Jewellery Quarter Regeneration Charter working towards a World Heritage Site
The Vision... By 2010, the Jewellery Quarter will be acknowledged as the City Region s Creative Village, an asset to both Birmingham and the West Midlands. A truly unique area where design quality is an integral feature of its renaissance. A Quarter with a vibrant atmosphere which not only attracts people to live, work, play and visit but acts as a honey pot for creative businesses ranging from the current jewellery business base to arts and media. We will achieve this vision through creating: - A Dynamic Place To Do Business - encouraging a vibrant business base whilst supporting a Jewellery Industry which makes the Quarter a unique feature to Birmingham. All set in a safe and bubbling village atmosphere conducive to small creative businesses with a supply of appropriate, affordable accommodation and customised business support. Supporting the jewellery industry through developing a Business Support Strategy; expanding the School of Jewellery providing research, training and learning space; incubation provision and local initiatives such as the Trade Directory, Made in the Jewellery Quarter Mark and Brilliantly Birmingham A suitable portfolio of serviced, affordable, commercial and retail units meeting the demands of creative business Introduction of Community Safety measures including CCTV to provide an environment where people feel safe doing business in the Quarter Development of a parking strategy which meets the varying needs of shops, manufacturers, other businesses and residents as much as capacity will allow. This will also include the introduction of business permits and an improvement to the Jewellery Quarter Multistorey Car Park Development of a grant scheme to encourage the use of premises for economic use
Quality Buildings and Places Developers, landowners and the local authority will be encouraged to refurbish buildings and undertake quality new developments in line with the Jewellery Quarter Design Guide. Location and mix of these developments will be sensitively managed in line with the Conservation Management Plan whilst ensuring that dereliction is tackled. Wherever possible planning obligations will provide benefits to the Jewellery Quarter. Substantially reducing dereliction by 50% from the current 50 sites by working proactively in partnership with Developers, the Regional Development Agency and Landowners. Historic and Gateway buildings such as the George & Dragon, the Nurses Hostel (Ludgate Hill), the Gem Building (Key Hill) are typical priorities. Providing a destination which befits the status of this unique area centred around the delivery of an iconic Golden Square. A Square that can be used both for events and as a postcard destination for visitors. Using the Design Guide and where necessary enforcement powers to ensure that both new development and refurbishment schemes meet the quality demanded by an area aspiring to World Heritage Site status. Improving the public realm through better maintenance and schemes such as the creation of Albion Square and a Kathleen Dayus Trail. Implementing a programme of improvements to the area s historic Cemeteries and St Pauls Square to ensure they can be enjoyed by both the local community and visitors drawing in the resources from the Local Authority and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Improving the City Council property portfolio to ensure that it meets the need of a Creative Village. Regeneration of the Pope St, Carver St and Camden St (St Georges) area. A Connected Quarter A Quarter which is seen as a distinctive part of the City Centre but with connectivity maximised through good signage, public transport links and effective physical connectivity. As part of this strategy, major routes in the City Centre will be targeted and the potential of large flagship developments to breakdown barriers will be explored. Gateway signage into the Quarter will be improved. Improvements will be undertaken to all 5 major routes into the Quarter - Completion of the subway connection between Snow Hill Station and Livery Street which will also be strengthened with appropriate signage and improved lighting. - New Street/ Bennetts Hill/ Newhall Street route will be strengthened by a creative public art trail and CCTV cameras. - The development of the Great Charles Street/Ludgate Hill car park site will include the replacement of the existing bridge connection. - The Paradise Forum to Summer Row connection will be improved to ensure a safer and better signposted route. - As part of the Big City Plan proposals, the future of Great Hampton Street will be reassessed in terms of its uses and its design. - Caroline Street will be improved through Urban Realm measures and the use of the planning system to ensure a more user friendly and attractive route.
A Sustainable Community A Quarter with vibrant representation from both the business and residential communities who are encouraged to become actively involved in decision making. Facilities supporting the community will include a Post Office, Churches, a Police Station and Health Centre. Providing more affordable housing and commercial accommodation will encourage a growing and sustainable community stake in the Quarter. Provision of a Health Centre and Pharmacy and other necessary support facilities for the residential and business communities. Supporting and growing the Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Forum, Jewellery Quarter Association, Jewellery Quarter Marketing Initiative and Friends of Key Hill Cemetery so they become sustainable and autonomous in the future. Provision of affordable housing and/or affordable workspace in the Quarter in liaison with Birmingham City Council Housing, Planning and developers. A Unique Place to Visit A Quarter where people enjoy the area s museums and galleries, historic buildings and cemeteries, shopping for jewellery and eating in the Quarter s restaurants and bars. As part of that experience Festivals and Events will be a regular feature. Development of a World Heritage Site Bid. Expansion of the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter fulfilling its potential as an anchor attraction. Consolidating the future of voluntary and charitably owned visitor attractions such as the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists and the Pen Museum. Refurbishment of the Newman Coffin Works in Fleet Street and JW Evans in Albion St to create further visitor attractions. Providing a distinctive and appropriate public realm including an expansion of the Jewellery Quarter In Bloom and Christmas lights initiatives. Development of Festivals and Events
Pzazz A Quarter that is known and marketed for its uniqueness not only in Birmingham and the West Midlands but nationally and internationally. This will be through a partnership between the local business community, Birmingham City Council and Marketing Birmingham to ensure both prospective leisure and business visitors are made aware of and take advantage of the Quarter s attractions thereby help supporting the local economy. Provide a professionally presented Information Centre. Develop a customised Website to attract in visitors. Provide effective marketing material including a high quality Tourism Guide. Working with the Jewellery Quarter Marketing Initiative to effectively spread the word with joint initiatives with travel operators, TV and radio, hotels, conference organisers etc. A True Partnership Committed to the regeneration of the Quarter through an open, creative and joined up approach where partners feel genuinely included in the process and therefore ownership and responsibility on how their actions impact on our Vision for the Quarter. Provide a base in the Quarter with a dedicated team to support the delivery of the Charter through involvement of the local community Provide specialist support as necessary. Ensure partner commitment to both an agreed delivery structure and regular representation/ attendance at Partnership Boards and the sub group structure of Steering Groups - Land and Property, Community Safety, Parking and Transportation, Cemeteries and Green Space.
The Charter Purpose This Charter sets out the common aims and priorities that need to be achieved in regenerating the Quarter and fulfilling the vision of a City Region Creative Village. It also provides a regeneration template which will dovetail with the developing Big City Plan and the proposals for a World Heritage Site. Members of the Partnership are: Independent Chair Advantage West Midlands Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Birmingham City Council (Cabinet Member for Regeneration) Birmingham City Council (Director of Planning & Regeneration) Birmingham City Council (Head of Museums and Heritage Services) Birmingham City University Birmingham Forward British Jewellers Association Business Link English Heritage Groundwork UK Jewellery Quarter Association Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Forum Urban Splash Ward Councillor