Brindleyplace

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brindleyplace (right) with the ICC off camera (left); Gas Street Basin is beyond the bridge.

Brindleyplace (often written erroneously as Brindley Place, the name of the street (in turn named after the 18th century canal engineer James Brindley) around which it is built [1]) is a large mixed-use canalside development, near the centre of Birmingham, England (grid reference SP060866). It was developed by Argent Group PLC from 1993 onwards.

The area occupied by Brindleyplace was, at the height of Birmingham's industrial past, the site of factories, however, by the 1970s as Britain's manufacturing went into decline, the factories closed down and the buildings lay derelict for many years.

Birmingham City Council's aim was to create an environment of water features, walkways and new office and leisure buildings, that would open out onto the adjacent canal.

Three Brindleyplace

Brindleyplace is now also home to the National Sea Life Centre, Royal Bank of Scotland, BRMB, the Ikon Gallery of art and Number 9 The Gallery (and many stylish bars and restaurants).

The development and the surrounding canal apartments is being completed at an estimated cost of around £350 million. A planning application for the final phase of the development at 11 Brindleyplace, Brunswick Square^[1], was submitted in September 2006^[2]. The 13 storey building was deferred over Section 106 on November 2, 2006^[3]. The building was designed by Glenn Howells Architects and is located to the rear of the Novotel hotel. It was not included in the masterplan however is has been described as a "kep component" for the Brindleyplace development. There were some issues raised over the height of the tall building in the predominantly low rise Brindleyplace development. Construction commenced in February 2007.

The site covers 17 acres (69,000 m²) of mixed use redevelopment on a grand scale - the UK's largest such project. The National Indoor Arena and bustling bars of Broad Street are nearby and it is easily accessible and within walking distance of the main bus and train routes.