Circus will be temporarily closed. Following 17 June 2007 all routes will be open to traffic, but some lane restrictions may be in place until completion in October 2007.

Buses
Bus routes and stops will continue as they are now until 3 September 2006. At that time all inbound and outbound bus stops on Snow Hill Queensway will be temporarily shut down with passengers advised of the nearest alternative stops on Colmore Row, Colmore Square or Corporation Street. Further information can be obtained from Network West Midlands on 0870 608 2608.

From 14 January 2007 bus routes currently passing through St Chad’s Circus from St Chad’s Queensway will be re-routed due to the slip road closures on St Chad’s Queensway. The length of diversion will be minimised and passengers will be dropped off and picked up from the same bus stops as in use from 3 September 2006.

Pedestrians
From 10 August 2007 the St Chad’s Circus subways are due to be closed off, and pedestrians directed by signage to the most convenient alternative routes.






For enquiries regarding these roadworks please contact us on 0121 303 6644







The Snow Hill mural - click and drag to move image around or view the full image.





Partners in the project


Overseeing Organisation: Birmingham City Council
Developer: RT Group Developments (Snow Hill) Ltd
Project Managers: CSL – Construction Services www.csltd.org
Contractor: Birse CL www.birsecl.co.uk
Engineers: Alan Baxter and Associates www.alanbaxter.co.uk
Architect: Sidell Gibson Architects www.sidellgibson.co.uk
Services Engineer: Arup www.arup.com
Planning Supervisor: Gleeds Heath & Safety Ltd www.gleeds.co.uk
Cost consultant: Gleeds www.gleeds.co.uk






http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=85163&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=14463&EXPAND=10935

Found this on the BCC website: its a few days old but interesting and helpful

Good news! Nice to see this moving on swiftly. I'm hoping we'll see the office block under construction soon .

Shame they're not doing anything about the station itself...

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0405.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f357/mhill11/IMGP1478_1.jpg

That central reservation planter has already gone and the island is about to be taken apart.

I checked it out today. I also counted about 5 diggers but none of a decent size, they were all mini versions which you usually find doing peoples drives.

^^ might take em a while then

I'm very excited about this, and about all the building work that's going on on Snow Hill and St Chad's.

Just to keep your appetites wetted...
http://i7.tinypic.com/24q3epe.jpg

yup, saw the bridge coming down today... his is a biggy alright

Thanks for the pic Paulo - good to see things really moving :)

I'll have to walk down and have a look. Funny thing is i used to go round this roundabout every day on the way to work at a previous job and i never go there any more. I used to wait for the no.16 to go up to Handsworth just to the left of the pic but i haven't been down there in months unless you count going under all that out to the A38.

How will they move the JFK Memorial?

How will they move the JFK Memorial?
It has been taken down and will find a new home in the Irish Quarter.

Well there's only one digger on site and its a tiny thing. A team of archeaologists will take to the site first to try and find stuff as there was originally a glassworks on the site. They dont expect to find much on that part and believe most of the remains will be underneath the station instead.

If that's the case, surley they would have found something during the construction of the other enterance?

Thats what I thought but it might also include underneath the tracks. We'll just have to wait and see.

News from Property Week

Ballymore
06.10.2006
Ballymore is to develop a 180-bed Glen Howells Architects-designed hotel tower at its Snow Hill scheme in Birmingham. The 4 acre (1.6 ha) city centre scheme has outline planning consent. Snow Hill will have 600,000 sq ft (55,741 sq m) of offices, retail and restaurants and 300 flats. Cushman & Wakefield Hotels has been appointed to find a hotel operator.

http://www.property-week.co.uk/Pictures/web/m/m/b/40_p11_Snow_Hill.jpg

Looks stunning GH is doing some excellent work in Brum and this part of town is going to look incredible in a few years.

Fucking hell. That may well be a initial design (although seems very well though trhough), but it looks like we have a BST sized hotel by snow hill people! That hotel would be stunning and would really make Lloyd House set for a scrub up.

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!!!!

Where did this suddenly pop out from??!?!?!!?

i counted 36 floors plus the podium and plant at the top. which puts it at least on par with HCT.

So far its been a good week.

I'm having a bit of spacial confuison as to where that hotel would go in relation to Kennedy Tower and the Cathedrial, can anyone help me work out where it would go?

Looks nice, but then if they were just to stick a picture together they wouldn't sticksomething fugly up would they?

But if you're ask me, YES PLEASE!

^^Directly opposite the tower and pretty much opposite the cathedral. The circus has been filled in there so it is single surface.

see its very own thread.....

...though i have to admit guys, why are you all supprised.... you should have seen this coming? ....see anything else????

^^A tree and a snippit of the rest of the development.

I think he means can we see anything else coming!

I can see people crossing St Chads without resorting to a trogolyite exsistance in a underpass, And the new 10-20 story builiding behind that hotel thingy.

i dont mean can u see anything in the picture but i mean look at the facts? where is the site, wats been happening...?

i dont mean can u see anything in the picture but i mean look at the facts? where is the site, wats been happening...?

