Why making a civic identity is about more than just buildings

Sponsored column new city centre station. Beyond this, however, the announcement is also testament to the energy and dynamism currently alive in the UK’s second city and the wider Midlands region.

Major projects such as Paradise, Arena Central, Eastside, the Metro Extension and Three Snowhill are all changing the face of the city for the better.

As a barrister with specialist experience in development and infrastructure, I understand there is more to this than simply putting up buildings, however. Change on this scale needs a spirit of civic partnership – a sense of a whole city pulling in the same direction.

For some years Birmingham suffered reputationally, and political problems left it lagging behind other cities that have been quicker to embrace regional identities and make the case in Whitehall for further devolution.

With the inaugural West Midlands mayoral election just around the corner ,however, and a host of new powers and responsibilities being devolved to the city region, this has all changed and the Midlands is now on the cusp of further significant growth.

History shows us what Birmingham can do with strong local government. As mayor in the 19th century, Joseph Chamberlain famously declared his objective as being to ensure Birmingham was “parked, paved, assized, marketed, gas and watered and improved”.

The legacy of that vision is still all around us, from the grand architecture of the city centre, to the parks and libraries in suburbs across the city. Now is another opportunity to build a strong civic identity and a city that works for all, ensuring we leave a fitting legacy for subsequent generations of Brummies. Martin Edwards is a barrister specialising in planning and environmental law at Cornerstone Barristers