Church Street Square

Church Street Square was the first major public realm enhancement scheme that Colmore BID worked on.

Completed in 2012, the scheme transformed a previously wide carriageway into a new open space with reduced road width, benches, trees, greenery and enhanced lighting. The space also has a piece of public art called ‘Umbra’ by Wolfgang Buttress.

The original street width stemmed from the days when Church Street was intended as a boulevard-style street that literally ran between the two churches of St Paul’s and St Philip’s (now Birmingham Cathedral).  The construction of the A38 Queensway in the late 1960’s, bisecting Church Street, ended that role but the street width remained.  The intention here was to shift the use of space away from cars and toward pedestrians, creating a welcoming ‘dwell’ spot for workers and visitors.

The space is significantly more pedestrian friendly, as well as being a pleasant place for people to spend time in. It also provides a space for small events. Colmore BID has hosted live music performances in the space during the summer as part of the Birmingham International Jazz & Blues Festival. The space was also used for the Magnum Sport photographic exhibition in July and August 2012.