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.

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Ground broken on new Birmingham Assay Office site

Birmingham Assay Office bosses joined members of their building project team to begin work on the site of the new building at Icknield Street last week.

The Assay Office has been at its current home in Newhall Street since 1877, and says that the move within the Jewellery Quarter “demonstrates the confidence and commitment of one of Birmingham’s oldest businesses as it continues to invest for the future.”

Founded by an Act of Parliament in 1773, the Assay Office still carries out its statutory duty of testing and hallmarking precious metal but has widened its scope considerably in the past decade, now offering assessment, authentication and valuation of precious metals, jewellery, watches, fashion accessories and gemstones.

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Jewellery Quarter takes first steps towards a £2m revamp

The Quarter’s business improvement district has this week been successful in the first round of a potential award of a £2 million Townscape Heritage Grant, which assists communities in the regeneration of conservation areas.

Sixteen buildings in the Jewellery Quarter will be renovated after the district is set for a £2 million funding boost.

The Quarter’s business improvement district has this week been successful in the first round of a potential award of a £2 million Townscape Heritage Grant, which assists communities in the regeneration of conservation areas.

The grant, which will be awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), could see the listed buildings benefit from much-needed renovation and the repairing of lost features which will ensure their heritage is maintained. The Jewellery Quarter Development Trust has been awarded an initial £36,000 in development funding to work up the application that will potentially access a further £1.9 million under the Town Heritage Initiative.

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