Birmingham Central

Blowing a whistle for Birmingham 2022

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 10:30:00 +0000

With two years - yes two years to almost the day - a team of Birmingham locals are spearheading a new interactive campaign to give the Commonwealth Games of 2022 a proper Brummie welcome.

The Big Whistle aims to encourage the people of Birmingham, the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth to come together at 20:22 on the 28th July 2022 for a 'good old whistle'.

Inspired by the 'All the Bells' celebration to the start of the 2012 London Olympics, The Big Whistle will honour the Birmingham link to the whistle which started with Joseph Hudson, a Birmingham toolmaker in the late 19th century who became the largest manufacturer of whistles in the world.

Mark Gribben, partner at B Creative, the team behind The Big Whistle, said "The history of Birmingham and its people are entwined with the whistle, so we thought it only right that we use it to welcome the Commonwealth Games to our fantastic city. We are really encouraging people to get behind this campaign and to help make it the loudest welcome to Birmingham you could ever whistle up."

Why a Whistle? Joseph Hudson set up J Hudson & Co in Birmingham in 1870. With his younger brother James, he designed the 'Acme City' brass whistle which became the first used in Association Football and after designing a superior police whistle Hudson's went on to become the largest manufacturer of whistles in the world. 150 years old, Acme whistles is still selling its whistles around the world. You can visit their website at: https://www.acmewhistles.co.uk/about-us

The whistle as a toy, a small decorative items showing the great manufacturing skills with metal in Birmingham, https://www.revolutionaryplayers.org.uk/birmingham-the-toyshop-of-europe/, together with its use in sport fit nicely in to the arms of the city containing figures of industry and art. The Big Whistle sounds loudly a warm Brummie welcome to the Commonwealth Games 2022 and I look forward to blowing my whistle at 20:22 on the 28 July 2022.

Keep up to date with the latest news following The Big Whistle 2022 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Birmingham in Pictures 30

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 06:30:00 +0000

It has been over a year since I wrote my last blog post which is amazing as time has flown by. In that time so much has and continues to change in Birmingham but the people and city continue to amaze and enagage.

For my first post in a year here is a celebration of Birmingham in my Birmingham in Pictures series.

Metro westbound

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 06:30:00 +0000

It has been over two years since the Midland Metro extension to New Street Station opened and trams began to run from Snow Hill and down Corporation Street to the redeveloped station, https://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/2016/06/call-all-stops-city-centre-extension.html. Work is now rapidly progressing on the extension still further as the tram heads towards Centenary Square and on to Edgbaston. The extension has already made an impact on passenger numbers with a record 7.8m passengers using it in 2018, https://www.expressandstar.com/news/transport/2019/03/08/metro-passengers-top-seven-million-for-the-first-time/

Metro extensions map reproduced from TfWM Metro Investment Briefing
https://governance.wmca.org.uk/documents/s2553/Metro%20Investment%20Programme%20Briefing%20V8%20-%20Final%20TDC%20version.pdf

The photos below show progress on this extension with paving work on Pinfold Street and adjacent to the Town Hall and rails being installed near to the Paradise development and adjacent to the redeveloped Centenary Square. Work is also taking place at the Edgbaston end of the route with the underpass under Five Ways island closed to enable preparation work for the track to be completed.

The photos show works on the route as it leaves Stephenson Street and ends on Hagley Road.

Birmingham in Pictures XXIX

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 06:30:00 +0000

My previous blog post was my first in six months and as my career has developed i've gone from being engaged observer to a participant in the built environment and to help engage others into it. As my career has developed my interest in photography has also developed so I will slowly move further to capturing regeneration and development in photography but also share my passion for photography.

I hope you'll join me on this journey but I will still keep doing updates on the every changing West Midlands as it is hard not to be wowed by the transformation and the people that are behind this, the residents and workers of the region who make their towns and cities what they are.

