Across the entire West Midlands, more communities are being empowered to nurture pride of place in a major digital initiative

Let us introduce you to the most innovative, pioneering and sustainable digital initiative ever to be devised as a collaboration between community, business and the public sector.  

Using a digital product called Community Passport, the entire West Midlands region is being mapped in a neighbourhood led programme that empowers, equips and skills people in the shaping and promotion of the places they live in and grow up in.

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With a regional focus and digital devices at every location where people meet or make their travel connections, projections are that views of our digital content will increase from between 60,000 and 100,000 to over 500,000 every month.  The support this will give to the region, economically and socially, will be huge. 

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Every neighbourhood, by having access to a Community Passport and with the option of setting up its own Centre for Pride of Place, will be engaged and involved in creating and sharing their own content that can be used in the shaping and promotion of their neighbourhood.  

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Here are the locations of the first Centres for Pride of Place we propose opening along the Metro line between Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

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This will result, we predict, in a 5% increase in the volume of trips made by residents to experience what their region offers and will dramatically increase the number of visitors coming to the region.  The Pride of Place generated by engaging and involving community will result in an increase in businesses locating to the region, an increase in the value of real estate and greater investment in the West Midlands.

Birmingham's real estate is already mapped and featured

Take the link HERE to view our map of Birmingham's real estate

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A platform dedicated to the coverage of all of Birmingham's real estate can be found at www.ItsyourBuild.com 

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Developments that engage and involve the local community we will feature as Centres for Pride of Place.  By inviting the local community to follow the build, this rich locally created content we can process and map at It's your Build, a public expression of the pride people have in the buildings rising up around them. 

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Birmingham's culture, and increasingly its hospitality, is mapped, featured and searchable

Take the link HERE to view our map of Birmingham's culture.  

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Every neighbourhood will be mapped and showcased in this totally inclusive initiative.

HERE for example is Sparkbrook mapped and featured. 

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In Sparkbrook, as with all the region's neighbourhoods, there is some wonderful culture and great community assets to introduce people to.  The maps are not just for people who live in the area to see what's on offer, but aimed at everyone, inside and outside the West Midlands. 

For example here's a wonderful open green space in Sparkbrook called Farm Park.  Take the link HERE for our coverage of Farm Park.

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How many people knew that Sampson Lloyd, founder of Lloyds Bank. lived in Sparkbrook.  Now, more people do.  Go HERE for more images. 

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There's amazing art on the outside of the Concord Youth Centre. 

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There's some great history in the classic architecture across Sparkbrook.

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There's a Peace Garden in memory of those who lost their lives at the Carlton Cinema. 

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The rich culture of Ladypool Road can be mapped as more businesses get involved. 

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By mapping and featuring major developments taking place such as this housing development by Morro Partnerships on Highgate Road, more people can be engaged and involved in the future of their neighbourhoods. 

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All of this with a community that's engaged and involved because they are empowered and given the tools and the support they need to help shape and promote the places around them. 

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Centres for Pride of Place to spring up all over the region

With more mapping of neighbourhoods, and with more Centres for Pride of Place opening up to engage and involve people in the rich culture around them, just think what this can bring to local communities, to cities and towns and to the region, socially and economically.

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An Academy and A Society for Pride of Place

Within Community Passport is everything needed for gathering and analysing the rich insight that will come from all those engaged and involved in nurturing Pride of Place.

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With both an Academy and a Society for Pride of Place, this wealth of valuable insight will be pooled, analysed and made available for all to use in the drive for more cohesive and inclusive communities, improved health and wellbeing and shared prosperity.

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For more details, contact:

Jonathan

jonathan.bostock@yourplaceyourspace.com

07432 637322

Victoria Square - Public Realm Works - June 2024 update

Had an opportunity to go up to the top of Three Chamberlain Square thanks to an invite by Paradise Birmingham. So here is views to Victoria Square, Colmore Row and Waterloo Street with the on-going Public Realm Works. Colmore Row looks complete, but new bollards covered over. Waterloo Street is half done.

Thank you to Paradise Birmingham for the invite on the 10th June 2024.

