Upper Trinity Street, Digbeth - mode transport planning

mode transport planning was appointed by Cole Waterhouse to prepare transportation and highways inputs to a planning application for a residential and a cultural-led commercial development on land at Upper Trinity Street, which is located within the Digbeth area of Birmingham and close to the proposed terminus of HS2.

Designed by Corstorphine+Wright with sustainability at its core, the £260m scheme will include 943 new homes, some with live-work space and roof gardens, 60,000 sq ft of flexible commercial space, car parking and large new areas of public realm across a network of landscaped yards, squares and hidden spaces. The application also includes a 133-bedroom hotel that occupies a key location overlooking the proposed Skypark on Duddeston Viaduct.

The application for development of Upper Trinity Street is intended to be unparalleled and will seek to celebrate Digbeth’s unique history in the city. As such, the proposal is for a place led cultural and residential response to the opportunity the site offers to enrich Digbeth.

Images: Corstorphine + Wright

The lower levels of the proposal will offer creative, cultural and commercial space with the residential component located above within a series of tall building elements.

Stitched into the existing and emerging public realm of Digbeth, the Upper Trinity Street proposals will link the existing canal network to Birmingham’s proposed Skypark through to the new Pump House Park. mode’s transportation input to the scheme included:

masterplanning inputs
review of movement from the site for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport and how this fits into the Birmingham City Centre Cells (Birmingham Transport Plan);
ensuring the scheme is well connected to HS2 at Curzon Street, the Midland Metro Extension as well as the Sprint Bus Rapid Transit;
developing a strategy of how the scheme will connect with the emerging Birmingham Skypark;
promoting a site with low levels of parking;
servicing strategy;
integration with Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) strategy;
preparation of the transport assessment; and
preparation of the travel plan
eia transport chapter.

There are to be significant public transport, walking and cycling improvements proposed within the local area of Digbeth, Eastside and the city centre as a whole coming forward; given the expected timescales of this application coming forward. The site is well placed to contribute and benefits from Digbeth’s regeneration happening in line with the delivery of HS2.

Birmingham City Council has unanimously approved the plans at committee on 22 July 2021.

Images courtesy: Corstorphine & Wright