Do you mean basically that where St Chads Circus island is now, is where the new building will be??

nope, you all dont appear to understand.... ill give up lol

Oh, I forgot about the clouds and the BT Tower. :dunno:

I think the rest of us have given up as well. :scouserd:

Guys.... on this new picture, i don't understand where the Queensway re-emerges? The otherside of the new building? Is it going to stay as an underpass? If so i reckon they should join it up to the main stretch of tunnel and just have one long tunnel under this part of the city (not gonna happen i know). Until they sort out that Gt Charles Queensway section of the A38 though I reckon it'll always form a physical barrier to the JQ........

Oh shit yeah - the great charles street site is visable (well the air space waiting to be occupied), D'oh

i dont mean can u see anything in the picture but i mean look at the facts? where is the site, wats been happening...?

I understand what you mean now. Nothing from I have seen but all the cars have finally gone and new diggers are appearing and going. I'll get some photos some time.

Guys.... on this new picture, i don't understand where the Queensway re-emerges? The otherside of the new building? Is it going to stay as an underpass? If so i reckon they should join it up to the main stretch of tunnel and just have one long tunnel under this part of the city (not gonna happen i know). Until they sort out that Gt Charles Queensway section of the A38 though I reckon it'll always form a physical barrier to the JQ........
Already a tunnel in the way. Government own a tunnel which leads to underground bunkers in case of nuclear fallout.

Does anybody know what is being built immediately behind the office blocks
that front on to Colmore Row just by the station entrance? A couple of concrete columns have appeared out of a hole just a few metres beyond the
tram terminus. Do you think this has anything to do with new access to a new tram station?

I think they are building another entrance.

Woodhouse, do you mean building hotels and towers near Bhams train stations ready for the Olympics? Maybe so the Chinese team/fans and other countries fans etc can stay there?

Birmingham needs more hotels to cope in a normal year, let alone the Olympics! It has one of the highest hotel room occupancy rates of any city in Britain.

BST hotel will be ready, New Street will be cutting it but may just be ready. This has possibilty. We really need to work on our sporting things though because with the Chinese Olympic team looking to train in either Sheffield or Birmingham then we need to show that we are way ahead of Sheffield and we cannot do that with some ponds and trams.

agreed Sheffield is way ahead of us (can I still say us?) in sports facilities at the moment.

lol it had absolutly nothing to do with hotels but a very good point tho

I think by this stage I was photed out. So I was just pointing and a clicking,
Anyway, there's a lot of filling in occuring:-

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0849.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0853.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0857.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0858.jpg

I'm not sure where this new tower will go,

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0863.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0859.jpg

edited to put in
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/Biosonic/Renders/SnowHillGlennHowells.jpg
Around there someplace?? Step back a bit from my Picture? with st. Chads on the right?

And the good
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0860.jpg
And just a thought if they get rid of the underpass and the build up area around that this will be put back onto a little hill which will make it loom, just as good churches should.

and the not so good, it's times like this I'm glad I don't have a camera with a panoramic feature.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0862.jpg

And a nice sloppy thing:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0852.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0859.jpg

According to the road plans posted, the 40 story tower will sit on the site currently occupied by those portacabins.

Question:

Are the builders going to lay tram lines in the new road as they lay it? Or, will it have to be ripped up again?

I think that the tram lines will go between the station and the new buildings that front Snow Hill, so, in that last picture you'll need to imagine a new bridge running parallel with the heavy rail bridge taking the Metro accross the Queensway. It should then reappear at the top of Snow Hill on the old island and dissapear down Bull Street. Any other offers?

I hadn't realised they'd already made a start on St. Chad's Circus!

^^Yeh, long ago.

El Paulo: The site map produced by BCC support what you said so I think you're right!

The builiding that's going on at the moment, is that the new entrance for Snow Hill or the low level building on the left in this picture:

http://i12.tinypic.com/4gt4y8y.jpg

the Birmingham Development list says that building is under construction now?

Are there any renders of St Chad's in its planned new surroundings?

By the way, I am hearing that Lloyd House may be cleaned.

Damn!!!

I do like the look of those new buildings. :)

One thing I think they should do now is to do something to the station itself, so that it dosen't look out of place.

One thing I think they should do now is to do something to the station itself, so that it dosen't look out of place.

You are so, so, so right. This, of all the stations in Brum should be the easiest to do something with and to make a centrepiece of. Get shot of the car park and stick a lovely glass roof on it - simple! Cause you're right, it's gonna look crap next to what's going on on Snow Hill itself if they don't.

I've seen one or two renders of Snow Hill (by Sidell Gibson Architects) before but these are very clear - and I'm amazed at just how BIG this development appears to be! Just to remind you what's coming!

Click on "Projects" then on "Snow Hill".

Sidell Gibson (http://www.sidellgibson.co.uk/sidellgibson.html)

Whats wrong with those renders?
Is it me, or is the land too flat??
Where's the hill gone? and where is the weslyan building?

Agree with Royal Blue...
where is the artist 'standing' in these renders - I can see Lloyd House in the background but I am still confused with the orientation?

http://i12.tinypic.com/4gt4y8y.jpg

I think very bottom right of the map picture

The flat bit faces Lloyd house, the slopping bit faces the station, and hopefully will have the Tram extention running past it. The weslyan would be on your left.

The picture on the right (of the pair of towers) must be imagined from right outside the front door to St Chads Cathedral, looking towards Snow Hill Station.

The one on the left........ dunno!