General views of Victoria Square over Birmingham Town Hall from the top of Three Chamberlain Square, including the Floozie in the Jacuzzi (River and Youth), the fountains and pools still flowing. Also scaffolding is up Waterloo House near Nandos.

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Colmore Row as far as Newhall Street and Bennetts Hill has been completely relaid, with new bollards. The cones were still out at the time. I wonder if after this bit is done, if they will need to complete the rest between Victoria Square and Colmore Square past Cathedral Square (where the buses stop).

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Waterloo Street is partially repaved, there is a lot left to do here near Adams and the Lost & Found. This also goes as far as Bennetts Hill.

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New Street from Victoria Square to Rotunda Square is in urgent need of repaving. It was pedestrianised in the 1990s, and the bricks keep getting dug up and relaid. Plus some of the Metro paving near Corporation Street (dating to 2015-16) is all cracked and broken, and also needs fixing. This is all due to cars, vans and lorries driving up and down (deliveries, police etc).

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Photography by Elliott Brown

Chamberlain Square from above from the top of Three Chamberlain Square

The view of Chamberlain Square from the top of Three Chamberlain Square. Was invited with other photographers by Paradise Birmingham on the 10th June 2024. Most of these views to Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and the Chamberlain Memorial below. There are other views over the city centre from up there.

Views of Chamberlain Square from Three Chamberlain Square

To the left is Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and Birmingham Council House. Plus the Council House extension, with 103 Colmore Row and the BT Tower behind.

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Chamberlain Memorial below. The pair of pools look a bit dirty from up here.

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Panoramic including Chamberlain Square and Victoria Square and beyond.

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Birmingham Town Hall from above.

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Two Chamberlain Square is next to Three Chamberlain Square. And One Chamberlain Square is behind.

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Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Thank you to Paradise Birmingham for the invite! Go here for their Topping Out blog.

More photos in the Sky High Birmingham gallery. Includes views from other sides of Three Chamberlain Square.

The White Lion: 14-storey PBSA & a Retrofit to a Grade II building!

A significant retrofit to a heritage gem along with a 14-storey student infill building are planned at 34 Horse Fair.

The White Lion is a development from Scarlet's (Properties) Ltd. and has been designed by Glancy Nicholls Architects. The team seeks to introduce 182 ensuite student studio bedspaces into the emerging cluster.

A 14-storey infill block would be built behind The White Lion Public House, a Grade II-listed late-19th-century building that will be retained and retrofitted into the development.

The rejuvenated building will offer student amenities and ancillary staff facilities, including a welcoming new entrance and reception and a basement cinema room.

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Attached to the building's rear, which would see modern additions removed to facilitate it, would be a 14-storey red brick building containing ground-floor amenities, 86 cycles, and studio bedrooms (14 per floor).

Its rooftop would accommodate air-source heat pumps, a generator, solar panels, and lift overruns.

LUNA Students, part of Torsion Developments, is on board to operate the building, with amenities set to feature a range of lounges, laundry & post rooms, staff showers, offices, and an external courtyard.

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The application can be viewed and commented on here. The application number is: 2024/02669/PA.

The White Lion, images from Glancy Nicholls Architects.

You can view the development on our map. Also, feel free to follow us on our socials: X & Instagram.

Sapphire Court, Bradford Street, Digbeth - UNDERWAY!

Sapphire Court is in its early stages of development, which will see the creation of a high-quality, urban living environment within the emerging Rea Valley Urban Quarter.

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Developed by 10M Group and Corstorphine & Wright, the team also behind the recently-completed Apex Lofts (next door) and Fountain Lofts (Alcester Street), also in Digbeth, Sapphire Court will introduce 166 more homes to an area undergoing quite the resurgance.

H-shaped in footprint, a six- to eight-storey will be built, introducing one- & two-bed apartments and duplexes, seventeen affordable units and 166 bicycle spaces.

Warwick Street and Bradford Street will both benefit from new entrances to their respective streets, with residents also set to benefit from two large communal gardens.

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All artists impressions are the property of Corstorphine + Wright Architects.