Here, following my previous posts in this series is my current selection of photos of Birmingham in Pictures

Square centre for Birmingham

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 06:30:00 +0000

Four years on from the design competition for the redevelopment of Centenary Square, https://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/2015/06/squaring-central-heart-centenary-square.html, and thirty years from the centenary it celebrates, the granting of city status in 1989, the transformed square reopened on 3 July 2019.

Its predecessor opened officially on the 9 June 1999 after being named in 1989 for the 100th anniversary of city status, https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/centenary-square-really-finished-its-16395429

The square however isn't quite finished with the section adjacent to the tram route awaiting the completion of the Midland Metro extension while there are other construction projects to be completed or starting. Adjacent to the square there are plans for a new entrance for Symphony Hall, a redeveloped Birmingham Rep entrance and a new office block in Arena Central together with the University of Birmingham's redevelopment of the former municipal bank, https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/16m-centenary-square-revamp-opened-16525847

The photos below show the square following its opening and for me why it is such an amazing space, being filled with people of all ages and backgrounds sitting, relaxing, playing and photographing the reflections in the water.

White sparkle for winter blues

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 07:30:00 +0000

The Sunday Times Home section had a wonderful article on the beauty of Snowdrops on Sunday 20- January, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/anna-pavords-guide-to-snowdrops-ffc5npp3p, and it is easy to see why snowdrops are such a wonderful antidote to January blues.

The following photos show snowdrops that have popped up across the Guinea Gardens in Edgbaston, the lovely and last remaining Guinea Gardens of Birmingham named after the cost of renting them at 1 guinea. Originally called The Malthouse Meadows, The Westbourne Road Leisure Gardens were started in about 1848 and today eighty seven plots survive and have a Grade II listing known as The Guinea Gardens.

The photos below are taken on Sunday 20 January 2019 and show the beauty of the snowdrops as they signal spring is on its way after winter and life will return to the allotment and its harvest.

-->

Shopping for Cannock

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 07:30:00 +0000

Five years after plans for a shopping village for the Midlands in Cannock were announced, https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2014/06/13/new-designer-outlet-village-planned-for-cannock/, work is well underway.

The photos below show the site on 26 December 2018.

Meanwhile, the long awaited electrification of the Chase Line looks to be finally completed in Spring 2019, some thirty years after the line reopened in 1989 and seven years on from the announcement of plans to electrify the line in 2012, https://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/2012/07/chase-for-electric-brings-success-chase.html; work started six years ago in 2013, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-24984232.

With work due to complete soon plans have been announced for improvements to Cannock station to increase car parking spaces and to help support the expected 3 million extra people expected to visit the area because of the new shopping village, though only a percentage of that figure using the railway, https://www.expressandstar.com/news/transport/2018/12/08/cannock-railway-station-to-get-231000-makeover/.

Bath Row Student Accommodation Rises

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 07:30:00 +0000

Nearly three years ago I reported on the start of demolition of the 1970s office block at the top of Bath Row for a student development, https://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/2016/01/bath-row-brick-block-demolition-for.html. This demolition followed plans for the new student accommodation being submitted by Bouygues Development in 2015, http://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/2015/02/booming-brum-1.html.

Work has now commenced alongside road junction works which have introduced a right hand turn on Islington Row Middleway and a bus gate crossing from George Road.

The following photos show the site under construction on 24 December 2018.

Square heart to Birmingham

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 07:30:00 +0000

In August 2018 I wrote about the new HSBC UK headquarters and transformation of Centenary Square. Work continues all around with the new Two Chamberlain Place building nearing topping out and framing the view from Symphony Hall, metro extension works ongoing and the new HMRC offices in Arena Central seeing steelwork rise around the concrete core.

Recently Symphony Hall revealed plans for its new entrance onto Centenary Square. Photos of the model of the development are shown below which include what the redeveloped square will look like.

The photos below show the continuing change around the area.

14 December 2018

10 December 2018

29 October 2018

31 August 2018

Birmingham in Pictures XXVIII

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 07:30:00 +0000

This is my latest update in my series of Birmingham in Pictures.

