25 July 2012
Church Street Square in Birmingham has officially
opened.
Located in the heart of Birmingham’s Colmore
Business District, Church Street Square is a major public realm
enhancement and one of the first new projects in Birmingham City
Council’s ‘Big City Plan’ which will see the city centre
transformed over the coming years.
The Church Street development, which was
designed by Capita Symonds, transforms a previously wide
carriageway into an exciting and inspiring new area of public open
space; incorporating a reduced road width, high quality yorkstone
paving, bespoke timber and limestone benches, container planted
trees, public artwork and enhanced feature lighting.
Working closely with Colmore Business District and
Birmingham City Council, the Capita Symonds design team prepared
the detailed hard and soft public realm design information for the
project and oversaw the landscape construction works on site.
Waheed Nazir, Director of Regeneration at
Birmingham City Council said, “The public realm enhancement scheme
within the historic and high quality setting of Church Street is a
key part of the Big City Plan. Through Big City Plan Initiatives
and Colmore Business District funding, it delivers high quality
transformation in the heart of the city’s business and financial
sector; it creates an improved public space and enhances the
cultural life of Birmingham.”
Mike Best, Public Realm Champion and CBD Board
Director said, “We are delighted that the scheme is now complete
and people and businesses in the city can start to enjoy the
space.”
Following their success at Church Street Square, Capita
Symonds Planning | Environment | Design team are currently involved
assisting on a number of other areas of public realm within the
city, including the Golden Square in Birmingham’s Jewellery
Quarter; the New Hospital Plaza adjacent to the new Queen Elizabeth
Hospital; and Centenary Square adjacent to the new Library of
Birmingham.