Case Study: Birmingham City Council transforms Birmingham’s retail core into a mixed-use city centre with Gensler

Birmingham City Council transforms Birmingham Central Heart with Gensler to unlock up to 5,000 homes and 8,000 jobs

The customer, Birmingham City Council, faced the challenge of a declining retail core with rising vacancies, needing to reimagine its central district to remain competitive and resilient. They engaged the vendor, Gensler, for its expertise in cities and urban design to create a new vision for a mixed-use urban experience that would attract investment and support long-term growth.

Gensler developed the Birmingham Central Heart vision, a strategy to transform four hectares of underutilized land into a vibrant, connected neighborhood. The solution links eight key development sites with new public spaces and green routes, creating a district activated by homes, workplaces, and culture. The impact includes a foundation for long-term growth with the potential for up to 5,000 new homes, 8,000 new jobs, over 400,000 square metres of commercial space, and more than 7 hectares of new public space.

Birmingham City Council