Calls for temporary rainbow decoration of Hippodrome Square to be made permanent

After plans for a £9.5million new look for a flagship section of Birmingham’s Southside district fell through, the area has been temporarily decked out in rainbow colours which have led to people asking for the eye-popping feature to become permanent.  

Although the current street surface decorations are temporary – put in place ahead of the Commonwealth Games 2022 – people are calling for the vibrant colour scheme to become a permanent fixture after photographs of the newly decorated Hippodrome Square were shared on social media.

The redevelopment plans – estimated at £9.5million – to give Hippodrome Square in Hurst Street a bright new look in time for the start of the Commonwealth Games seem to have stalled after the company which won the project went into administration last October.

The original design and concept behind the project was to make the area look like a brand new “front door for Birmingham city centre” and a “gateway to Birmingham’s Chinatown and Gay Quarter”.

The core idea behind the new design proposal for the area is to link New Street Station, Victoria Square and and Centenary Square by introducing cycle lanes, pedestrian walkways and more accessibility options for wheelchair users.

The new design for the area also includes trees and street furniture but the plans have been put on ice until after the Commonwealth Games have wrapped.

To render the area beautiful and welcoming to visitors to the city during the Commonwealth Games the surface of Hippodrome Square has been temporarily covered in bright rainbow colours which reflect the Gay Village ambience of the surrounding area and the forthcoming Birmingham Pride events.

Those who have seen photographs of the new style of the area have taken to social media and the vast majority of the comments are positive with people asking for the bright and bold colours of Hippodrome Square to be part of any future redevelopment of the area.