Love Birmingham?

Are you a Birmingham geek? Well.. you might be interested in a recent "visioning" report written by Prof. Michael Parkinson about the city centre. For once, a piece of regeneration research which speaks in plain English rather than buzz words and looks beyond economics to the importance of quality of life, community and creativity. He makes several recommendations - below are my favourite. Nothing earth-shattering, just eye-opening.

"Birmingham city centre is too much like every other city centre in the UK. It must be less bland. A "grittier" innovative approach would lead to a greater concentration of resources in under-used areas like the Jewellery Quarter, Digbeth and the area around the Hippodrome theatre. The council should encourage independent retailers and small shopkeepers".

"Birmingham must celebrate its ethnic diversity with better provision for minority groups, especially young people. It needs a central arts centre and a public prayer place".

"The Jewellery Quarter is a gem, but underdeveloped. This is shortsighted. It needs more activity, visitors, management and money. It needs student housing, a film theatre, an alternative arts centre. It needs better connections to the city centre".

"Birmingham should do much more to develop the cultural and creative industries around the Custard Factory and the Bond."

In other words - come on guys, we know Birmingham is a gem of a city, let's be imaginative and show it off!

You can download the whole report in Word format here