In the ever-changing metropolis that is Birmingham City Centre, it may sometimes seem impossible to keep up with the new developments planned for the city.
With that in mind, the Local Democracy Reporting Service has put together a list of some of the biggest developments completed or announced this year to keep you in the loop.
The nine schemes cover everything from sport to cooking to banqueting and education. It looks like Birmingham’s transformation is continuing dramatically.
Here are nine big building developments for 2023:
5. Three Chamberlain Square
Three Chamberlain Square is a new 10-storey commercial building which will tower over Birmingham town hall as part of the Paradise development project. Developers hope the building will bring a new modern edge to an area characterised by heritage assets such as the town hall. Agreed in the summer work has already begun on the project. | LDRS
6. Gigantic banqueting hall for 700 people
The site on Stockfield Road in Yardley, a previous Vauxhall car dealership, has been vacant for several years, but will now be transformed into a gigantic banqueting hall, with space for 700 guests and male and female prayer rooms. The former car showroom is set to be reborn into a huge events venue to host weddings and birthday feasts. Agreed in October by a Birmingham Council planning committee the banqueting suite will be split into two halls with seats for 420 and 280 people respectively. | LDRS
7. Commonwealth Games banner
Four banners with one so big it was said it could be seen from outer space were approved as part of the advertising for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. The banners read: “Welcome to Birmingham, proud host city of the 2022 Commonwealth Games ” and currently span the length of the soon-to-be-demolished Ringway Centre -which acts as a physical barrier between China Town and the rest of the city. At 235m wide councillors were quick to point out at the time that it is, apparently, visible from space. | LDRS
8. The Athlete’s village
Originally intended to host athletes during the commonwealth games, the completion of the £500m athlete’s village was set back by the Coronavirus and athletes were instead housed in three “campus” villages at the University of Birmingham, the University of Warwick, and the NEC Hotel Campus2 The controversial athlete’s village was one of a number of sidetracked projects proposed for the games. These included the new Perry Barr Railway Station (mentioned above), which was downgraded from its original design and a scaled-down bus station which was meant for the Sprint rapid transit system which was also delayed. | LDRS