Councillors support £450m revamp

Plans for a £450m revamp of part of Birmingham have been been given the go-ahead by city councillors.

Outline planning permission was granted for developing the city's Eastside, next to Millennium Point, by building new flats, a park, offices and hotel.

The Eastside Locks development, which would create up to 5,000 jobs, includes a new £150m campus for Birmingham City University.

The developer Goodman will submit more detailed plans to the council in 2009.

It is working with Advantage West Midlands on the scheme and building work is planned to start in 2010.

Mick Laverty, chief executive of Advantage West Midlands, has said the aim was "to deliver a thriving and dynamic extension to the centre of Birmingham".