I thought the straight part faced the station but now I see the Midland Metro line on the left picture, it seems the straight part faces Llyod House and such.

The picture on the right (of the pair of towers) must be imagined from right outside the front door to St Chads Cathedral, looking towards Snow Hill Station.

The one on the left........ dunno!


nope the view you are talking about it looking through the buildings outside the front of snow hill sta toward lloyd house and st chads!

Sorry about the quality but the picture on the left (with the metro tracks) is from here right?

http://i13.tinypic.com/34t7uau.jpg

Also, the ones of the two towers seems to be a view from the doors of St Chad's else how does the BT tower slip in? Also we're looking at the 'leading edges' of those towers too.

But hey, what do I know! :dunno:

nope the view you are talking about it looking through the buildings outside the front of snow hill sta toward lloyd house and st chads!

OO-er! Confused now!

I thought the building on the left hand side of the picture was Kennedy Tower, which would put BT Tower in about the right place......

:dunno:

Paulo - you are spot on! :carrot:

Checked this site out yesterday. Rubble is being moved around and the crane is full swing as well. As for the diggers, they were working too. The St Chads Circus has not changed much. The footpath around there has been closed by the way.

Lloyd House has a new entrance which could mean that a cleanup of the rest of the outside is possible!

What's happened to the Swing Statue?

It's in my back garden...

Here are a few photo's I got of the site yesterday. It was difficult to get any decent shots at ground level coz the early winter sun was so low and blinding! Not to be defeated I tried a couple from Snow Hill car park:)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Construction%203/Bham4th112006135.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Construction%203/Bham4th112006137.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Construction%203/Bham4th112006138.jpg

So something is actually happening on the tower site as well. Its jsut Building 1 under construction, I thought. Still no reply from Ballymore or Glenn Howells. Who else is involved in this development who i can email?

They've really got a move on with filling in the old pedestrian underpasses etc

This is the updated map:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/image0.jpg

Also, its only the new entrance to Snow Hill that is under construction. They are working into the night.

What exactly are they doing with the new Snow Hill Entrance?

Sorry, if it's already been spelt out for us special kids, but I forgot...

They seem to have put large concrete slabs down (hence the crane) and thats all it seems have done so far. I think steps maybe introduced as well but there is very little that actually shows what is being done.

But where's the Entrance going, at the side?

And what's that going into the traffic island? The little thing that's already there?

But where's the Entrance going, at the side?

And what's that going into the traffic island? The little thing that's already there?

If you lok on the map thing, go to the far right bottom hand corner, there is some curved grey thing (shaped like BST's front :) ). Thats the entrance as far as I know.

I dont have a clue about the traffic island, sorry.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/djguinness/snowhill.jpg

This gives you an idea

^^Wrong side of the road :)

If you lok on the map thing, go to the far right bottom hand corner, there is some curved grey thing (shaped like BST's front :) ). Thats the entrance as far as I know.

So why are they digging up all the area further down, the roads not going there, they only reason I can think of is the foundations of the new (low rise, well relatively) buildings

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/Derekksharmen/snow4.jpg

these ones, which we've all forgot about what with the 135/140 Meter thing just next door

^^They are starting to build Building One and I am not sure what they are doing at where the towers will be but I think it could be some archaelogical work. The crane is not for Building One though. Building One is just having the site sorted and such. My wording here is terrible... I've been having a couple :scouserd:.

god u guys so dont have a clue wat the other ones talkin about, quite funny to watch really!

This is the updated map:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/image0.jpg

Also, its only the new entrance to Snow Hill that is under construction. They are working into the night.

That gives a better idea of what St Chad's Square is going to look like! HQ deserves a good setting after all those years on the side of an island!!!

By far the funniest time of the week is coming on here on sunday to see all the drunk posts from the night before.. Sometimes i find ones i don't even remember writing myslef...

I don't even drink, and I don't know what HQ and "Building One" is, I'm all confused.

I don't even drink, and I don't know what HQ and "Building One" is, I'm all confused.

As a Catholic I sometimes refer to St Chad's as 'HQ' for obvious reasons, but I didn't make that clear. My sincere apologies.

As a Catholic I sometimes refer to St Chad's as 'HQ' for obvious reasons, but I didn't make that clear. My sincere apologies.

I am the only one who thinks we got a raw deal with our cathedrals in Brum. The CofE one's tiny and i find the Catholic one a little plain.. and it's compeletely ruined by it's location, hopefully that'll be improved a bit although it'll still be surrounded by roads.

Well it was built as an extension church to St Martins for the wealthy by the Colmore estate.
There was a bit of tug-of-war in 1905 in choosing which would become cathedral. St Martins parish church but St Phillips became anglican cathedral.

Its good though as we have one of smallest in UK and also (dont quote me on this) the only baroque cathedral.
Small can be beautiful.

But where's the Entrance going, at the side?

And what's that going into the traffic island? The little thing that's already there?

The structure in the traffic island was always there.

I'm not 100% sure, but it is almost certainly the plant room for the tunnel ventilation below. The tunnel has to maintain good ventilation due to the Carbon Monoxide fumes - you'll see the structure is still there on the new layout, inbetween the two carriageways.

Hopefully they'll give it a tart up though - & I don't just mean paint it blue!!

(dont quote me on this) the only baroque cathedral.


