In September 2001 Millennium Point opened on a vast former industrial site (a brownfield site) in Digbeth, spanning the equivalent area of 12 football pitches and with a development cost of £114 million – is the nation’s biggest millennium project outside London. Introduction Picture courtesy of Millennium Point

Situation Millennium Point is located in the Eastside of Birmingham City Centre, 10 minutes walk from the CBD. It is in the vicinity of both major local and national road networks, the city’s main train terminus and is less than 30mins drive from the International Airport. Urban regeneration has not integrated the Eastside with the CBD and Millennium Point is the catalyst for the expansion of the CBD eastwards once more. The advantage of this is that land costs are cheaper in the Eastside and the international airport is nearer. Picture courtesy of Birmingham City Council ‘Birmingham Assist’

Former Use Digbeth (the area in which Millennium Point is located) was the site of Birmingham’s birth in 7 th century AD. For the early settlers, the main attraction of the area was its plentiful water source, not only from the River Rea but also from natural springs. The area grew in population over the ages, and became a thriving market town and a natural nodal point, with regional and national centrality and route way convergence. Digbeth was the Midland region’s main port access route, this period brought immense wealth to the city’s landowners and industrialists However, the area became a victim of its own success, as it was simply not growing at the rate required to sustain development and conditions were poor, with a plethora of workers and too little workspace, housing and amenities – Digbeth became overpopulated. Picture courtesy of Birmingham City Council ‘Birmingham Assist’ (Archive)

CBD Redirection With increased demand for improved working places, shopping and leisure facilities and transport networks, Birmingham planners began to build further west of Digbeth. The main railway terminus was moved to New Street in 1854 and companies uprooted away from Digbeth and into the newly formed business district around New Street and Corporation Street. NEW STREET CORPORATION STREET Pictures courtesy of Microsoft Clipart

Urban Regeneration Millennium Point’s planners were aware that successful urban renewal initiatives have taken place throughout the Westside of Birmingham and have brought new life to previously drab former industrial surroundings (notably Brindley Place) and due to lack of affordable open spaces in the CBD, property developers have transformed the old industrial warehouses into expensive loft apartments, offices and amenities (urban regeneration) with the prime example being ‘The Mailbox’. Despite once being the heartland of Industrial Birmingham, Digbeth fell into awful decline in the 1970s and 80s. It was seen as dirty, dangerous and seemingly a world away from the advances that took place in and around Broad Street during the last decade, even though it is only ten minutes walk from the CBD.

What is Millennium Point? Millennium Point’s motto is: ‘the place where science comes to life’. The huge multi-storey development is home to four major attractions: 1. Thinktank, the Birmingham museum of science and discovery. 2. Tic (Technology Innovation Centre) 3. UFA (University of the First Age) and YPP (Young Peoples’ Parliament) 4. IMAX® Theatre Pictures courtesy of Millennium Point

What is Millennium Point? The corporate sector is also catered for, and by 2005 over 1000 office workers will be on site. The attractions, spread over the five levels, are hoping for a first year attendance figure of 1 million people! There will also be shops, bars, cafés and restaurants open in the central, paved public mall. There are over 700 car park spaces on site. Picture courtesy of Millennium Point

Timeline of Millennium Point April 1995Project concept submitted to Millennium Commission January 1996Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners selected as architects October 1996Confirmation of £50 million Millennium Commission grant January 1997Site clearance began October 1997Design team appointed, founder sponsors welcomed June 1998ERDF confirms funding of £25.6 million October 1998Advantage West Midlands (formerly English Partnerships) Confirms £5.9 million funding December 1998Site clearance work complete April 1999Start of construction phase July 2001Practical completion; interior fit-outs begin 29th September 2001Open to the public on time and within budget

How was it funded? Millennium point is a £114m project. Funding has been provided by: Millennium commission - £50m European regional development fund - £25.6m Advantage west midlands - £7.4m Barclays bank - £15m Picture courtesy of Millennium Point

How does Millennium Point benefit us? A new first-rate education and entertainment facility has been provided for the people of Birmingham. 3,843 people were employed on site during construction. 500 fulltime jobs directly created Space for 1000 office workers Pleasant urban escape – bars, eateries and shops Revitalised local area and economy. Sustainable development, likely to become profitable Picture courtesy of Microsoft Clipart

Sources Webliography: point.org Pictures courtesy of Pupilvision, Birmingham City Council ‘Birmingham Assist’ & Streetmap.co.uk

Bibliography: Understanding GCSE Geography, A. Bowen & J. Pallister (1999) The Wider World, D. Waugh (1994) Bibliography

The End Pictures courtesy of Millennium Point BY ROBYN SARGEANT