Digbeth
Digbeth was historically a busy area of commercial activity and dwellings on a major through route: Warwick Bar Conservation Area, Digbeth, Deritend and Bordesley High Streets Conservation Area cover much of what can still be identified as Birmingham's medieval townscape and is an area of archaeological significance.
Today the area is characterised by small-scale engineering and metal working with some warehousing. Digbeth has limited residential, retail and office development, and a lack of local facilities used by businesses. The existing office floorspace is usually small scale and related to the industrial and commercial uses within the area.
Much of the public realm within the areas is poor and deters pedestrians, particularly after dark.
There has been significant development in the arts, media and craft industries, including the Custard Factory and the Bond. The wider Digbeth area contains the Irish Quarter with a number of Irish pubs and the prominent Irish Club. Moreover, Digbeth has developed a music and media industry and the area hosts the annual Gigbeth and Supersonic Festivals. Digbeth therefore has the makings of a new creative quarter.
It is important to develop a vision for Digbeth and encourage the development of a mix of uses, recognising the potential for the Rea Village, the need to improve the safety and appearance of the public realm and provide better links across Digbeth/Deritend High Street.