Think there might be quite a large one in the city of London opposite Tate Modern.

Think there might be quite a large one in the city of London opposite Tate Modern.

Am I mistaken in thinking they were designed by the same bloke?

Oh..and is that one in London Baroque? I'm not saying it isn't, just not sure!

http://photos.fotonomy.com/m/0/c/b/0cbec200.jpg

The church at Witley Court in Worcestershire is also of the Baroque variety, & similar to Birmingham Cathedral inside ..... beautiful.

Think there might be quite a large one in the city of London opposite Tate Modern.

Is this a Cathedral?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I think Rigadon might be on about St Paul's.

St Chads has a lot of history. I cant quite remember the title right but it was the first Catholic church to be commissioned after the Henry VIII thing (history isnt upto scratch :ohno: )

...first Catholic cathedral to built since the Reformation. Yep, it's very important.

From the Birmingham Post:
Milestone on path to bigger business district

The £400 million Snow Hill scheme will become a fully integrated part of the city’s business district.

So says Ballymore’s development manager, Richard Probert, as the high-profile project passes a milestone moment.

He points to the removal of the 8.5ft-high glass façade positioned between the entrance of Snow Hill station and One Colmore Row and smiles.

The removal of the screen wall follows Ballymore’s purchase of 1-3 Colmore Row – the existing office building fronting the Snow Hill redevelopment scheme

According to Mr Probert, it marks the first step in a five-month schedule of works which has now started to create the West Piazza deck – the first element of the swish public open spaces being created across the Snow Hill site.

"The West Piazza deck will provide direct access by foot to Colmore Row and Snow Hill station for the office, retail, leisure and residential buildings at Snow Hill," explains Mr Probert.


"This particular parcel of works on the site itself is part of a wider statement of intent by Ballymore Properties, which is reflected in the initial phases of the works on and around the site.


"The priority of works says much about the underlying characteristics of the scheme by emphasising Snow Hill’s integration with the prime commercial address in Birmingham and the unique public transport credentials and sustainability of the scheme.


"The screen wall removal and road works on Snow Hill Queensway and at St Chads are intended to assist both pedestrians and car drivers in the long term."


How? "By creating an easy to use and permeable landmark site that links the business district seamlessly to the Jewellery and Gun Quarters.


"We also aim to make it easier to use the many public transport options in and around Snow Hill.


"Throughout these formative stages, we have been working closely with the city council’s highway department to remodel the road network and give the area a new lease of life.


"Eventually, Snow Hill will form an integral and accessible gateway to the heart of Birmingham.


"Such a critical and large-scale project may lead to some restrictions in the short term but the city council share our conviction that the end result will be well worth the inconvenience."


His enthusiasm for the project is shared by Neil Dancer, Birmingham City Council’s chief highways engineer.


"The roadworks at Snow Hill are part of a highways agreement that, when fully implemented, will not only create a workable and attractive pedestrian friendly environment but will also ensure the needs of bus operators and car users are protected," he says.


"We are also using the opportunity created by the works to undertake maintenance works to the Queensway tunnel roof with no separate disruption.


"We have been working closely with Ballymore, its contractors and bus operators to establish viable solutions to the transport needs of those living and working in the city centre – both during the works and in the long term.


"I am confident that by continuing to work together and by careful traffic management we will minimise any short-term disruption while construction works take place and that the end result will be a significant improvement to the transport landscape."


Coun Ken Hardeman, cabinet member for regeneration, asks professionals to be patient, saying: "Everyone concerned wants to see the continued regeneration of the city and in order to facilitate this physical regeneration, changes to the roads around many sites – such as Snow Hill – are inevitable.


"These changes can’t happen overnight and we will need the patience and understanding of all those who wish to see Birmingham become an even more successful place to live and work.


"It has long been a desire of the city council to enhance pedestrian access from Colmore Row to St Chads and the Gun and Jewellery Quarters via the Snow Hill scheme.


"It is therefore good to see works actually under way at this important and long neglected part of the city centre.


"Just as importantly, the mainline Snow Hill station will be more immediately accessible from Snow Hill Queensway, as will the proposed new Midland Metro link and about 40 bus services.


"This accessibility is set to establish the Snow Hill scheme as a model of sustainable regeneration and a real destination for the thousands who work or live in the centre of Birmingham." Richard Probert at Colmore Row and, below, a computer-generated view of the Snow Hill project when complete.

No pictures on the net of it by the way.

a nice little story there .... nice to hear some enthusiasm about the development

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/Derekksharmen/snow4.jpg

I don't know if this is old news but I heard that KPMG are taking 130,000 sq ft at snownill relocating from Cornwall Street. The biggest pre-let since RBS 2002.

Hopfully this should speed things along as big companies are already showing an interest.

Anyone got any ideas how big there current base is? in other words by how much they are expanding?

City Living, I can't see which perspective that picture is looking at Snow Hill from. Where would you be standing in relation to other buildings when seeing the lower-offices in the illustration?

To the far right is the WM Police HQ - Lloyd House and to the very far left is a snippit of Snow Hill station. Therefore, you are looking away from Colmore Gate, The Wesleyan and Colmore Plaza in the direction of what is/ was St Chads Circus.

