Guy Hinchley: Rescuing development for Birmingham
Dec 7 2009 Guy Hinchley
Birmingham’s legal community is a vital cog in the city’s professional services sector machine. But recent events are proving just how important it could be to the city’s improving economic fortunes.
Last spring, without much fanfare it has to be said, the Office of the Public Guardian opened its first office outside London here.
The more recent announcement that the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) will be setting up shop in the city, creating up to 300 jobs, grabbed more attention.
The legal ombudsman, which investigates complaints about law firms, is expected to be up and running by the end of 2010. Their relocation is not just good news for the jobs market but for property developers, too, as the OLC’s 40,000 sq ft office requirement will help eat into the city’s oversupply of Grade A accommodation.
This glut of space is one of the reasons why property pundits are gloomy about the prospects of new construction starts in 2010.
Once again, however, the legal sector is coming to the rescue. The building of the £81 million new magistrates court at Masshouse will ensure that there will be tower cranes over the city next year. At 215,000 sq ft, this 13-storey flagship will house 24 court rooms by the time it is completed in 2012/13. Stirling Prize-nominated architects Denton Corker Marshall’s building will also act as a draw for further investment into the evolving Eastside district.
The real prize, however, would be landing the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) requirement. This could result in 6,000 new jobs and take up 250,000 sq ft of office space.
Birmingham Law Society, Birmingham Forward, the city council and others are working to secure this prestigious government department for the city. We are not alone in throwing the big guns behind the campaign. Other regional cities are equally keen to land this biggest of all legal fish.
Birmingham is a legal powerhouse. Recent developments show there is little danger of it losing this title. But securing the MoJ would ensure we are the undisputed heavyweight. Let’s back the bid!
-Guy Hinchley is managing partner of law firm Mills & Reeve
