52-484: Masshouse is a development site in the Eastside area of Birmingham , England. Its name derives from a Roman Catholic Church built in 1687. Buildings were cleared to make way for the inner city ring road and car parking in the 1960s. Birmingham City Council wished to expand the city centre eastwards and an elevated road junction, Masshouse Circus was demolished in 2002 to facilitate redevelopment. The Masshouse area
104-419: A burial ground and was once part of a large deer park. Eastside is the location for the terminating station for High Speed 2 (HS2) and the new station will be named as the former station, Birmingham Curzon Street . It is expected that once HS2 is complete journey times from London into Birmingham City Centre will be reduced to only 45 minutes with the potential to bring £1.5 billion of investment into
156-681: A "Walk of fear", the ability to climb to the top of the tower, a sky jump descending 100 metres and the UK's highest controlled bungee jump. In its first year the VTP200 was projected to have received 1.05 million visitors. One development set to start in late 2006 is the Martineau Galleries complex which will require the demolition of the Carling Academy , surrounding shops and a multi-storey car park . These will be replaced by
208-533: A 110-metre tall tower and other mid rise and low rise apartment blocks as well as offices, hotel facilities, retail and cultural facilities. Sustainable Eastside – A Vision for the Future , published in 2002, sets out the aspirations for the sustainable regeneration of Eastside. The Eastside Sustainability Advisory Group was also set up in 2002 to support the mainstreaming of sustainable development in Eastside. As
260-470: A campus in Eastside (which was still a proposal at the time). The complex, named Etna House, is 13 storeys in height and was developed by the Watkin Jones Group . On 29 May 2008, Birmingham City University held a public consultation on their plans to construct a new campus on a cleared 4.17-acre (16,900 m ) brownfield site directly opposite Curzon Street station. The site was acquired by
312-603: A city park at a cost of approximately £11 million. This will be called Eastside City Park and will cover 8 acres (3.2 ha). The area it will occupy is currently the car park for Millennium Point and also includes other building which are currently being demolished. Los Canarios, the first Spanish restaurant in Birmingham, was demolished in December 2009 to make way for the project. It will also incorporate an already existing park named Park Street Gardens which contains
364-493: A complex mixture of finishes; some contain black polished bands bounded by a white concrete frame and finished to two different levels of exposure. The top floor penthouse apartments are clad with grey polished pre-cast panels. Many of the cladding panels are either concave or convex with pointed ends and most were pre-fitted with windows at the Techrete factory to accelerate the construction process. Masshouse submitted plans for
416-521: A gateway into the Eastside from the city centre. Phase 1 will be the phase covering the largest area and has a subphase known as Phase 1a which includes Island House. This will be the first phase to begin construction and will also include the subphase, Phase 2a. Phase 2 will begin construction after and this is the smallest phase. Phase 3 will be constructed last and will see the tallest building constructed. Two public squares will be created, one directly in front of Island House will be called Island Place, and
468-496: A neon light show at the base of the steps leading to the entrance of the building, which took place during June 2007. Also based in Eastside is Ikon Eastside , a branch of the Ikon Gallery , Eastside Projects and VIVID . 52°28′54″N 1°53′13″W / 52.48167°N 1.88694°W / 52.48167; -1.88694 Eastside City Park Eastside City Park is a 6.75 acre (2.73 ha) urban park located in
520-502: A public house further down the road which currently exists as a Grade II listed building. The River Rea , which remains largely hidden due to high brick walls surrounding it constructed in Victorian times, also flows to the extreme east of the area. The river is crossed at Deritend Bridge. Curzon Street railway station was a major railway station during the 19th century and served as a goods station with another terminus opposite. It
572-645: A result, Birmingham City Council agreed to undertake the innovative step of co-locating sustainability advisors with the Eastside team. The Sustainability Advisors are employed by Groundwork Birmingham and Solihull and took up their posts in October 2003. The 'Sustainable Eastside' project is funded by Government Office for the West Midlands, Advantage West Midlands and the East Birmingham and North Solihull Regeneration Zone, with additional support from
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#1732782378484624-639: A second residential building named Block M in August 2006. Construction commenced in August 2007 and was due for completion in 2009, however the collapse of development partner David McLean in 2008 caused construction to be put on hold. McLaren were appointed in place of David McLean and the building was completed in 2011. The development is estimated to have cost £23 million and consists of 167 studio, one and two bedroom apartments with 12 apartments per floor over 14 floors. The apartments went on sale in Spring 2011 under
676-443: A £215 million student residences project. The campus development retained green spaces, trees and water features. By February 2007, the first residents had moved into a newly built apartment block at Masshouse. Edwardian Island House was refurbished into a base for a redevelopment company. The majority of the development is centred on Curzon Street railway station and along Curzon Street which gives its name to two developments to
