‘Major opportunity’ to redevelop Birmingham shopping centre

Birmingham Council said a shopping centre has potential to be “redeveloped” as it outlined a vision for the future of a suburb.

The authority said in its recently published draft Local Plan that Perry Barr could continue to undergo change in the coming years after it played a significant role in the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The enormous document sets out a blueprint for how the council can help shape the development of Birmingham over the next two decades.

For Perry Barr in particular, it says regeneration could help create a neighbourhood “built around design excellence, accessibility, public realm upgrades and community-oriented facilities”.

Amid these plans, the draft Local Plan goes on to describe the possible redevelopment of One Stop Shopping Centre as a “major opportunity”.

“One Stop Shopping Centre is an important local shopping facility,” it said. “However, it is inward facing and forms a barrier between new communities and transport links and green corridors.

“The shopping centre and land at Regina Drive adjacent to the park have the potential to be redeveloped on a phased basis.

“[This could provide] an improved, sustainable town centre including retail, commercial and leisure uses, community facilities and services.”

On wider plans for the area, the council continued: “The development and regeneration of Perry Barr town centre and the surrounding area will deliver significant housing growth and the necessary community facilities and supporting infrastructure.

“[It] will be a focus for growth including commercial, residential, community, and learning uses.

“The town centre will be strengthened through the introduction of high-quality new homes and increased town centre activity.”

It added that Perry Barr Village will be home to a new neighbourhood of around 2,000 homes while a “sustainable future” for the Alexander Stadium complex will also be secured through a variety of uses.

There are also ambitions of introducing measures that prioritise pedestrians; enhancing cycling infrastructure, increasing recreational activity within Perry Park and opening up the River Tame corridor and increasing the “wildlife and amenity value of the watercourse”.