Grand Central Birmingham shows retail’s power to rejuvenate cities

Retail Week’s cameras were present this week as the ribbon was cut on Grand Central Birmingham, the biggest retail development to open since Trinity Leeds.

And if you were ever in doubt about the integral role retail plays as part of the fabric of our society then you need look no further than this 500,000 sq ft space.

The development is expected to create over 1,000 jobs and more than 50 million visitors will pass through the centre each year. More than 3,000 construction jobs, including 115 apprenticeships, were created in a project that also saw the overhaul of New Street station.

The development itself will breathe new life into areas to the south of New Street that were hard for visitors to access before.

But its place in the wider regeneration of the city is even more significant.

Birmingham revival

As a teenager my summers were spent working on the factory floors of Birmingham, playing a very small part in the city’s proud history of manufacturing, and I returned to live in the city for a number of years after university as a young journalist.

Proud as I am of those Brummie roots, I have always understood why Birmingham has been burdened by so many negative connotations.

“It is no exaggeration to say that Grand Central has become the symbol of Birmingham’s rejuvenation”

Chris Brook-Carter

Those that were unable to invest the time to understand Birmingham’s many hidden charms, from its famous jewellery quarter and network of canals, to its vibrant live music scene and warmth of its people, could leave with a sense the city was past its best, run down and locked in the past – a view that was supported by the utilitarian architecture that dominated its skyline and an often uninspiring retail offering.

That began to change with the development of the Mailbox and the Bullring. And, economically at least, Birmingham has been undergoing something of a revival of late, underpinned by the very same manufacturing base that has in the past held it back.

Changing the image of the city

Such is the power of retailing in reflecting the local cultures it serves, it is no exaggeration to say that Grand Central has become the symbol of that rejuvenation – driving it on through the creation of jobs but defining it too through the hope and pride that the arrival of great retail brands such as John Lewis have brought to the region.

“When the station and Grand Central are complete, people’s perception and experience of the city will be transformed,” said John Lewis managing director Andy Street, who is also chairman of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.

Those changed perceptions will be a further force in changing the outdated image of the city, helping to attract visitors and further investment.

It is hard to think of any industry other than retail with the power to move people in that way.