Menu
04/09/2003
Birmingham’s £500m Bullring shopping centre reopens
The Bullring, the £500m shopping experience in Birmingham City, has opened its door to the public today.
Re-christened as a single word, the Bullring replaces the much-maligned Bull Ring, a building reviled as all that was wrong with 1960s British architecture.
Birmingham City council leader Sir Albert Bore unveiled a bronze statue of a bull at the site performed the opening ceremony in the complex’s 'Rotunda Square'.
The team behind the project, Birmingham Alliance, is fully confident that the massive scheme, equivalent to 26 football pitches of shopping space, will be a thriving success. The complex is anticipating up to 30 million visitors in its first year.
Project Director, Jon Emery said: “Bullring will bring Birmingham alongside other European cities as a major shopping destination.
“It’s the largest retail regeneration scheme in Europe for over a decade and is home to 150 additional stores for the city."
The first phase at the 40-acre site was a 5,500 sq m state-of-the-art indoor market housing 90 traders, which opened in September 2000. The second phase, at a cost of £100 million, was the 17,000 sq m Martineau Place scheme that opened in November 2001.
But the largest by far is the Bullring phase comprising 110,000 sq m of prime retail space over three trading levels.
The last phase, Martineau Galleries, involves a 14-acre site with 57,000 sq m of further retail and leisure developments.
Famously described as a “concrete carbuncle”, the former shopping centre building at the site was demolished in 1999 to make way for a recurved edifice of steel, glass and aluminium disks.
(SP)
Re-christened as a single word, the Bullring replaces the much-maligned Bull Ring, a building reviled as all that was wrong with 1960s British architecture.
Birmingham City council leader Sir Albert Bore unveiled a bronze statue of a bull at the site performed the opening ceremony in the complex’s 'Rotunda Square'.
The team behind the project, Birmingham Alliance, is fully confident that the massive scheme, equivalent to 26 football pitches of shopping space, will be a thriving success. The complex is anticipating up to 30 million visitors in its first year.
Project Director, Jon Emery said: “Bullring will bring Birmingham alongside other European cities as a major shopping destination.
“It’s the largest retail regeneration scheme in Europe for over a decade and is home to 150 additional stores for the city."
The first phase at the 40-acre site was a 5,500 sq m state-of-the-art indoor market housing 90 traders, which opened in September 2000. The second phase, at a cost of £100 million, was the 17,000 sq m Martineau Place scheme that opened in November 2001.
But the largest by far is the Bullring phase comprising 110,000 sq m of prime retail space over three trading levels.
The last phase, Martineau Galleries, involves a 14-acre site with 57,000 sq m of further retail and leisure developments.
Famously described as a “concrete carbuncle”, the former shopping centre building at the site was demolished in 1999 to make way for a recurved edifice of steel, glass and aluminium disks.
(SP)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
23 May 2008
Former Teacher Admits Terror Plot
A man has pleaded guilty to threatening to blow up Europe's largest shopping complex. Saeed Ghafoor, 33, said he intended to bomb Bluewater shopping centre in Kent using three limousines fitted with gas canisters. The court heard that when he was quizzed about his plans he said he had not "finalised them".
Former Teacher Admits Terror Plot
A man has pleaded guilty to threatening to blow up Europe's largest shopping complex. Saeed Ghafoor, 33, said he intended to bomb Bluewater shopping centre in Kent using three limousines fitted with gas canisters. The court heard that when he was quizzed about his plans he said he had not "finalised them".
24 April 2008
Crimewatch To Renew Hunt For Matalan Killers
Officers are appealing for information in connection with last month's murder of a Matalan assistant manager - helped by TV's Crimewatch programme. Jamie Simpson, 33, was fatally stabbed on 22 March at Kingsland Shopping Centre, Hackney, east London, while he was cashing up just after the store had closed.
Crimewatch To Renew Hunt For Matalan Killers
Officers are appealing for information in connection with last month's murder of a Matalan assistant manager - helped by TV's Crimewatch programme. Jamie Simpson, 33, was fatally stabbed on 22 March at Kingsland Shopping Centre, Hackney, east London, while he was cashing up just after the store had closed.
06 July 2006
Sunday trading laws to remain the same
There is to be no change to current Sunday shopping hours, Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling has announced. The Sunday Trading Act 1994 limits the opening of large shops - those shops over 280 sq m/3,000 sq ft - in England and Wales to only six continual hours between 10am and 6pm. Larger shops must also close on Easter Sunday.
Sunday trading laws to remain the same
There is to be no change to current Sunday shopping hours, Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling has announced. The Sunday Trading Act 1994 limits the opening of large shops - those shops over 280 sq m/3,000 sq ft - in England and Wales to only six continual hours between 10am and 6pm. Larger shops must also close on Easter Sunday.
18 September 2015
Ten Arrested In Drug Raids
Nine men and one woman have been arrested in a series of police raids across Birmingham, Solihull and Smethwick. Police carried out the raids early on Thursday morning making ten arrests on suspicion of conspiring to supply dangerous class A drugs like heroin and crack cocaine.
Ten Arrested In Drug Raids
Nine men and one woman have been arrested in a series of police raids across Birmingham, Solihull and Smethwick. Police carried out the raids early on Thursday morning making ten arrests on suspicion of conspiring to supply dangerous class A drugs like heroin and crack cocaine.
25 February 2013
Rail Firm And Signalman Guilty In Signal Crossing Crash
Both Newtwork Rail and a railway signalman have been found guilty of failing to ensure the safety of a woman who was killed at a level crossing. Jane Harding, 52, died when the car she was in was hit by a train at Moreton-on-Lugg, Herefordshire, in 2010.
Rail Firm And Signalman Guilty In Signal Crossing Crash
Both Newtwork Rail and a railway signalman have been found guilty of failing to ensure the safety of a woman who was killed at a level crossing. Jane Harding, 52, died when the car she was in was hit by a train at Moreton-on-Lugg, Herefordshire, in 2010.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A chilly start with a widespread frost and some freezing fog, any freezing fog slow to clear. Otherwise bright with sunny spells and coastal showers. Light winds. Maximum temperature 6 °C.Tonight:Coastal showers dying out with a widespread frost developing along with freezing fog, which could become extensive. Winds remaining light. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
