Jewellery Quarter

[mikey23]

Turley Associates are holding a public exhibition on Saturday 3 December in Springhill Library/Tesco Foyer between 10am and 2pm in order to consult the public on the Birmingham Assay Office’s proposals to relocate to a new location in the Jewellery Quarter in 2013.

http://jqnf.net/2011/11/30/public-co...december-2011/

[nigeman]

Originally Posted by mikey23

http://jqnf.net/2011/11/30/public-co...december-2011/

Had a look at the proposals on Saturday, quite a large proposal that extends right back to Moreton Street.
The developer was saying that interest in the St George's scheme had tripled in the last few months and though unable to comment at present, stated they hoped to make further announcments of complimentary schemes coming on line on the back of this. The hotel scheme mooted for this site was, all being well, being moved elsewhere within the larger scheme.
The new Assay office would include a Visitor centre and conference facilities, which they hoped would become a further attraction for the Jewellry quarter and attract considerable visitor numbers.
I asked about any 136 monies to improve the Public Realm directly outside the proposed development ( ie the public toilets area). They reckon there is no money within the Assay office envelope for this, but the St Georges scheme as a whole once going, is looking to renovate this "traingle of land", they would optimistically like to think of a street cafe, but felt it would probably end up with a Public Art piece within an improved landscaping of the area.

[Braidy]

So does the new Assay office take up the entire square of land between the ring road (by the defunct toilets and triangle of land), Carver St, Pope St and Moreton St? If so, it's going to be big. It will also mean demolishing some buildings there that I didn't think was part of St Georges.

[mikey23]

http://www.theassayoffice.co.uk/nao_new-building.html

[Erebus555]

I really like what I'm seeing in that 3rd set - nice use of repetition and proportions. I'm guessing this is showing the progression of the design process rather than 3 potential options?

[mikey23]

From the Post

An eyesore site in Birmingham city centre is to be transformed in a multi-million pound offices and hotel scheme.

Council bosses are close to concluding a deal to redevelop two acres of Great Charles Street, currently used as a car park.

The move resurrects ambitious proposals for a surface-level pedestrian crossing linking the Colmore Business District and the Jewellery Quarter.

Council leaders signalled this week that removal of the "awful" walkway bridge, which is the only method of crossing the A38 as it thunders through the centre of Birmingham, would be a priority issue for the Great Charles Street scheme.

Talks have been on and off with developers Abstract Land and Dandara since the two partners offered to buy the valuable site in 2006.

The credit crunch and economic turndown put paid to a swift resolution, but the land will now be developed in four phases over eight years.

Council cabinet members agreed in principle to a scheme that is expected to deliver offices, shops, a hotel and multi-storey car park.

The cabinet was told that more than 2,500 jobs could be created when all building work has been completed.

The land has a tortured history over many years and was once earmarked for Birmingham's new coach station. That idea fell through after National Express deemed the project too expensive and decided to rebuild the coach station in Digbeth.

A deal to sell the Great Charles Street site to HGB Properties for about £23 million collapsed in the summer of 2006, but the council announced shortly afterwards that Abstract Land and Dandara were to acquire the land.

Council leader Mike Whitby said he hoped new government methods allowing local authorities to pay for infrastructure projects through tax incremental funding schemes and revenue from business rates, could be used to meet the huge cost of joining up the two Queensway tunnels.

Coun Whitby (Con Harborne) added that better connectivity between Colmore Row and the Jewellery Quarter would help to stimulate business activity.

Cabinet member Martin Mullaney highlighted the prospect of a new walkway joining "Birmingham's two great churches" of St Philip's in Colmore Row and St Paul's in the Jewellery Quarter.

Deputy council leader Paul Tilsley said that anyone using the "awful bridge" crossing Great Charles Street was "taking their life in their hands".

Coun Tilsley (Lib Dem Sheldon) added: "There has to be a long term strategy to join up Church Street and Ludgate Hill. This is a vision we have to cling on to and hold dear because it would do an enormous amount for the Jewellery Quarter as a business and tourism destination."

Cabinet member for regeneration, Tim Huxtable, said the two developers were keen to work with the council on a connectivity strategy.

Coun Huxtable (Con Bournville) added: "This is a strategically important site which is in the Jewellery Quarter conservation area. Any development will be handled in a sensitive manner."

