Details of Birmingham council’s masterplan (pictured) for a 100-acre (40ha) site in the city’s Eastside district are being unveiled this morning.
Architect HOK International has drawn up a masterplan for the site – which stretches from Masshouse Circus via the Bull Ring to Birmingham’s Ring Road – on behalf of the Eastside Steering Group.
Commercial development accounts for around half of the scheme with the remainder devoted to cultural and educational facilities.
HOK’s head of commercial architecture, Pierre Baillargeon, said: “The aim has been to create a series of new complementary neighbourhoods linked to the adjacent city centre through an extensive pedestrian parkland network.”
The centrepiece of the scheme will be a new park located at the front of Millennium Point and stretching towards the Digbeth canal. Birmingham’s new library will be located to the east of the park.
Restored listed buildings around existing canal basins at Warwick Bar will become a £40m media village. It will comprise recording studios, a performing arts campus and a performance venue. Residential units are also planned for the area.
The site forms part of the 420-acre (169ha) Eastside regeneration district.
EGi News 01/02/02
