New dawn for Digbeth
HUGE PLAN TO OVERHAUL QUARTER
A‘GARDEN in the sky’ could be created as part of major plans to transform Birmingham’s Digbeth area.
The ambitious proposals will include creating the garden on the disused Duddeston Viaduct, revamping The Custard Factory, and opening up new walkways and river paths.
Developers say their intention is to preserve Digbeth’s history, while making sure it can thrive in the 21st century.
Plans will be submitted to Birmingham City Council in 2020 and if granted, will be implemented over the next ten to 15 years.
The scheme is the brainchild of Oval Real Estate, which bought a large part of Digbeth in 2017, including The Custard Factory, Fazeley Studios and Bond Studios.
The company is working in partnership with architectural practices Studio Egret West, Glenn Howells Architects and BPN Architects.
The viaduct garden walk – like that of New York’s famous High Line – was mooted six years ago but came to nothing.
Steve Sanders, head of development at Oval Real Estate, said: “Digbeth is not like anywhere else in Birmingham.
“It has a unique quality that has attracted a thriving creative commercial community.
“Further investment is required to maintain Digbeth’s renaissance and we plan to do this in a way which retains the unique fabric of the area while preparing for the future.”
Digbeth is also surrounded by areas which are undergoing transformation, including HS2 Curzon Street Station, Smithfield, the Metro extension and Sprint Bus Link.
But it also has problems, including litter and anti-social behaviour.
Digbeth started out as a riverside medieval settlement, then became a village on the outskirts of Birmingham from 1500.
After the Second World War it fell into decline but this was followed by something of a rebirth with the renovation of the Custard Factory and emergence of the creative community from the 1990s.