Although the council will receive a significant capital sum when it sells the site, it will lose almost £300,000 a year when the existing surface-level car park is closed to allow development to take place. A new multi-storey car park, to be built in the first phase of development, will be privately owned.

Coun Huxtable said he was having "meaningful discussions" with cabinet colleagues about ways of addressing an £850,000 shortfall in income from council car parks across Birmingham since the beginning of the financial year.

The latest budget forecasts before the cabinet warn that parking income may fall further as economic difficulties begin to bite.

[nigeman]

Originally Posted by mikey23

http://www.theassayoffice.co.uk/nao_new-building.html

A new takeaway the "Clucking Bell" as opened on Ickneild Street on the end of the small retail frontages behind the toilet block and next to the new planned Assay Office...could Ickneild Street be coming back to life after years in the wilderness!

[hoody]

Originally Posted by nigeman

A new takeaway the "Clucking Bell" as opened on Ickneild Street on the end of the small retail frontages behind the toilet block and next to the new planned Assay Office...could Ickneild Street be coming back to life after years in the wilderness!

Inspired by Grand Theft Auto San Andreas per chance?

[adamdalziel]

So are the council seriously considering joining the 2 queensway tunnels by lowering the A38 inbetween then creating a wide footbridge (now at ground level) connecting church st to ludgate st? Or have I totally misunderstood. That really is the best solution and would truly integrate the JQ into the city centre.

[nigeman]

Originally Posted by adamdalziel

So are the council seriously considering joining the 2 queensway tunnels by lowering the A38 inbetween then creating a wide footbridge (now at ground level) connecting church st to ludgate st? Or have I totally misunderstood. That really is the best solution and would truly integrate the JQ into the city centre.

I fear this is just talk, would love to see it happen and maybe if we get our own Mayor with a budget to match, AND he supports the idea we may see this come to fruition. It would probably pass planning in London in weeks, but this is the provinces, big infrastructure projects died out in the late 60's and early 70's

[sefton66]

BIRMINGHAM should get its very own Angel of the North – in the shape of a city Anchor celebrating nearly 240 years of jewellery hallmarking.

Retired city GP and former Aston Villa club doctor Dr Barrie Smith is calling for an Angel of the North-style structure in the Jewellery Quarter to rival the North Eastern icon.

Dr Smith, a consultant physician in Sandwell from 1971 to 1998 and club doctor at Villa Park for 28 years, says Birmingham lacks a symbol to promote the city – and the Jewellery Quarter site housing the new Assay Office could fit the bill.

In August it was announced that the Assay Office, the biggest of its kind in the world and originally founded in 1773, was relocating to brand new headquarters on a plot of land at St Georges.

Dr Smith, of Kingsbury Road, Erdington, said: “It is excellent news that Birmingham is to retain its hallmark and assay office. The hallmark is a true mark of distinction, not enjoyed by cities such as Manchester.

“Whenever the topic is raised however, I always feel a touch of regret that we do not make more of the Anchor, a highly distinctive and evocative feature.

“I am not sure what feature on photographs makes Birmingham instantly recognisable to most people – it used to be the Rotunda, now perhaps the Floozie or the Bull or Spaghetti Junction.

“I have travelled frequently to the North East and the exciting feature that heralds Newcastle/Gateshead is the Angel of the North.

“Could we have a comparable structure that is instantly recognisable as symbolising Birmingham – the Anchor?

“The obvious site for the Anchor would be the Jewellery Quarter.” Dr Smith, who has written to the Birmingham Assay Office outlining his views, suggests funds for a city Anchor could be raised from retailers, manufacturers, designers, trade associations and others.

The Assay Office move emerged just weeks after the Birmingham centre was saved after the Government announced it was preserving hallmarking as a practice.

Read More http://www.birminghammail.net/news/t...#ixzz1iIrQMa9q

[Braidy]

Anybody interested in purchasing the out of commission toilets on Icknield St/Carver St and the small triangle of land, it's being offered at the next Bigwood auction on 1st March. Guide Price of £30,000. Might make a small funky office, I guess.

[nigeman]

Originally Posted by Braidy

Anybody interested in purchasing the out of commission toilets on Icknield St/Carver St and the small triangle of land, it's being offered at the next Bigwood auction on 1st March. Guide Price of £30,000. Might make a small funky office, I guess.

