What one of Birmingham’s trendiest neighborhoods could look like in two decades

Birmingham’s Jewelery Quarter is often considered one of the city’s trendiest districts, partly due to its charming Georgian architecture and array of bars and restaurants. And it could have an exciting future ahead of it, too, if a vision for the future of Brum, recently published by the city council, comes to fruition.

The Central Birmingham Framework 2045 details some of the ways in which Brum could be a greener city with better transport options, a wider range of job opportunities and higher quality homes by 2045. It also suggests that Birmingham would could rival Vienna in terms of green space and Copenhagen. in respect of travel routes active up to that year.

While future developments are subject to planning, the framework would shape development in central Birmingham and guide future investment after the council’s cabinet voted to adopt it earlier this month. Focusing on the Central West area, the strategy says: “The Jewelery Quarter is the most intact historic district in Birmingham, containing over 140 listed buildings and a conservation area designation.

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“The district is famous for being one of the most original and largest centers of jewelry and metalwork production in Europe. Today, the Jewelery Quarter remains an important center for the jewelery trade, but is also an important visitor destination, a hub for many creative industries and home to a growing population of over 10,000.”

Here’s a look at some of the ways the Jewelery Quarter could change by 2045, according to the strategy.

1) Great Hampton Street

The framework says Constitution Hill and Great Hampton Street have the potential to transform from a “traffic-dominated environment” to a local “high street” and hub for the community. It continues that the road space could be reorganized to maximize places for outdoor cafes, street trees, memorials and public art.

“St Pauls tube station is accessed from Constitution Hill but has a poor street presence,” the strategy continues. “Opportunities to promote the location and improve access and stop setting will be explored.”

2) Summer Hill Greenway

The strategy says Summer Hill Road currently creates a “major barrier” for pedestrians and cyclists between the Jewelery Quarter, Ladywood and the Westside. “Supported by the Jewelery Quarter Development Trust, this framework promotes the aspiration to transform Summer Hill Road into a linear park or ‘greenway’, still accommodating some vehicular traffic, but greatly reduced and with over 50% of the road space being reallocated as public realm with green spaces, plantings, street trees and wildlife corridors,” he continues.

“This will help make Summer Hill Road a much more attractive, sustainable and pedestrian-friendly space.”

3) Improved streets

According to the strategy, the Jewelery Neighborhood Plan identifies several “key routes” in the area. It adds that a number of studies are proposed that could be used to seek funding or influence development proposals.

“The key routes will be the main pedestrian routes to/from and through the Neighborhood and will focus on improving the quality of materials, lighting, street furniture, the potential for small parks/play spaces and contributing to a sense of safety and security.” it’s said.

“Connections to the City Heart on Great Charles Street Queensway are a priority, with long-term aspirations forming part of the Greenway proposal to downgrade Great Charles Street and create greener, attractive, safer and easier direct connections between the two areas .”

4) Historical cemeteries

The framework says the Jewelery Quarter’s green spaces are provided by Brookfields and Key Hill cemeteries, as well as St Paul’s Square. “There has been significant investment in the restoration of heritage features at Brookfields Cemetery in recent years and proposals will be developed to ensure these three unique spaces are protected, more accessible, welcoming and attractive for informal leisure activities,” it said .

“Highlighting the heritage of the spaces and promoting them to visitors to the city would provide an opportunity to tell many stories about the growth and development of Birmingham and its citizens in the past.”

5) Center for Creative Entrepreneurship

The Jewelery Quarter is fortunate to be home to the world-renowned Jewelery School, part of Birmingham City University, and an original industrial cluster that gives the area its name, the framework says. However, it says more needs to be done to develop and retain talent in the area and introduce “the next generation of businesses and skilled workforce who will continue the tradition of jewelery design and manufacture”.

“The creation of a new Jewelry Center for Creative Entrepreneurship will act as both a physical incubator space and organizational support for the next generation of artisans and business owners,” he adds.

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