Birmingham’s business community is urging the Government not to stand in the way of city council plans to demolish the Central Library.
The influential One Voice Group – representing the Chamber of Commerce, the Confederation of Britishs Industry, the Engineering Employers’ Federation, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Institute of Directors, Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future – has written to Culture Minister Margaret Hodge insisting that the 1970s “brutalist” structure is not worth preserving.
The letter is in response to a recommendation from English Heritage to list the library as a building of architectural importance. This move, which if approved by Mrs Hodge, would make it difficult for the council to push forward with a £1 billion redevelopment of Paradise Circus.
In the letter, the group says listing would “deprive this important area of the city centre of much-needed development and most importantly, regeneration”.
The letter adds: “The area in which the library sits is an important gateway in the city leading out to the ICC, Symphony Hall and beyond.
“The current building remaining in position and effectively putting a stranglehold on this gateway will serve no meaningful purpose.”
The group argues that the transformation of Paradise Circus is critical to the continuing economic and social regeneration of Birmingham and cannot happen if the library remains in place.
The campaign to influence Mrs Hodge’s decision, adds: “The plan to develop a new library complex in Centenary Square deserves support from central Government and national agencies.
“ It certainly has the support of a significant majority of the business community in Birmingham.
“We care deeply about how the city develops as a centre for business and culture and we are strong in our belief that these interests will be better served by supporting plans for a new Library of Birmingham.”
The One Voice Group said its view was supported by separate polls conducted by Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future. In both cases, overwhelming majorities were against listing.
Mrs Hodge is being urged to save the library building by the Friends of the Central Library pressure group and the 20th Century Society.
Birmingham Forward chairman Richard Edwards said: “This is a very important issue for Birmingham and one that is of great concern to our members and the wider business community.
He said 62 per cent of respondents to the e-poll believed the building should not be listed, 38 per cent were in favour of the listing with two per cent unsure.
