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THE CITY CENTRE TAKES ON SUBURBIA - June 2007
Do you enjoy life in the ‘burbs or living it up in the city centre? Are you more Tom and Barbara from The Good Life than Rachel and Joey from Friends? The debate between living in Birmingham’s suburbs and the city centre continues but with such different benefits, which one are you drawn to?
City living in Birmingham is a relatively new phenomenon and one that’s sprung-up from the gradual regeneration of the city centre. It started with the development of the International Convention Centre (ICC) in 1986 and has continued with the £3.5 billion city centre re-development, which includes the BullRing, The Mailbox and other prestigious retail and leisure developments.
Philip Jackson from Maguire Jackson, the specialist city centre estate agents, believes new urban residents love the buzz and convenience of living in the city.
“Both work and socialising are minutes away which is particularly attractive for singles and couples who would rather socialise with friends than sit in traffic jams. Also many residents actually like the anonymity of the city, where they can live privately without the neighbour’s curtain twitching or someone peering over the garden fence!” he said.
One criticism of city centre living is the perceived lack of community and perceived safety risks, but Jackson disagrees.
“Actually, there is a trend in city centre developments which sees renters often selling to owner-occupiers. When those developments mature after a couple of years, there tends to be a sense of neighbourhood and community, just like you’d get living in the suburbs,” he explained.
He added that redeveloped blocks of flats often help to drive a positive economic cycle within a city.
“For example, in the Jewellery Quarter, the Boxworks development, along with lots of others, stood as an empty warehouse for many years before developers began converting it into luxury apartments.
“It’s now helping to rejuvenate the area, creating a positive image and making the most of a previously unused and unloved property,” he said.
However city living is not for everyone with many city workers preferring to hop on a bus and get away from the bright lights to relax. Kevin Ash, managing director of Hunters Group, based in Solihull, said:
“The main reason families move to the suburbs is education. Parents want to be within a catchment area of certain schools. Also, they enjoy the sense of community and there is generally better value for money in the suburbs.”
Further differences in terms of infrastructure make the options more distinct. The suburbs usually have a wider variety of established supermarkets, dentists, doctors and easier access to parks and the countryside.
However, with surburban centres such as Solihull offering facilities such as Touchwood, the choices in the suburbs are as good as in the city.
The debate may never be settled but the beauty of cities like Birmingham means every resident has the choice. With every stage of your life from singledom to coupling to family life, there will always be a part of the city to suit your needs.
Maguire Jackson, Leading Letting & Estate Agents in Birmingham City Centre: flats & apartments to rent Birmingham, property to rent Birmingham. Property, flats, apartments, for sale in Birmingham. Commercial property, offices to rent and for sale, Birmingham.
