On 28 July, 2005 Birmingham was hit by a one of the strongest tornados ever recorded in the United Kingdom. Striking at roughly 2.30 in the afternoon, the tornado quickly carved a kilometre long path through the Sparkbrook area of the city.
With 100mph strong winds recorded, the tornado measured T4 on the Torro (Tornado and Storm Research Organisation) scale.
Fortunately there were no fatalities, but over 1000 trees were uprooted and many residential and commercial properties were damaged beyond repair. The total cost of the two minute tornado was estimated to be around the £40 million mark.
The rebuilding of the Sparkbrook area of Birmingham is now underway, with local construction firm, Mansell, recently being awarded the design and rebuild contract for a new church in the area, to replace the one damaged in the 2005 tornado.
The Birmingham Post wrote, ‘the £7.3 million project will include a three storey community centre and a new church to replace the Victorian built Church… The new facilities include GP and nurse facilities, clinics, dental services and a pharmacy. The centre will also include a library, a Birmingham City Council customer service centre, a community centre, six start-up offices and an enclosed garden.’
The project will provide brand new, top quality, commercial property to the area. It is hoped that the new office space for start up social enterprises or businesses, which is integrated in the plans, will benefit the community as a whole.
It is hoped that work will be completed by late 2011, a full six years after the tornado hit the area.
Whilst no one ever wishes for a natural disaster and the consequences are never fully justified, this area of Birmingham will be pleased that the tornado has offered the opportunity to look to a brighter future. Thanks to the regeneration scheme, Sparkbrook will have state of the art commercial property that will hopefully help the town grow.
