Light industrial, railway and canal infrastructure combined with a mix of uses to create a unique employment-based neighbourhood.
Scope of Work
Masterplan, Townscape and heritage advice
Lathams acted as Heritage and Townscape advisers within a multidisciplinary team appointed by Birmingham City Council to produce a masterplan for Digbeth. The area is located to the south of the city centre and is characterised by its diverse light industrial uses which are increasingly supplemented by creative industries.
The railway and canal infrastructure of the area combines with a mix of uses to create a unique employment-based neighbourhood. Although only a few buildings within the area are designated heritage assets much of the area falls within two conservation areas.
Birmingham City Council recognised that the arrival of HS2 at the southern edge of the city centre will result in significant development pressures within Digbeth and that its unique townscape may be threatened unless clear guidance is put in place.
"Lathams carried out an assessment of the Digbeth area based on; archival research, street surveys and interviews (with BCC and Historic England). In order to ensure the output was useful to future design teams, the assessment was produced as a highly visual illustrated document containing annotated composite street elevations and 3D massing models to explain the distribution of heritage significance and the potential for intervention. The assessment material was supplemented with broad development strategy guidance for each building located within the masterplan area."