Thanks EreBus555. I'm flying back in tomorrow evening... Going to Aston Student Union for the Craic at 9/10pm - Anyone got an NUS Card? ... Might go and have a look ---> if its not too cold.

A mate of mine used to work in Lloyd House 10 or so years ago, and apparently at the time the building was owned by British Rail. They considered moving out then, but due to £££ decided to stay and refurb.

Do BR still own it? (i.e those property bits of BR that remain?)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/Birmingham/P1000149.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/Birmingham/P1000152.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/Birmingham/P1000159.jpg

Massive roadworks....

And working on a sunday too!

wow look at the size of that site massive!

A great few shots there SR!

You've really caught something of the "occasion", as well as the fact that it's one hell of a face-lift for this part of the city!

Thanks for those, this shot looks very American.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/Birmingham/P1000152.jpg

Think its about time we got an official construction thread going. :banana:

Would like to see a good height scheme at the car park beneath BT now. Something of reasonable density.

Another underpass dies!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/Birmingham/P1000164.jpg

this photo was taken with St. Chads to the right and the delightful Thisle Hotel to the left, I think the concreate floor is the top of the Car underpass, but you get some idea of the depth and size:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/Birmingham/P1000163.jpg

Lets not forget these towers have 5 basement floors, with the bottom 3 being car parking. Not sure about the office blocks, but its going to be some depth.

great to see how these sites are progresing all the way up in newcastle, keep up the good work guys!

Found that other picture of the huge hole they're digging

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/Birmingham/P1000161.jpg

grrr... that's even worse than Etap isn't it?

KPMG have signed a deal to move it's entire Birmingham HQ, that's 1,000 staff, to the new office development at Snow Hill. KPMG will move in 2009. (The Birmingham Post, today).

suprised post has just picked up on that see post 390.

Sorry city, I hadn't noticed that post earlier. I think they were just highlighting the fact that the deal has actually been done.

One aspect of this office development that has passed me by, being the div that I am, is that I hadn't noticed until today from the picture in The Birmingham Post, that the sloping side to these office buildings face Snow Hill Station & not the road.

I really like that sloping bit, it looks ace.

Found that other picture of the huge hole they're digging

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/Birmingham/P1000161.jpg

grrr... that's even worse than Etap isn't it?


Do you know summat? What's the chance of them accidentally digging this hole so large and deep that it will undermine the foundations of the Thistle Hotel so much that, hopefully, the entire building will collapse right into it...?

Bet that would be your ultimate wet dream wouldn't it Stephen? ;)

Doubt its going to be there much longer anywho.

I'm sure they submitted a planning app for an extension. It was to have casino facilities. It could have been the Hagley Road one...

Do you know summat? What's the chance of them accidentally digging this hole so large and deep that it will undermine the foundations of the Thistle Hotel so much that, hopefully, the entire building will collapse right into it...?

Bet that would be your ultimate wet dream wouldn't it Stephen? ;)

Not my ultimate one....

I'm sure they submitted a planning app for an extension. It was to have casino facilities. It could have been the Hagley Road one...

It was the Hagley Road one. I think it was turned down.

That's also a shit building :yes:

It was the Hagley Road one. I think it was turned down.

That's also a shit building :yes:

I have a soft spot for that building. OK it's Brutalist and concrete but its got character. Something most Brutalist structures dont.

http://media.expedia.com/hotels/1000000/10000/7800/7767/7767_1_t.jpg

http://images.wcities.com/www.wcities.com/cityrecords/20.jpg

Shocker!

there are also two decent casinos really near here - the rainbow and the wheel club. i doubt they could do with another one.

and the Grosvenor on Broad Street and the Broadway Casino at Broadway Plaza

I went past snowhill today, theres plenty going on, i didn't expect to see much because of the snow, but there was loads of workmen and plent of digging going on, i suppose they're on a tight deadlind. I'm looking forward to seeing this complete. Does anybody know what the square in front of st chads is going to look like, i know we've seen the map, but just wondered what sort of landscaping, paving etc it will be?

http://images.wcities.com/www.wcities.com/cityrecords/20.jpg
I've passed this hotel a few times travelling down the Hagley Road on the bus. Am I right in thinking the car park is behind the concrete mesh (lower section) and the hotel rooms are suspended above.
If that's right then I have to agree with Erebus, there is a certain novelty factor about this building. Still wouldn't want to stay in it, though.

Anybody here remember what this circular Thistle Hotel used to be called (back in the days when a floodlit picture of this building in the Brum accommodation brochures actually looked quite glamorous!)?

I do, but I'm not telling you. :tongue2:


First one to get it right wins an old "Birmingham - The Big Heart Of England" brochure of their choice wrapped in chippy paper and delivered to their door by paralytic carrier pigeon.

If it has 'Grand' in the title then Lord smite me!

Was it the Strathallen!!

Strathallan it most certainly was! :yes:

I always remember seeing it lit up in warm orange colours at night - it looked quite enticing back then (late 70s, early 80s). And Edgbaston was indeed Brum's biggest concentration of hotels and guest houses in one area.

Can I have a Martin G car sticker?

You won't get any such thing!! What do you think I am? A frigging radio DJ???!!!

Not 'alf!

It was called the strathallen

Hey blar! :wave:

You were a bit late mate. morestoreysplease already got it!

