Millennium Point's splendid isolation - surrounded by derelict buildings and largely hidden from Birmingham city centre - will soon be a thing of the past thanks to a £39 million land clearance programme.
A funding deal by Advantage West Midlands, the regional development agency, is designed to kick- start the second phase of the £6 billion Eastside regeneration project.
AWM will form two joint venture companies with the city council, enabling the cash to be used to buy land for the construction of a technology- led mixed-use scheme and a park.
The move is intended to help solve problems caused by the remoteness of the Thinktank museum and Millennium Point, which are surrounded by empty buildings and regarded by visitors as remote from the city centre.
Disappointing attendance figures at Millennium Point have been blamed in part on access difficulties faced by pedestrians, even though the building is less than 15 minutes on foot from the Rotunda.
Ken Hardeman, council cabinet member for regeneration, said the partnership with AWM would allow land ownership issues to be dealt with quickly.
Land to the east of Millennium Point, straddling Belmont Row and Jennens Road, which is earmarked for a technology park, will be offered to the market as soon as possible.
Coun Hardeman (Con Brandwood) added: "This will give a vote of confidence to would-be developers who will be able to recognise that the second phase of Eastside is being given some impetus."
The city park, the first in central Birmingham for more than 100 years, will be predominantly grass, Coun Hardeman confirmed. His decision puts paid to speculation that the park might be based on Japanese designs with gravel walkways, paving and concrete benches.
When completed the park will open a green swathe from Moor Street Station into the heart of Eastside, opening up views of Millennium Point from Moor Street Queensway for the first time.
Richard Green, director of Eastside, said: "The council will receive grant aid from AWM to complete the land acquisitions and to fund clearance, remediation and servicing of the new plots of land. The result will be the development of a substantial piece of the Eastside initiative and the integration of Millennium Point within the enlarged city centre.
"The joint ventures secure land both for the city park and provide for a major mixed-use development, continuing the emphasis on learning and technology but also providing opportunities for complementary developments adjacent to the proposed park and canal network."