728-414: Is a district of Birmingham City Centre , England that is undergoing a major redevelopment project. The overall cost when completed is expected to be £6–8 billion over ten years which will result in the creation of 12,000 jobs. 8,000 jobs are expected to be created during the construction period. It is part of the larger Big City Plan project. Excavations revealed that the area was used as farmland in
780-416: Is located on Heath Mill Lane and, along with Ikon Eastside and Vivid, now forms part of the largest concentration of contemporary art venues in the city. A sound guide was created by Sound Arts Practice Liminal for Warwick Bar in which the public were invited to download the sound palate and walk around the canals. Curzon Street Station is becoming a centre for arts in the Eastside with exhibitions including
832-552: The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), outlining the preliminary processes regarding the development of the site. A May 2007 Big Lottery Fund request was filed for £25million, but was rejected in October of the same year. Birmingham City Council later pledged £5million to begin the project. The Eastside City Park runs from the remaining portion of Park Street Gardens, northwards past
884-524: The Eastside district of Birmingham City Centre . Designed by architects Patel taylor with landscape architect Allain Provost , the park was opened to the public on 5 December 2012 at a cost of £11.75 million. Lining the frontage of Millennium Point , the park provides 14,300 square metres of landscaped green space, 310 trees, a 110 metres (360 ft) canal water feature and a public square incorporating 21 jet fountains. In 2004, discussions began with
936-658: The Industrial Revolution , the area was home to a massive complex of factories and workshops and was accessed by part of the canal network, most notably the Digbeth Branch Canal which bisects the area. The Grand Union Canal is located along the boundaries of the area and meets the Digbeth Branch Canal at Warwick Bar . In the late 19th century, the area was accessed by a major tram network which ran along Albert Street. However, as
988-460: The Masshouse development where and in an easterly direction along Curzon Street, past Curzon Street railway station and Millennium Point ; the park terminates at the front of Birmingham City University 's "Parkside" campus building. The park was designed by Architects Patel Taylor with French Landscape Architect Allain Provost who gained commission for the project in 2006. Development of
1040-599: The Medieval times. Archaeological excavations at the City Park Gate site revealed soil that had been used on farms. It is known that a significant area had been bought by the English monarchy and was used as a deer game park. Some of this area stretched into the Eastside of Birmingham. The only surviving part of this is Park Street Gardens. The land was sold and slowly began to develop once again as farm land. During
1092-472: The " concrete collar " as it restricted expansion of the city centre. In March 2002, Masshouse Circus was demolished to clear land for redevelopment; referred to as the "breaking of the concrete collar". International Development Secretary and MP for Ladywood, Clare Short , while witnessing the start of demolition in March 2002 described Masshouse Circus as an "ugly monstrosity [that] has shamed our city". The work
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#17327823784841144-618: The Birmingham branch of Friends of the Earth with a price tag of 50p. The land was left as a car park for a number of years as plans and designs for the development were finalised. A replacement road, the B4100 Moor Street Queensway, to connect the Bullring Shopping Centre with Jennens Road was completed and opened in August 2003. The initial development was planned in two phases; Phase 1 retained
1196-772: The Black Country ) and individuals with professional interest in Eastside. In 2002, the Eastside Sustainability Advisory Group collectively produced a document 'Sustainable Eastside – A Vision for the Future', which lays out a vision for how Eastside can be socially, environmentally and economically successful and responsible. This was funded by Birmingham City Council's Environmental Services department. The project continues to develop guidance, policy and procedure recommendations. These will be submitted to Birmingham City Council to consider for adoption within their planning guidance and advice to
1248-566: The Digbeth and Deritend area. Large scale projects which involved the renovation, demolition and reparation of the area started to be aired to the public. The first of these projects to be completed was Millennium Point which was completed in 2002 to replace the Birmingham Science Museum . On 1 February 2002, a masterplan for the Eastside was developed by HOK International and this set out the basic developments. In 2001,
1300-568: The Environment Agency and Birmingham City Council. The Eastside Sustainability Advisory Group aims to promote a comprehensive vision of Eastside as a regional demonstrator of sustainable development in practice, and to provide advice on Sustainable Development best practice throughout the Eastside development. Group membership consists representatives of 17 organisations (mainly NGOs such as the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and
1352-651: The Library of Birmingham at Eastside were abandoned in favour of developing the new library on a shared site with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre , in Centenary Square in the city centre's Westside, retaining the library in the city's civic core. Birmingham City University is now interested in the cancelled Eastside library site to relocate its conservatoire which is currently adjacent to Birmingham Central Library . Another project