Thanks Eerbus, I have been following the forums for years

err.. was it somthing like the Moat? or somethibng castle releated?

I'm just guessing here!

Edited to add: Oh, bugger too late! and totally wrong! I now feel stupid!

ah the strathallen. havent heard that name simce i was a kiddy. i remember being (whats the word) intrigued by the thistle on the hagley road when i was young. i think i have a fondness for it, though not for any architectural reasons. it is quite stiking though. mind you, so is big top!

Is that short for Stratocaster Van Halen? It is is'nt it....

erm...snow hill anyone?

Yes, Snow Hill. It's very snowy and hilly in Birmingham right at this moment! :D

Cor blimey I love a bit of the old snowy hillock

How's the re-configuration of roads coming along?

When I went in recently it was looking, well, exciting!! Even if it is not going to solve the traffic problem one jot(!) it will certainly look very nice (as many of the re-sculpted roads in Brum do now).

This part of Brum should be unrecognisable from the mess it was before - it will create a very dense part of the city, building wise, and funnel people in and out of the Gun/Jewellery Qtrs through pleasant, pedestrian-friendly thoroughfares! I'm particularly looking forward to the new St Chad's Square - it will give that historic building the setting it deserves (once they pull down the Thistle Hotel of course!). Sorry, I've got to stop now; I'm drooling...

^^ They're pulling down the Thistle? :banana:

No.

:badnews:

^^ They're pulling down the Thistle? :banana:

Sorry, that was a sarcastic remark on my part! One can hope though! :lol:

I saw an enthusiast taking picures of this site from the Livery Street multi-storey car park on Sunday ..... was it one of you?

Was he stunning good looking with trim muscular body and a full head of flowing chesnut hair?

If so, he sounds like he looks like me, But I wasn't in Birmingham last weekend so it wasn't me.

But I did take this picture of the building between Lloyd House and the Kenndy Tower, the week before:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/Birmingham/P1000168.jpg

I'm not sure but I think the boarding was new, like they were [groundless rumor starting mode]they were knocking it down or something[/groundless rumor starting mode]

They are knocking it down. That's where 2 Snow Hill Plaza'll be going. It got planning permission but Woody says the developers dont like the design they've submitted! Might mean we might be getting something taller instead ;)

Well looking at the windows, knocking it down now?

Looks like that side could be rising at the same time as over the road is going up. Kwel!

nothing will be happening until the developers know what the hell they are doing, and that aint going to be for a while yet!

Couple of quick shots. It was raining and didn't want to get the camera wet!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/DSC_0059.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/DSC_0058.jpg

Birmingham is going to be a hive of activity over the coming months. Cannot wait.

Just imagine Pen Penisular rising in the center of Birmingham but with some top draw office blocks inlcuded in the scheme. Quite pant wetting.

Considering some of the comments on the New St thread, I think that Snow Hill is ripe to become a very busy train station again and there's a real opportunity to make it something good to look at too - another two or three platforms should do it as well as some inset into the far end of the island platforms... in addition to the reopened platform 4 which the Metro has pinched of course!

Welcome to Snow Hill Station.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/Sketchup%20Models/Snowhilly.png
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/Sketchup%20Models/Snowhilly1.png
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/Sketchup%20Models/Snowhill.png

Little thing I rustled up in 10 minutes. We have a reverb chamber with a bit of open space (I would put balconies in but cant be bothered). We got the big entrance on the right. The roof will be glass so it'll have the old feel again. The skyscraper is just there because it's becoming mandatory for skyscrapers to be located on railway stations in Birmingham. It'll probably stick to 4 platforms though :nuts:.

Also apologies, if you read my post in the Transport in Birmingham post. Looks like some interesting times ahead for Snow Hill and she will be making quite a comeback in use and the need for expansion.
:) :) :) :)

Have your handkerchiefs ready for these sites about Snow Hill but also your beady eyes too. Some interesting pictures about the old Gt Charles St entrace to the station amongst other things. Some not come across before.

http://tramwayresources.fotopic.net/c914983.html

http://simon71.fotopic.net/c732841.html

http://therailwaystationgallery.fotopic.net/c98372.html

^^
Thanks for the links Feltip. To see what we've lost (again) never ceases to depress me. The interior of the original Snow Hill station truly looked like the Moor Street terminus does now, but on a much larger scale. And that exterior, like the Grand Hotel...

If I was responsible for the decision to demolish this fine civic gateway, I would not only hang my head in abject shame, but I would bear my naked arse on the steps of Victoria Square so that the general populace could register their displeasure by hurling chunks of Sixties concrete at it.

If I was responsible for the decision to demolish this fine civic gateway, I would not only hang my head in abject shame, but I would bear my naked arse on the steps of Victoria Square so that the general populace could register their displeasure by hurling chunks of Sixties concrete at it.

...mmmm, Kinky!!!

Have your handkerchiefs ready for these sites about Snow Hill but also your beady eyes too. Some interesting pictures about the old Gt Charles St entrace to the station amongst other things. Some not come across before.

http://tramwayresources.fotopic.net/c914983.html

http://simon71.fotopic.net/c732841.html

http://therailwaystationgallery.fotopic.net/c98372.html

:ohno: ^^ :ohno:

Licensed Vandalism is the only comment I can make!

