ULI recently convened two workshops in Birmingham on the subject of density.

Density plays a key role in shaping cities that are productive, sustainable and healthy. With Birmingham’s population set to increase by 150,000 people and the UK’s total population nearing 72 million people by the year 2032, the need to create successful, dense urban environments has never been greater.

The first workshop, on the morning of 30th June, was a closed door session for Birmingham City Council.  Waheed Nazir, acting strategic director for economy at Birmingham City Council, asked ULI to present the Institute’s research on this important topic and open a discussion for a group of Birmingham City Council Councillors and Planning Committee members.  11 Councillors/planning committee members and 11 planning officials attended the workshop, which was chaired by Adrian Bland, Chairman of ULI Midlands and Greg Clark, Senior Fellow, ULI.

The afternoon workshop was open to ULI members and guests and explored, with the help of an expert panel, the implications and considerations of increased density and what tools and tactics are needed to deliver good density in Birmingham and the greater Midlands.

Greg Clark opened both workshops with a brief on the rationale behind increasing urban density, supported by demographic data and other factors including the recent trend for businesses to move back in to our cities.

Following an overview of ULI’s research in to city issues surrounding the topic, Greg took a deeper dive in to the Institute’s density focused research including ‘Density: Drivers, Dividends and Debates’ and ‘The Density Dividend: Solutions for Growing and Shrinking Cities’, the latter of which included the city of Birmingham as a case study.

There are three approaches to density being adopted in countries around the world: city sprawl; construction of new cities or districts; and densification of existing cities.  Due to the environmental and socials cost of sprawl and the construction of new cities, the most efficient model tends to be through incremental densification and managed population growth of existing cities.  Often, however, densification is polycentric, managed in different forms in different areas.

ULI’s research also highlights the key elements to achieving ‘good’ density:  1) leadership and vision; 2) a coherent plan; and 3) strong branding.

The Birmingham case study shows the city is already on the ‘road’ to densification but there are good opportunities for further intensifying it.

Panel Discussion

• Richard Cowell, Assistant Director Development, Birmingham City Council
• Simon Stanion, Head of Planning, Shakespeare Martineau
• Anne Marie Simpson, Head of Midlands Central at Homes and Communities Agency
• Dr. Austin Barber, Senior Lecturer in Urban Development and Planning in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Birmingham University
• Ian Smith, Assistant Director in the HS2 Local Growth Team, Cities & Local Growth Unit Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Panellist, Richard Cowell, Assistant Director Development, Birmingham City Council felt that Birmingham still has a challenge to overcome to achieve the city’s full potential as a highly liveable

and investable place, namely the domination of the car in the 50’s and 60’s still impacting land use planning.

Mike Murray of St Modwen suggested that the city needs a strategy to convince people to move out of the high standards they are used to in the suburbs to denser central areas and the quality of public transport is key to achieving this.

Dr. Austin Barber, Senior Lecturer in Urban Development and Planning in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Birmingham University felt that young people would be the driver for change.

There was consensus on the necessity for exemplar projects showcasing good density.  Anne Marie Simpson, Head of Midlands Central at Homes and Communities Agency felt there was the opportunity for the public sector, who are not dependant on land value, to lead the way.

On responding to the question as to how the city could create more inward investment, Ian Smith, Assistant Director in the HS2 Local Growth Team, Cities & Local Growth Unit Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, felt that it is all about confidence and branding.  For example, confidence gained from big HQs and occupiers, such as HSBC, moving in and the subsequent knock on effect.

Planning will also be a key component in delivering increased density.  Simon Stanion, Head of Planning, Shakespeare Martineau suggested that policy is the driver for delivery of densification.  But the city still needs to “win hearts and minds” to convince residents that density is a good option.

Ian Smith noted that Birmingham’s devolved powers will allow the city to be more prescriptive about density levels.  All agreed with Anne Marie Simpson’s observation that a long term comprehensive plan will be needed.  Anne further suggested that the plan must be bold, not just comprising infill projects, and that the city will have to use compulsory purchase orders to achieve its vision.

In conclusion, the panel and our audience felt the key elements in moving Birmingham from a low to a medium density city and making it more ‘liveable, lovable and successful’ are:

• More integration of land use and the transport system
• Identifying places for demonstration of good density
• Changing residents’ perceptions of density
• Brand and identity – to tell the Birmingham story with a confident voice.

ULI would like to thank Shakespeare Martineau for kindly hosting the ULI Midlands Density Workshops.