1 EQ4 & 5 - Birmingham Regeneration

Basic info on Birmingham?

Basic info on Birmingham?

• Second largest city in the UK

• Population: 1.1 million

• Located in the West Midlands

What is the history of Birmingham’s economic development from 1700- 1900

• Matthew Boulton established the world’s first factory in Birmingham in the mid 1700s

  • This shows how Birmingham was a centre of industry

• In the 19th century, Birmingham became a hub for metal working and jewellery making

• The Cadbury family were also based in Birmingham

  • They set up their Bournville factory and model village to improve the quality of life for their workers

• Birmingham’s canal network was crucial for the transport of goods that had been manufactured in the city

What is the history of Birmingham’s development from 1900 to now?

• During the first half of the 20th century, Birmingham continued to grow

• The vehicle manufacturing industry was important in the continued growth of manufacturing in the city

  • The Dunlop tyre company employed 10,000 people in Birmingham

• Between 1970 and 1980, earnings in Birmingham fell from being the highest in the UK to among the lowest

  • In 1982, unemployment reached nearly 20%

• The global shift in manufacturing was the main driver behind this decline

  • There was increasing overseas competition, particularly from Japanese car manufacturers

• There were strikes which made Birmingham less attractive to investors

How has Birmingham’s demography changed?

• From the 1950s onwards, there has been significant international migration to Birmingham

  • Most immigrants were from the Caribbean and South Asia

  • As of 2021, over 30% of Birmingham’s population identified as Asian

• Birmingham soon became a cosmopolitan city and this was reflected in the mosques and temples built

• Ethnic food shops and restaurants have also been established, as well as ethnic clothing and fabric shops

• The city has a relatively youthful population

Who are the stakeholders in Birmingham’s recent regeneration and rebranding projects?

• The Local Government

• The National Government

• TNCs

• Local community groups

What are the 5 different strategies of rebranding?

• Market-led

  • private investors aiming to make a profit

  • gentrification often occurs as a result of this strategy

• Top-down

  • Involves large scale organisations e.g. local government

• Flagship development

  • large scale, one-off property projects with distinctive architecture to attract investment

• Legacy

  • following international sporting events which bring investment and regeneration to a place

• Events or themes

  • major festivals e.g. Eurovision, European Capital of Culture etc.

Give some examples of how rebranding strategies have been used in Birmingham

Flagship development: Bullring

Legacy: Commonwealth Games

Top-down: NEC

What are the 6 elements of rebranding?

• Architecture

  • e.g. Covent Garden

• Heritage use

  • e.g. Stonehenge

• Retail

  • e.g. Bull Ring

• Art

  • e.g. Edinburgh Fringe

• Sport

  • e.g. Commonwealth Games

• Food

  • e.g. Borough Market

What is the role of the National Government in the rebranding of Birmingham?

Birmingham and the West Midlands will receive £1.5 billion as part of the Levelling Up Scheme.

• This money will be invested in promoting the development of brownfield sites, improving public transport and improving WiFi connectivity

The National government invested nearly £780 million for the Commonwealth Games 2022, which will improve public perception of Birmingham - the opening ceremony was watched by an estimated 1 billion people

• Transport links have been improved, a new aquatics centre has been built

The National Government has also invested £20 billion into HS2 which will improve connectivity between Birmingham, Manchester and London

• Journey time from London to Birmingham will be reduced to under an hour

What is the role of the Local Government in rebranding in Birmingham?

• Played a role in the development of the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and the expansion of Birmingham International Airport

  • Attracts the international conference market

  • The NEC brings in £2 billion per year

• The local council was an important player in the rebranding of the Jewellery Quarter

• Also improving education in Birmingham as currently the education indicators are below the average for England, with lower attainment at GCSE and A Level

What is the role of corporations in rebranding in Birmingham?

• Universities in Birmingham have a combined student population of 50,000

  • This brings significant wealth to the area as they employ large numbers of people who have income to spend

  • Students also spend money in the city and provide a market for a unique selection of goods and services

• The Bull Ring was developed by corporations and was Europe’s first major indoor shopping centre

  • A player in the Bull Ring development was Selfridges

  • The Bull Ring

What is the role of local community groups in rebranding in Birmingham?

• The Canal and River Trust helped to improve the historic canal system in Birmingham

  • Canals have now become a focus for development e.g. The Roundhouse which features office space for local businesses

  • Volunteers remove litter from canals which improves their appeal and encourages tourists

• Friends Groups maintain cemeteries to preserve their histories but also as green space for the community