1404-506: The Masshouse name and Phase 2 was called City Park Gate, after the new Eastside City Park laid out as part of the development. The planning application for Block I was submitted in October 2004. Construction cost £30 million and the 14-storey building consists of 173 studio, one and two-bedroom apartments. The first residents had moved in by February 2007. The building is clad in 6,000 m (65,000 sq ft) of pre-cast panels with
1456-531: The building and destruction of the "mass house": Masshouse Lane :- Takes its name from the Roman Catholic Church (or Mass House, as such edifices were then called) erected in 1687, and dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen and St. Francis. The foundation stone was laid 23 March, in the above year, and on 16 August 1688, the first stone of a Franciscan Convent was laid adjoining to the Church, which latter
1508-459: The building was the showcase for Vibrant Fibre, which consisted of murals. In 2007, a sound and light show was held on the site of Curzon Park. Late in 2008, a new artist-run public gallery called Eastside Projects opened with an evolving exhibition including architecture, performance and the full gamut of visual art forms by artists from local and international artists including Liam Gillick, Laureana Toledo and Heather & Ivan Morison. The gallery
1560-563: The entire Eastside area was split into five sub-areas: The first part of the plan to be implemented was the demolition in 2002 of a large elevated road junction called Masshouse Circus to make space for redevelopment. Masshouse Circus was part of the Inner Ring Road , which had become a "concrete collar" stifling expansion of the city centre. A bid for money from the European Regional Development Fund
1612-411: The industry in the area subsided, the area fell into decline and many of the original factory buildings became derelict. The old Victorian factory buildings were never maintained and the canals became dirty and clogged with only small stretches being cleaned. Small independent businesses moved into the area. A major brewery was located near Curzon Street station and this resulted in the establishment of
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1664-507: The name Hive, studio apartments started at £90,000 and one bedroom apartments at £110,000. All properties are powered by Birmingham District Energy Company (BDEC), the first time residential homes in the city have benefited from the city's district water heating system the apartments receive power from the new Jennens Road Energy Centre on Aston University’s campus. The planned development on land fronting Moor Street Queensway had received planning permission in 2007 but economic conditions delayed
1716-471: The public was proposed for the Eastside area. Originally, there was a proposal named " The Needle " which would be of a substantial height however this was dismissed as a vision. A serious proposal was put forward in September 2007 with the unveiling of VTP200 . A public consultation regarding the later design for the observation tower was announced before pursuing a planning application. The VTP200 proposal
1768-556: The public. Policy and decision makers will be targeted to raise awareness of sustainability and ensure relevant information is made available. Since 2006, Eastside has hosted a number of events as part of ArtsFest . In 2006, The Eastside Arts Picnic was held at Curzon Street Station and the Eastside Green opposite. Island House hosted a collection of visual art pieces known as the ArtsFest Art Gallery and outside
1820-415: The rear of the station which began with the demolition of a Parcelforce Depot. This will be called Curzon Park and will feature a major low to mid-rise mixed-use scheme with residential, leisure and hotel facilities. An outline planning application was submitted by the developers on 27 July 2007. Next to this is one of the largest of the projects which will see large areas of land being transformed into
1872-430: The region. The area beyond the city park to the eastern boundary of Eastside is to be developed in a development named Eastside Locks . This will be a technology-led park area with many-low rise buildings. Another area of land next to Moor Street railway station which was freed up by the demolition of Masshouse Circus will be home to a development named City Park Gate. Originally designed by Richard Rogers as part of
1924-470: The scheme for the Library of Birmingham, it was to have several residential towers however the architects pulled out when the library scheme was shelved. MAKE Architects have since been appointed. Island House and the nearby pub will be retained in the development however Eurodiscount Megastore, a large warehouse store, was demolished in November 2006. The development will be mainly residential and will form
1976-583: The scheme known as Exchange Square received planning approval for a total of over 800 apartments in two phases. Phase 1, named 'Allegro', comprises two blocks of apartments for rent and was completed in 2019. Phase 2, included a Premier Inn opened in March 2023, and a 34-storey tower of 375 apartments, retail units and a roof garden topped out in June 2023. 52°28′54.46″N 1°53′25.64″W / 52.4817944°N 1.8904556°W / 52.4817944; -1.8904556 Eastside, Birmingham Eastside
2028-422: The second will be between Phase 2a and Phase 2 and will be called Freeman Place. There will be numerous green roof gardens. The outline planning application was submitted on 29 November 2006 and a consultation process began in late December and ended on 3 January 2007. In 2008, major student housing was constructed along Jennens Road. The tower is located near Aston University and Birmingham City University have
2080-456: The start of construction and the scheme folded after it was announced the land was to be earmarked for HS2 . The listed Fox and Grapes public house and Island House were to be retained and incorporated within the development, but were demolished in 2018 and 2012 respectively. Outline planning permission for the development of land used as a car park on the site of Masshouse Circus was granted to Manchester-based developer, Nikal in 2013. In 2016,