Or a respectable coffee outlet.....

[jauntyangle]

How about combining the last two bits of news and have a piece of public art where the derelict toilets are?

[sefton66]

2 apps for a development in the JQ

Application Details
Application Number 2012/01001/PA
Application Type Listed Building
Site Address Sloane House 1-7 Sloane Street Birmingham B1 3BX
Proposal Listed building consent for restorative work to exterior of 1-7 Sloane Street and renovation and restorative internal works. Removal of internal partition walls to Sloane House and creation of internal walls to form the division into 4 town houses. Demolition of 2 storey rear lean-to at 1-7 Sloane Street and selective demolition of buildings within curtilage of 1-7 Sloane Street and erection of replacement 2 storey extension.

Application Details
Application Number 2012/00952/PA
Application Type Full Planning
Site Address Camden St/Sloane St/Camden Drive/Legge Lane land at Jewellery Quarter Birmingham B1 3EH
Proposal Redevelopment consisting of new build, refurbishment and selective demolition to provide 25 townhouses and 86 apartments and associated development

[Spread]

I wish the UCB would do something similar with their site on Legge Lane, hopefully this careful approach nearby will put them under pressure. In my opinion this is the type of development the JQ needs.

[Erebus555]

That second planning app looks to be a variation of an earlier one for the site. I'll have to check the app itself, but I remember the earlier app was far from inspiring.

That first app is really good though. I seem to remember that there were worries recently that Sloane House was at risk of demolition so to see this plan to convert it into town houses after years of dereliction is fantastic. It's a fine building. This particular part of the Jewellery Quarter was always going to be the most tricky to regenerate but it looks like things are slowly moving along well.

[Biosonic]

Looks like the JQ is going to do its own plan:

http://jqnf.net/2012/02/15/we-need-a...plan-part-two/

Open meeting for residents on 28th February.

You may recall I blogged about the Jewellery Quarter’s future and the Neighbourhood Planning process back in December. That post generated some articulate and considered responses:

Jan said: ‘I moved to the jq because of the lovely buildings and the mix of industry and residential properties…if we want to create a community here there has to be a mix that encourages a wider residential basis…the area has become more vibrant attracting people to visit for work and play…we do need to tip the balance a little further in utilising gorgeous empty buildings.’

Prof G said: ‘There is a case for celebrating and asserting the value of the Quarter as heritage, and I think this is entirely compatible with the types of new businesses that are coming into the Quarter. Without those, and the residents who make a long term commitment to the area, the gains of the past few years will be lost. It will work best as an urban (urbane?) village, and this will mean compromise to squeeze in the best modern life has to offer, together with our rich heritage.’

Matt B said: ‘We need to ask some fundamental questions of all stakeholders (jewellery, other businesses, residents, visitors): What needs to happen to keep you here? What will make you prosper? Where do you want to be located? Why are you here in the first place?’

Sound advice. But it represents the views of about 0.1% of the population of the JQ and now the Prince’s Foundation are coming back, in March, to continue the scoping work of seeing exactly how a Neighbourhood Plan might help the JQ become the place spoken of by Jan, Prof G and Matt B. Some aspects of their visit will be open to all, and some parts by invitation only to keep the numbers manageable. The JQNF will be attending the invitation-only sessions and representing the views of residents. We need to hear from you what you want for the future of the JQ. And so I’m starting a process off now, right now, that will enable us to stand up at the workshops and deliver the verdict of the residents on what we think the JQ needs.

So, let’s kick it off here and now. Give us your views on what you think will improve the JQ, while keeping the balance between industry, heritage and residential amenity that attracted many of us to live here in the first place. Email us (infoATjqnfDOTorg) photos of what you think are the gems of the JQ, and the eye-sores. Come along to our JQNF Open Meeting on the 28th February and have your say.

Don’t miss out on YOUR chance to shape where you live.

[lbrown]

image hosted on flickr

Demolition works starting on Regent Parade for the construction of 6 town houses.

image hosted on flickr


UCB building development, demolition works complete at corner of Charlotte and Holland Street, retaining facade of old factory building.

[Myster E]

This is the James Cond factory or next door to it right? And just across on the Newhall Street site I saw some guys with hats and high viz jackets with clipboards surveying the area, less than a week ago.