Flights from China to Birmingham across the summer announced

A deal was struck with Hainan Airlines to launch twice weekly flights from Birmingham Airport - expected to bring in thousands of Chinese tourists.

A programme of charter flights from Beijing would take place from July 3 to August 28 as part of an agreement announced by Culture Secretary Sajid Javid during a visit to China.

The flights were expected to deliver a £19 million boost to the regional economy, with wealthy Chinese tourists let loose on the region's shops and tourist attractions.

Birmingham Airport also unveiled its new Chinese branding - Birmingham Airport, Shakespeare's Airport - at the same event.

Electric cinema fears allayed after apartment plans withdrawn

Plans for apartments next to The Electric cinema in Birmingham city centre - which bosses feared would put it out of business - were scrapped after a raft of objections.

The owner of the oldest working cinema in the UK had feared the scheme would lead to its demise because of noise pollution complaints from residents.

However, plans to turn the former snooker hall next door into studio apartments were withdrawn, something The Electric's owner Tom Lawes called "democracy in action".

Green light for Dandara's vision for V Building site

A city centre site once earmarked for a 51-storey tower will be home to blocks half the size containing more than 300 flats after plans were approved.

Birmingham City Council planners said they were delighted the empty site next to Alpha Tower in Suffolk Street Queensway would no longer be home to the "monstrosity" of the 'V Building'.

Once planned as Birmingham's tallest building almost two decades ago, the vision never came to fruition as a result of the economic slump.

Instead a modest pair of towers, the tallest a mere 23 storeys, will be built by One Birmingham, part of development group Dandara, on land in front of the Crowne Plaza Hotel and next to the new Arena Central scheme.

Poundland founder's home on market for £5.75m

The mansion owned by the founder of discount chain Poundland Steve Smith was placed on the market for £5.75m during March.

The 51-year-old, who started his career on his parents' market stall in Bilston, had been forced to knock a cool £750,000 off the asking price from the £6.5 million it was advertised for during 2014.

Mr Smith had previously said he spent three or four years refurbishing the seven-bedroom home, which is set in 28 acres, after buying it for £2.2 million a decade ago.

"We have llamas - they're cheaper than lawnmowers," he said.

Solihull's Touchwood shopping centre unveils expansion plans

Solihull's Touchwood shopping centre is to be transformed with an expansion that will see 30 new shops and restaurants added.

Public consultation launched during March on the project which is being made possible through a development agreement between Touchwood's owners Lend Lease and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.

The development will see two existing council buildings demolished to make way for the 115,000 sq ft extension, with the council concentrating all its operations in the neighbouring Church Hill House building, its main headquarters.

Proceeds from the development will be used to fund a complete refurbishment of Church Hill House.

Plans to turn Wholesale Markets into Birmingham's family quarter

One of the largest city centre regeneration schemes in history took a step closer during March after plans to create a family and leisure hub on the Wholesale Markets site were unveiled.

Long-awaited £500 million proposals to redevelop 34.2 acres of prime city centre land around the markets went on show at MIPIM, the annual property conference in France.

The ten-year vision, which saw the area rebranded Birmingham Smithfield, is aiming to build museums, cinemas, art galleries and music venues to be created on the run down area bordering the Bullring.

The site will deliver more than one million sq ft of floorspace, 1,000 new homes and 3,000 new jobs, adding £470 million a year to the local economy and attracting millions more visitors to the region, according to the city council.

Birmingham to grow by 'another Oxford' as it launches housing prospectus

Birmingham unveiled its largest-ever housing plan with the city expected to grow by the equivalent population of Oxford over the next 16 years.

The Birmingham Housing Prospectus outlined every single housing development site in the city in one document in a bid to encourage investment, with the city's population set to grow by 150,000 by 2031.

The plan aims to address a much-debated housing shortage in the city expected with 100,000 new jobs to be created across that time.

Birmingham City Council is targeting £9 billion of investment from property developers to meet the target of 80,000 new homes, having identified some 40 major brownfield sites.

Three Snowhill plans submitted in major step for Birmingham offices

Detailed plans were submitted for Three Snowhill meaning up to 400,000 sq ft of badly needed office space is en route to the city.

Developer Ballymore is behind the plans which will take the total area of the Snowhill estate to almost one million sq ft.

Several global firms are rumoured to be interested in taking space on the scheme.

Three Snowhill, which was granted planning permission later in the year, will comprise 360,000 sq ft of grade A offices over 16 storeys, complemented with 40,000 sq ft of leisure and retail space, and parking spaces over four floors.

Review of Year 2015 - January

Review of Year 2015 - February