Lancaster Circus students rises

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 07:30:00 +0000

In October 2017 plans were submitted for new student accommodation on a site next to the Lancaster Circus flyover, bordered by Vesey Street, Lench Street and Lancaster Street.

Images from the planning application, 2017/08885/PA, are shown below.

Since then rapid construction progress has seen two huge cranes and the concrete structure rise from basement level to be visible from the surrounding roads.

The new accommodation will at its highest point be 24 storeys, 76m tall.

The photos below show construction work over the past few months.

12 December 2018

27 November 2018

26 October 2018

24 October 2018

27 September 2018

Happy Birthday Library of Birmingham

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 15:17:00 +0000

It is five years since the Library of Birmingham opened, http://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/2013/09/opening-book.html, in September 2013 and with 1.8m visitors annually it is one of the largest visitor attractions outside London, https://confidentials.com/manchester/manchester-central-librarys-astonishing-visitor-numbers

I was lucky to be invited to the press day ahead of its opening and also participated in soft launch testing so the library holds a personal affection, http://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/2013/09/opening-book.html. While I loved the old ziggurat of the former Central Library I love the setting the new Library of Birmingham commands bordering Centenary Square at at the heart of a civic and commercial renaissance.

The library has seen many changes in five years and following a £2.1m conversion is now home to the Brasshouse Language Centre, the largest adult education centre in the UK specialising in language courses and services, http://www.brasshouse.ac.uk/

As Centenary Square is regenerated and the library is joined by the new HSBC UK headquarters opposite and Paradise and Arena Central developments framing the square the Library of Birmingham truly shines as a beacon of knowledge and learning at the heart of Birmingham.

The following photos show the library in its changing setting as the surrounding area regenerates.

Happy Birthday Bullring at 15

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 07:00:00 +0000

How time flies. The 4th September 2018 marks the Bullring's 15th Anniversary; I wrote about Bullring celebrating its 10th birthday five years ago in 2013, https://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/2013/09/bullring-makes-10.html. It is almost twenty years since demolition started on the old Bullring and the rebirth of Birmingham (again), http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/286054.stm with the Bullring's transformation being a major part of that rebirth (both in the 1960s and 2010s) and a shoppers paradise.

The image above is a photo of the Evening Mail, now Birmingham Mail, late final headline noting the 100,000 shoppers who came to see the new Bullring on its opening day.

Five years on and it has seen further transformation by acquiring its newer neighbour Grand Central, the former and transformed Pallasades shopping centre. Bullring owner Hammerson bought Grand Central in 2016 for £335m, https://www.ft.com/content/c4e144e6-c103-11e5-9fdb-87b8d15baec2.

The photo below is of a series of photos I took of the Bullring's construction during a site tour given to the public in 2002 to show its transformation. The image below shows the Birmingham Alliance's leaflet on the soon to come new Bullring.

A very Happy Birthday to Bullring. Here's to your next anniversary and your part in the story of Birmingham.

Birmingham in Pictures XXVII

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 08:30:00 +0000

This is the latest in my Birmingham in Pictures series showing the many different views of the city.

Snow Hill August 2018 update

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 07:00:00 +0000

Over five years ago I reported on the near completion of Snow Hill two, https://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/2013/01/snow-hill-january-2013-update.html. Five years on and construction work to Snow Hill Three sees glazing being installed on the 17 storey block which topped out in June 2018, https://www.birminghampost.co.uk/business/commercial-property/milestone-reached-at-three-snowhill-14780015 and which will deliver new grade A office space to Birmingham in 2019.

The following photos show the development as it has grown and added itself to the city's skyline.