If I was responsible for the decision to demolish this fine civic gateway, I would not only hang my head in abject shame, but I would bear my naked arse on the steps of Victoria Square so that the general populace could register their displeasure by hurling chunks of Sixties concrete at it.

So that's what the handkerchiefs were for... ;)

If only we had kept it running and not shut it down, then it would have been maintained and not fall into the state of no return :(.

Looks like they're building a foundation plinth for a tower crane on site as we speak. Should see the crane itself very soon methinks!

^^
Yeah I saw this as well, shouldn't be too long, its gonna be one hell of a sight once everything is under construction down snow hill:banana:

Hi Forum,
I'm new here and have been reading this thread for a while. I don't live in Brum now but a few miles away (northern jockland) but my heatrt is still in Brum. I used to hang around Snow Hill a lot and watched with interest as it was rebuilt, 86-87 time? Was a little disappointed to see it has been shrunk down since then and in nearly 20 years it has still not expanded. Now with these new buildings being put up right next to it, has virtually eliminated any chance of future expansion. Pitty. Will it start to suffer New Streets current predicament. The Station has so much potential to be an imprssive meeting place and transport hub for the city.
Would be cuffed to bits if the regulars could keep the latest photos of the development posted on this site, for those of us with an interest but unable to see for real.

Hi Daz :wave:

I think Snowhill will become the most photographed scheme on here (until Arena Central comes along anyhoo).

There is space to expand the rails at Snowhill - provided the trams get moved to outside the office complex. There should be a couple of platforms free then, and I think we all agree it is only a matter of time before the station is renewed - either via Network Rail projects or a joint venture/partnership to place offices above part of the station :)

Expansion definatly needs to be factored in the redevelopment of the queensway. From what I understand the Metro will be channelled along a route between the current track (SnowHill platform 4 I think) and the new build. As a result SnowHill will surley be trapped both sides.
I think the Metro should divert at St Pauls halt onto the main road and be street running past St Chads and up Snow hill Queensway on the road.

I think the Metro should Divert at St pauls halt onto the main road and be street running past St Chads and up Snow hill Queensway on the road.

If Snow hill platforms were rebuilt like this it would offer alot more capacity.

http://i17.tinypic.com/2rertqf.jpg

That gives about 2 foot of platform.

There is a new viaduct being built isn't there?

the tram will run between the new buildings and the station.

There is a new viaduct being built isn't there?

the tram will run between the new buildings and the station.

That's correct. They are already building the new embankment up to take the new metro line inbetween the new Snow Hill buildings and the station.

Whether they actually will put the viaduct and the metro lines on it will be a different matter!

There are rumours (from someone on this forum) that Snow Hill & Moor Street may see some services shifted to them from BNS. So we may yet see some redevelopment work at Snow Hill.

Well, if Ballymore want to put the lines in (and the council said if they want a tram stop they can pay for it), there is no reason why the trams can't be diverted to there...

The reason they incorporated that diversion into the Snow Hill masterplan was part of the long proposed 5 ways extension to the metro. The line will run up the back of the new Snow Hill buildings to street level, then down Bull St. Turining on to Corporation St. and so on...

If it ever gets funding that is. I guess they have been forced to make preperations for it just in case it does.

Not holding my breath though.

I think Ballymore will just level the route and lanscape it, they will leave the Metro side of things to the council when they pull their finger out.

I think Ballymore will just level the route and lanscape it, they will leave the Metro side of things to the council when they pull their finger out.

Probably true.

It's obvious and sad what will happen with Snow Hill. I pressume it is planned to have the Metro run between the station and the new builds:
http://i5.tinypic.com/47i5mqc.jpg

But the developers have no plans to put anything down other than to level it and landscape it.
http://i8.tinypic.com/4getp2p.jpg

Then after approval by ??????? will the tracks for the Metro will be put down and Snow Hill station put back to normal.:)

But it will probably never get approved and Snow hill will be stuck with 3 platform and all this additional traffic coming up from New Street station:ohno: The Metro will become unreliable and to expensive to look after, it will eventually stop running and the track (including platform4) will become overgrown and derelict as it will cost to much to put back.
Here's to Birmingham!!!

again, great to welcome in such an optermist.

the poin of the matter is that yes, at the moment, funding for such projects is not overly available... but things have to be done

the british governemnt cant not do anything and soon, if the likes of road pricing come in, there will be an influx of investment for such projects. teh govt knows the cost to the country of doing nothing far outweighs that of investing now!

It's down the the DfT now...

the british governemnt are fucking useless.

Fixed it.

cheeky!

come on gents, get some phoo's on here, whats happening at the new entrance

Crane was going up on site today.

If Snow hill platforms were rebuilt like this it would offer alot more capacity.

http://i17.tinypic.com/2rertqf.jpg


That was what I suggested ages ago through some old diagrams showing indentation of some of the platforms to provide north-facing bays which would thus complement the three reopened bays at Moor Street which face south of course....

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/mckopper/SNOWHILLDIAG4.jpg


There is so much wasted land that is going begging at Snow Hill it really is a travesty of economy that Railtrack/Network Rail haven't got any idea that - unlike with New Street where there isn't any space at all to expand - Snow Hill HAS AMPLE SPARE LAND AVAILABLE RIGHT THIS MINUTE THAT IS UP FOR IMMEDIATE GRABS. :no:

Well, NR have got an idea of their worth as it is Railwtrack Group that sold off the surface-level car park to allow Snowhill to go ahead.

