Birmingham
Birmingham, known as Britain's Second City, lies at the heart of the West Midlands Conurbation. It is home to more than one million people from a range of different cultures and ethnic groups, making it the largest city outside of London.
Birmingham City Council is the largest local authority in the UK and the largest council in Europe with 120 councillors representing 40 wards.
Birmingham was the powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution in England, a fact which led to it being known as "the workshop of the world" or the "city of a thousand trades". Although Birmingham's industrial importance has declined, it has developed into a national commercial centre. Birmingham is a national hub for conferences, retail and events along with an established high tech, research and development sector, supported by its three Universities.
The Big City Plan is a large redevelopment plan currently underway in the city centre of Birmingham with the aim of regenerating the city. The ambitious plan will increase the city centre area fivefold, provide 60,000 new homes, many new landmark buildings and the first new park in the city for 125 years
Further Information
www.birmingham.gov.uk
www.visitbirmingham.com
www.bebirmingham.org.uk
www.bigcityplan.birmingham.gov.uk
www.bham.ac.uk
www.bcu.ac.uk
www.aston.ac.uk