From cheap side to Eastside

The plans include a media village and new library site

Digbeth in Birmingham is to be renamed as part of ambitious plans to regenerate 420 acres of the city centre at a cost of £6bn.

The new development, to be known as Eastside, will take 10 years and link newly-created neighbourhoods through a network of pedestrian parkland.

The parkland will be Birmingham's newest since the 19th Century.

Council leader Sir Albert Bore said: "I would hope to see this area developed within five to 10 years.

"That was the time scale for Brindley Place and given the interest that we have in Eastside we could see it developing much quicker."

The aim is to create a cultural, learning and technology quarter, including a new library for the city.

Aston University, Aston Science Park and the University of Central England will also link up with the new library.

Birmingham Conservatoire is to move to a new building within the Eastside development.

Warwick Bar, a cluster of historic listed buildings, disused canal basins and wharves will become the Media Village.

Buildings on the site are to be restored and water re-introduced with the help of British Waterways.

This part of the development will cost £40m and involve the creation of a 500-seat performance venue.

Another scheme to develop 60 acres of central Birmingham, to be known as Park Central, has already been approved by the Council at cabinet committee level.

That will cost £150m and includes plans for 1,500 homes.