Alexander Stadium legacy development plans

Image: Birmingham 2022

A plan to secure a lasting, positive legacy for the renovated Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, England (UK) and the surrounding parkland after the Commonwealth Games is due before the City Council’s Cabinet on October 11^th.

‘Birmingham City Council’ stated that the full business case (FBC) for the £21 million of legacy developments aligns with the wider Perry Barr 2040 masterplan, which was formally approved earlier this year.

The 18,000-capacity Alexander Stadium is a track and field athletics stadium in Perry Park, Birmingham, England (UK). It hosted the athletics and opening/closing ceremonies of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

A full business case (FBC) should provide all the information needed to support a decision to award a contract and commit actual funding, and should provide a basis for the necessary project management, monitoring, evaluation, and benefits realization.

The Perry Barr 2040 Masterplan looks to maximize the opportunities presented by the existing qualities of the area, the current £700 million+ package of major projects being delivered in the district and Birmingham’s status as Proud Host City for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Birmingham 2022, was an international multisport event for members of the Commonwealth of Nations that took place in Birmingham, England (UK) between July 28^th and August 8^th, 2022.

‘Birmingham City Council’ further stated that in a report to the Cabinet members, the Alexander Stadium and Perry Park are described as being at the heart of the area’s regeneration – which is seeing more than £750 million being invested in new homes, improved highways and public transport links as well as the delivery of community facilities and infrastructure.
 

Access to high-quality facilities for sport and recreation is cited as an important aspect of the future vision for the area, and will be realized through the FBC as follows:

• Extended and enhanced gym and leisure facilities within the stadium complex;
• A new visitor center and café located in Perry Park;
• New physical activity installations/external play facilities for all ages in the Park; and
• Delivery of new pathways and cycle routes around the Park.

 
The Council is also working with the Birmingham City University (announced as a new tenant for the revamped stadium back in 2019) and other future tenants on the offering for elite and community sports provision in the stadium complex, including the neighboring High Performance Centre.

Work to remove the temporary overlay and structures that were put in place for the Commonwealth Games is ongoing. Some activity, such as gymnastics classes at the Gymnastics and Martial Arts Centre, has already resumed at the wider stadium site, which is also home to the Birchfield Harriers athletics club – whose members will benefit from the new world-class facilities too.

If approved, the program of works within the FBC will be carried out in phases, which will be completed between early 2023 and Spring 2024.

Commented Councilor Ian Ward, Leader of the Birmingham City Council, “The redevelopment of the Alexander Stadium was always about much more than the 11 days of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games sport, which were so glorious and memorable. Through these proposals, we have an investment program that will ensure the venue and its surrounds have a broad range of uses for everyone from the people of Perry Barr to students to elite sports performers. The old Alexander Stadium struggled to have a meaningful year-round purpose – but our legacy from this redevelopment is to address that shortcoming and for Birmingham to be home to the premier athletics facility in the United Kingdom.”

The FBC and the related Cabinet papers can be viewed on the Council’s website.

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