Birmingham’s creative and digital centre the Custard Factory has been honoured at this year’s Urbanism Awards ceremony. The development, which is home to a cluster of businesses, restaurants, bars and independent retailers, was rewarded for its “catalytic effect” on the economic and cultural growth of the city.
The complex is set in 15 acres of redeveloped Victorian industrial buildings where Alfred Bird once manufactured the well-known instant custard. It was due for demolition in the 1990s before developer Bennie Gray stepped in and began renovating the site.
Today it is a vibrant business community which beat off competition from Bristol’s St Nicholas Market and Peterborough’s Cathedral Square to scoop the Academy of Urbanism’s Great Place award.
Academy chairman Kevin Murray said “These awards celebrate inspirational and heroic stories of places that are saved, turned around, rediscovered and rejuvenated.
“Great places don’t just happen, they are planned, shaped and supported by human endeavour which is why, against tough competition, the Custard Factory is this year’s deserving winner in the Great Place category.”
Gray said that the site was redeveloped against a backdrop of post-industrial urban decline. Despite this, he recognised the potential of the site as a place where creative people could gather and make things happen.
Other winners at the Urbanism Awards include Marseille (European City of the Year Award), Glasgow’s West End (Great Neighbourhood Award) and London’s Lamb’s Conduit Street (Great Street Award).