It would be nice to find out that they had ring-fenced the money to improve Snowhill Station.

At least Ballymore bought the Ernst & Young building next to the entrance so they can create the "Spanish Steps" entrance on to their piazza.

It's obvious and sad what will happen with Snow Hill. I pressume it is planned to have the Metro run between the station and the new builds:
http://i5.tinypic.com/47i5mqc.jpg

Don't you just love the way it's labelled not "Snow Hill Station", but "Livery Street Car Park"?

That's the biggest problem with Snow Hill. I say tear the whole place down and start again. Not only would it make more efficient use of the space, it might actually be a pleasant place to catch a train!

Don't you just love the way it's labelled not "Snow Hill Station", but "Livery Street Car Park"?

That's the biggest problem with Snow Hill. I say tear the whole place down and start again. Not only would it make more efficient use of the space, it might actually be a pleasant place to catch a train!

So right, so right!

There is room on the Livery St side of the station to fit in at least another platform (or more if the tracks were realigned too). I remember walking through the tunnel when they reopened it and being really excited, but I was too young to realise what a bodge they had actually made of it. A station that is at least 'fit for the job' would be nice but the Metro scuppered that - add to that the eyesore that is the car park and you see a site that is crying out for urgent work.

If this was a commercial site they would make damn sure that every inch of space was used efficiently, that the street fronts were attractive and in keeping with the 'corporate' image, that visitors would have a pleasent experience and want to return, that the bulding brought in the desired revenue etc, etc... But Snow Hill is too small for the job, it's ugly and uncomfortable for passengers, there are acres of wasted land, the construction looks patched together and is not in keeping with it's surroundings, access is poor etc, etc...

I did that tunnel walk aswell, I to had high hopes for the station. Its a pity what has happened to it.

No-one got any good pictures yet of the new entance for Snow Hill Station

^^ I don't think you'll find that many people are going to be too arsed about that unless they tear the place down and start rebuilding it properly from scratch - and that means getting rid of the car park and re-siting part of it underground beneath the station or somewhere else.

It just annoys me to see how they pissed away such a golden opportunity to do something worthwhile with this station when they reopened it - typical BR shortsightedness (and you all thought Railtrack/Network Rail was bad).

I had an entirely theoretical thought; if you wanted to redevelop Snow Hill station in the future then the new entrance being constructed in the arches would allow the station to operate as a dead-end stop on the St. Paul’s side of Great Charles Street whilst the car-park/station was redeveloped. The new pedestrian bridge at Ludgate would allow easy city centre access during construction with only minor disruption to commuters. Moor Street would be the other terminal meaning that only the cross city link would be closed during construction, I assume this would be a lot cheaper than redeveloping the station whilst trying to keep it open. All this would need to wait until Ludgate and Moor Street were both fully complete.

Snow Hill station would make a good Broadgate type project with large scale offices above a redeveloped station.

So right, so right!

There is room on the Livery St side of the station to fit in at least another platform (or more if the tracks were realigned too). I remember walking through the tunnel when they reopened it and being really excited, but I was too young to realise what a bodge they had actually made of it. A station that is at least 'fit for the job' would be nice but the Metro scuppered that - add to that the eyesore that is the car park and you see a site that is crying out for urgent work.

If this was a commercial site they would make damn sure that every inch of space was used efficiently, that the street fronts were attractive and in keeping with the 'corporate' image, that visitors would have a pleasent experience and want to return, that the bulding brought in the desired revenue etc, etc... But Snow Hill is too small for the job, it's ugly and uncomfortable for passengers, there are acres of wasted land, the construction looks patched together and is not in keeping with it's surroundings, access is poor etc, etc...


Is this what you are referring to...

[img=http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2756/photo0042nf0.th.jpg] (http://img258.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0042nf0.jpg)

I though that when I was down there yesterday - I think by demolishing the car park they could probably squeeze 6 proper platforms and 2 bay platforms.

Lets face it - this is going to be the professional and financial epicentre of the city - it will need a really good station.

Is this what you are referring to...

[img=http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2756/photo0042nf0.th.jpg] (http://img258.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo0042nf0.jpg)

I though that when I was down there yesterday - I think by demolishing the car park they could probably squeeze 6 proper platforms and 2 bay platforms.

Lets face it - this is going to be the professional and financial epicentre of the city - it will need a really good station.

That's the one - thanks Quoasis!

There's even more space than I remembered and you're right, there's space for at least 6 platforms (when you think about it, you've got a station that's suddenly half the size of New Street!), not to mention any extra bays they might care to add.
If they are serious about re-routing traffic into this station then they need to be serious about the station that is going to be sited there..

coz the current one ain't it!!

The picture also shows how badly the car park is alighned with the platforms - making any enlargement impossible without demolition - maybe this is a blessing in disguise!

Haven't been to Brum for a while. Is this project still on the go, completed or scrubbed.
Any news on realigning the Metro down the side of the new builds?

see under Construction Thread daz - you might get a surprise!

Yeah, seen all the stuff on Snowhill Queensway, I was enquiring about the Snowhill Station North Entrance!

Got a link?

transport thread might be the best place to look mate