13 August 2018

21-23 July 2018

12 July 2018

15 March 2018

11-12 February 2018

HSBC at heart of Central changes - August 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 08:30:00 +0000

It's been ten months since my last update on the construction of the new HSBC UK headquarters at the Arena Central development, http://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/2017/10/hsbc-birmingham-hq-construction-update.html. The new headquarters now sits amongst a sea of activity with Centenary Square being redeveloped, the West Midlands Metro extension works and the Paradise development across the road not to mention rapid construction on the adjacent Arena Central 3, wholly pre-let to HM Government and soon to be restored former municipal bank.

The following photos show some of this rapid progress which is excitingly transforming Centenary Square and the Westside of Birmingham.

6 August 2018

28-29 July 2018

5 April 2018

16 March 2018

14 February 2018

Higher still

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 06:30:00 +0000

In April I blogged about the allure of high rise and the views afforded of Birmingham's skyline offered by towers but also the hillier than people realise landscape around Birmingham, http://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/2018/04/take-me-higher.html.

Here are some more views of Birmingham offered through various spots across the city.

Paradise rising - Update VII

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 06:30:00 +0000

The glorious sunny weather of the last month has shown the paradise development progress in literally the best light. Since my last update on progress in April, http://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/2018/04/paradise-rising-update-vi.html, there has been rapid progress and views that opened up with demolition are now being closed again with new construction.

The warm weather has literally seen floors rise rapidly on the second building under construction, Two Chamberlain Square, with one floor rising every couple of weeks, https://www.paradisebirmingham.co.uk/2018/06/a-job-with-a-view/ and an idea of what the renewed Chamberlain Square and Paradise development will look like.

The following photos show construction progress.

Monday 6 August 2018

28 July 2018

18 June 2018

4 June 2018

Birmingham Central at Ten

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 06:30:00 +0000

How time flies. Ten years ago in April 2008 I started this blog to capture the development of Birmingham and West Midlands. I was still attempting to find my way into regeneration and development having studied an MSc in Urban Regeneration at the University of Birmingham and captivated, as I still am, by the developments around Birmingham.

The Cube which is now a landmark on the Birmingham skyline started construction in 2007 and it was one of the first projects I watched and captured on film or memory card. The photo below shows the excavation work to build The Cube .

As a first year undergraduate at the University of Birmingham in 2001 I saw the demolition of the old Bull Ring and birth of the new in 2003 which will celebrate its 15th Birthday this year.

As my blog has developed so has my understanding and experience as I finally entered into a career in regeneration, development and housing. Alongside my own development Birmingham has transformed and blossomed, gaining in confidence and opportunities to give the citizens of the city a chance to create a city of 1,001 opportunities.

While i've tried to capture developments, the sheer amount of development and work commitments meant i've not always been able to follow all of them but I try and capture a changing city. The blog has given me chance to capture the changing city but also share my developing photography experience. The photo below is one of my photos showing both the city but the people that make the exciting place it is and add life to the rich mixture of architecture.

Thank you for visiting and sharing my love of the changing face of Birmingham.

Simon

Blue steam ahead

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 17:00:00 +0000

Trams gliding between Birmingham and Wolverhampton will be turning blue as the combined authority, WMCA, takes control under a new company Midland Metro Ltd after 18 years being run by National Express, https://www.expressandstar.com/news/transport/2018/06/27/all-change-west-midlands-metro-showcase-new-look-trams/

The new trams are part of a suite of colours for transport in the city region with buses to be red, trains orange, bicycles green and the metro tram blue.

Currently there is only one blue tram but it is itself a new battery powered tram, fitted with batteries ahead of sections of the route past Birmingham Town Hall being overhead cable free, http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/birmingham-to-introduce-uks-first-battery-operated-trams-

The following photos show the new blue livery on a tram in Birmingham City Centre.

Birmingham in Pictures XXVI

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 07:00:00 +0000

This is the latest in my Birmingham in Pictures series showing the amazing city of Birmingham.

Paradise Rising - Update VI

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 07:00:00 +0000

It has been six months since I last wrote about the Paradise development and construction of One Chamberlain Square. The following photos show progress on the site since that last post, https://birminghamcentral.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/paradise-rising-update-v.html

April 2018

March 2018

February 2018

January 2018

Birmingham going the distance

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 07:00:00 +0000

This Sunday in a Commonwealth Games first the handover between the Gold Coast and Birmingham will take place live across two continents.

