Birmingham office relocation could hinder heritage bid

Office design news from Morgan Lovell

Published on 09-03-2010

A bid to make the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham a World Heritage site could be put in jeopardy due to council cutbacks and the relocation of offices from the area, it has been revealed.

Office relocation plans by local officials have been targeted at reducing the council's costs in the area, as the price of renting office space in the quarter has increased dramatically in recent years.

However, any move to reduce the cultural influence of the area could inadvertently hinder the council's bid to Unesco.

Cabinet member for regeneration Neville Summerfield told the Birminaghm Mail: "We are moving back office staff into the centre, but they will still be working on the Jewellery Quarter. We will also retain a presence in the Jewellery Quarter, but will not pay £30,000 a year for an office we do not need."

Major restoration and regeneration work has been ongoing in the area since the 1980s and the quarter recently became the recipient of a £250 million investment from the Prince's Foundation.

Posted by Adrian Norman.