Clive Dutton's green vision for Birmingham

Sep 30 2009 by Paul Dale, Birmingham Post

In 2013, when the New Street refurbishment is complete, Dutton believes developers will naturally look to the huge markets site, although talk of producing a Brindleyplace mark two is misplaced, he says.

“It’s got to be something that stands out on its own. It’s got to be water-related, because that’s something Birmingham does not really have at the moment.”

He suggests constructing a four-acre lake at the markets site, with a mixed-use development including luxury apartments overlooking the water – an idea first suggested by Professor Michael Parkinson in his scoping study for the Big City Plan.

“The markets site and Paradise Circus are really the jewels in the regeneration crown. My advice is to put unbelievable effort into getting the right degree of quality in these areas,” Mr Dutton adds.

Controversially, Dutton believes Birmingham can gain from government plans to force West Midlands councils to build almost half a million new homes by 2026.

The council’s official position is that a maximum 50,000 homes can be accommodated in the city, although that figure is likely to be increased to 60,000 when the Regional Spatial Strategy Review is approved by the secretary of state.

But Mr Dutton believes Birmingham should aim for an even higher figure by offering to relieve the burden of house- building from the rural parts of the West Midlands.

He said: “There are 30,000 people on the council house waiting list. There will be a requirement to build 60,000 houses over the next two decades.

“When the housing market recovers and investment comes back big-time, I predict that people in the outlying towns and villages will freak out about the impact that will have and that will bring pressure on Birmingham to absorb some of the strategic housing targets.

“Birmingham should not in any way be fearful of this. The 60,000 figure could be exceeded because we have plenty of brownfield land and unbelievably low housing density in the eastern corridor.”

And on the matter of high-speed rail, Dutton warns Birmingham to seize the bigger picture and not become bogged down by arguments about the exact route of a new line.

He says: “We must have a city centre station and a parkway station near Birmingham Airport and I am optimistic we can achieve both.

“High-speed rail is of crucial importance. Getting from Birmingham to London in 45 minutes is incredibly important.

“But Britain isn’t very good at building massive infrastructure projects on time and on budget. Birmingham should be pressing the government to put High Speed Two into place in half the time scale.”

Clive Dutton's Top 10 priorities for Birmingham:

1) Lobby government to deliver high speed rail to city centre and airport within 10 years rather than 20.

2) Export our economy knowledge to China and the Middle East in return for investment in Birmingham.

3) Deliver “transformational change” by regenerating the Wholesale Markets site, including building luxury apartments and a four-acre lake.

4) Use the assets of public sector land and buildings in Birmingham more efficiently.

5) Re-double efforts to champion Birmingham as a great location for relocated government departments.

6) Build the Forest of Birmingham on 1,000 acres alongside the M5 to the southwest of the city, planting 1 million trees.

7) Step up the pace on regenerating Eastside, including building the City Park, which will act as a magnet for inward investment.

8) Give Snow Hill Station a complete overhaul, matching the New Street Station refurbishment.

9) Join the two A38 Queensway tunnels and turn Great Charles Street into a Parisien-type boulevard.

10) Market Birmingham “in the way that Guinness markets beer".