BIRMINGHAM BECAME SYNONYMOuS WITH concreTe, SHADY uNDERPASSES AND noisy Traffic.
47
have less deprivation, but aren’t making suffi-
“IN MANY NORTHERN TOWNS, WHERE THE TRADITIONAl
cient economic progress. Without that eco-
nomic potential, it’s much harder for them to economy IS disappearing, SIMPlY BuIlDING SOMETHING
attract investment.”
NEW won’T Be enoUgh” Sir Peter Hall
Professor Syms points out that some of
the brownfield sites in England are in the
most deprived parts of the country. “Many with northern and peripheral regions such Life and soul Passion was certainly at play when, in
of these are small ‘eyesore’ sites that can as Cornwall tending to suffer more from Conventional methods of removing the barriers 1988, Birmingham’s sharpest minds met to
have a disproportionate impact on the well- market demand issues and depressed eco- and improving investment potential can clearly brainstorm their landmark strategy for
being of communities,” he says. “visual nomic conditions. result in radical change in our urban spaces. But change. It is perhaps fitting that they chose
decay can result in economic decline in a “In an area such as Tower Hamlets, land is there’s another vital ingredient that Sir Peter Highbury, the home of joseph Chamberlain,
downward spiral.” snapped up as soon as it becomes available, believes is essential if a town is to really turn as their venue. Heralded with instigating
Atkins’ Cox has worked with English but the cost of overcoming the barriers in itself around – vision. “You have to find a place’s sweeping social and physical improvements
Partnerships on a project to examine some of more deprived regions can be more than the unique selling point,” he says. “And you need a across the city back in the 1870s, the former
the barriers to regeneration. The project projected economic benefits of develop- group of determined, passionate people, who mayor is certainly close to the city’s heart. No
found a split between the north and south, ment,” says Cox. can identify and bring out its best qualities.” doubt he would approve of the place today.
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