2132-405: The stress from New Street station . The station, dubbed "Grand Central Station'" was to be nearly twice the size of New Street and would handle all major railway lines. However, the proposal was called unnecessary and take up too much room. The proposal was headed and urged by Arup who created a brochure outlining the reasons why such a station would be needed. A landmark observation tower for
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2184-523: The university in January 2008 and they commissioned BDP Architects to design a masterplan for the site. The proposed scheme includes between 35,000 and 45,000 square metres of accommodation. The first phase of the building is expected to open to students in September 2012. The Birmingham Conservatoire is expected to move to the campus from Adrian Boult Hall . Plans by the City Council to locate
2236-411: Was carried out by Birse Civils and designed by Gifford & Partners in a contract worth £24.2 million. The contractors sought to reuse the 20,000 cubic metres (26,000 cu yd) of reinforced concrete removed during demolition. Over £9 million from the European Regional Development Fund was invested into the project. Pieces of rubble collected from the demolished structure, were put on sale by
2288-617: Was consecrated 4 Sept.. The Church was 95ft long by 33ft. wide, and towards the building of it and the Convent, James II gave 125 "tuns of timber," which were sold for £180; Sir John Gage gave timber valued at £140; the Dowager Queen Catherine gave £10 15s.; and a Mrs. Anne Gregg, £250. This would appear to have been the first place of worship put up here by the Romish Church since the time of Henry VIII ., and it
2340-545: Was for a 200-metre tall "VerTiPlex", the tallest observation tower in Britain, designed by RTKL to be a "bold and dynamic icon for Birmingham and the West Midlands in the 21st Century". The tower would have consisted of three rides including an eight-person vertical drop free falling lift, a see-saw peering over the edge of the tower at 125 metres high and 20 flight trainers spinning around the tower 110 metres up it. As well as rides other extreme activities were proposed including
2392-559: Was in Victorian times nothing else but Masshouse Lane, which connected to Dale End and the junction at Albert Street and Duddeston Row. The name derives from the establishment of a Roman Catholic chapel (i.e. for the celebration of Mass ) there by a Franciscan priest, Leo Randolph, in 1687, followed by a convent in March 1688. Both were burned down by a mob, instigated by the Protestant Lord Delamer , in November 1688. Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham (1885) describes
2444-416: Was located too far from the city centre and failed as a passenger station. It shut down in 1966 as a goods station. Bartholomew Row received its name from Saint Bartholomew Church, which was built next to it. The church was surrounded by Park Street Gardens which were significantly cut down in size due to surrounding development. Part of the graveyard of the church still remains. In 1983, Aston Science Park
2496-735: Was not allowed to stand long, for the Church and what part of the Convent was built (in the words of the Franciscan priest who laid the first stone) "was first defaced, and most of it burrent within to near ye vallue of 400lb., by ye Lord Dellamer's order upon ye 26 of November, 1688, and ye day sevennight following ye rabble of Birmingham begon to pul ye Church and Convent down, and saesed not until they had pulled up ye foundations. They sold ye materials, of which many houses and parts of houses are built in ye town of Birmingham, ye townsmen of ye better sort not resisting ye rabble, but quietly permitting, if not prompting them to doe itt." From 1749 to 1943 it
2548-577: Was opened in the north part of Eastside, adjacent to the Aston University campus. The 22-acre (8.9 ha) site has continued to develop and is considered a key part of the Eastside regeneration scheme. In the late 1990s, plans for the regeneration of the area were aired to the public. The first plan unveiled was called the 1996 Digbeth Millennium Quarter Plan which presented proposals for the area around Digbeth and parts of Eastside. The 1998 Bull Ring and Markets Quarter Plan contained guidance to
2600-498: Was successful and this helped make the demolition possible. Matthew Boulton College had a new major facility built in 2005 overlooking the Masshouse site, and the New Technology Institute was completed in 2006; the first new buildings in a Learning and Leisure Zone. Developments on the established Aston University campus included a new Academy of Life Sciences, a £22m extension to Aston Business School and
2652-539: Was the refurbishment of the Curzon Street railway station entrance hall which would make it the home of the Royal College of Organists . However, a £1 million gap of funds resulted in them abandoning the project. Birmingham City Council are now planning to renovate the building themselves and then search for a major tenant. There was a proposal for a new station to be built in the Eastside to relieve
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#17327823784842704-561: Was the site of St Bartholomew’s Church, Birmingham . Clearance of the area began in 1961 to make way for the Carrs Lane to Central Fire Station section of Birmingham's inner ring road , which opened in June 1965. An elevated roundabout named Masshouse Circus was then constructed to link the A47 road to the city centre, and intersect with the ring road underpass. There were six pedestrian subways: Birmingham's inner ring road became known as
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