Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Jewellery Quarter given powers to plan its future



Birmingham council awards historic area special status to boost traditional industry and look ahead. Jewellery Quarter businesses and residents are to draw up a masterplan for the historic area after it was granted special status.

Those with a vested interest in the Quarter will write the blueprint for developers to follow after Birmingham City Council gave it neighbourhood planning area status.

The new plan will be drawn up by the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust Neighbourhood Planning Forum.

Its aims include filling empty units and attracting more customers, as well as benefiting both the traditional jewellery industry and other companies making the area their home.

Stephen Whitaker, a board member of the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust, believes it can do much to shape the area for the good.

He said: “We would like to have some say on how buildings are restored.

“The residential and business communities will be pooling their aspirations and coming up with a plan, monitored by the city council.