Gun Quarter
The Gun Quarter is dominated by industrial and commercial occupants around Queensway and Lancaster Circus. The area has links with its traditional roots and there are still gun manufacturers and traders based in the quarter.
However, most of the area has long lost its traditional associations. The area has seen the growth of commercial offices adjacent to the city core. The majority of the urban fabric of the area, however, is characterised by industrial and warehouse buildings.
There is relatively low activity levels within a stone's throw of a busy city core and the building stock is generally of mediocre quality.
A strength of the Gun Quarter is that it generally follows a traditional street pattern. The City Centre Canal Corridor Framework recognises this strength and presents an opportunity to introduce other land uses if the industrial uses cease to operate in this area.
The connections with the city centre need to be made more accessible, particularly across Queensway to maximise the potential of this quarter.
Lancaster Circus is seen as an area of major opportunity with vacant under-utilised sites. The unitary development plan encourages commercial development around Queensway and Lancaster Circus, with further opportunities existing towards Birmingham and the Fazeley Canal.
A recent study of Birmingham's Housing Capacity suggests that there is more potential for residential development concentrated along the southern boundary of the Gun Quarter.