The title of Birmingham’s handover is Go The Distance, taken from the song by Lady Sanity that she will sing live in the Carrara Stadium in the Gold Coast, Australia. The title sums up this moment as the start of the journey by the city and region towards staging the Games in four years’ time. It also speaks to the mix between sporting and culture activity that will be showcased over this period.

http://www.birminghamupdates.com/go-the-distance-birmingham-2022-commonwealth-games-handover-details-announced/

The handover will also feature a film from Daniel Alexander titled 'We're From Birmingham', Birmingham Poet Amerah Saleh performing a short spoken word piece 'Tourist in My City' and a live performance from young people and the Birmingham Royal Ballet to ELO's Mr Blue Sky ending with an aerial shot of Birmingham welcoming the world.

To see the handover ceremony and Go The Distance watch BBC2 from 11am on Sunday 15 April.

The anticipation of the handover ceremony and Birmingham shining to the world was seen with Prime Minister Theresa May's visit to Birmingham on Wednesday 11 April to announce £70m funding for the redevelopment of Alexander Stadium which will see Birmingham 2022's opening and closing ceremonies, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-43718686.

The one thing that the handover ceremony will capture is the buzz of Birmingham. You only need to look from Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery towards Centenary Square to see a city transforming with at least five cranes and mobile cranes moving to a transformational dance building a new city.

That buzz shines out of the people of Birmingham rich in talent ambition and diversity and moving forward as the city motto says and going the distance.

Cranes moving to a regeneration dance

Take me high(er)

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 06:30:00 +0000

Cliff Richard's 1973 musical Take Me High saw the pop star playing a character relocated to Birmingham and showcasing the city with scenes set in Richard Seifert's Alpha Tower.

This post is a nod to the title and the featuring of Birmingham's Alpha Tower.

High rise is sometimes regarded as vanity and a competition between cities staking a claim to the tallest tower in the UK or more realistically the tallest outside London.

New Civil Engineer's 30 June 2011 edition included an article titled Get the lowdown on high rise risk in which Rider Levett Bucknall partner Ian Sandland looked at the challenges building high, https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/get-the-lowdown-on-high-rise-risk/8616841.article.

High towers offer great views of their surrounds and Birmingham's high rise offers a series of different views of the city. Traditionally unseen or unloved by those working or living with such views today these views are desirable and a rooftop restaurant or bar is a must have addition to any high rise development. The new Park Regis hotel took the former Auchinleck office block and opened up city views from a rooftop restaurant, now to be a conference space offering 360 degree views. The Cube was a new build that put a hotel and restaurant at the top of it's tetris design structure to offer views.

The following is a set of photos taken from various high points, including a passing view while flying into Birmingham airport, with kind permission of various people as well as views chanced by opportunities to be in these high vantage points. With kind acknowledgements to the Hyatt, Cube and Alpha Tower amongst others for sharing their views.

However Birmingham's often overlooked hilly geography and skyline sat atop a ridge offers great views from all directions.

Half a green heart

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 06:30:00 +0000

It has been five months since I last reported on the progress of the University of Birmingham's Green Heart project, https://birminghamcentral.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/demolition-opens-university-of.html. Since then there has been much progress with the first phase recently completed and work moving on to the second phase which is due for completion in June 2018.

Contractor Willmott Dixon recently opened up the site on Friday 23 March 2018 as part of Open Doors week, encouraging Hayoung people and career changers to see behind the scenes on construction projects and encourage them into the profession.

The photos below are from my visit on Friday 23 March showing the completed first section. The photos show the new benches, rain gardens awaiting planting and new paving and the work taking place on the second phase. The precast bridge is also visible with work taking place on the foundations for the new cafe.

For more information you can follow the project on The Green Heart blog.