Birmingham Proven to be the Best Place to Live and Work! - Nov 2006
November 2006
Recent reports have proven that Birmingham is one of the best places to live and work in the UK.
The Cushman and Wakefield European and UK Cities Monitor 2006 found that Birmingham was the best city in the UK for businesses to find a new headquarters building.
Birmingham has undergone a vibrant urban renaissance and boasts over 31,000 companies, many of who are globally renowned in the manufacturing, electronics, breakthrough technologies and financial and professionals services sectors. Such established names as Jaguar, Cadbury’s, Goodyear Dunlop and Eversheds, are all based in the city.
Birmingham also boasts the highest growth in financial and professional service sectors outside London, as well as being the UK’s number one exhibition, conference and event city.
The report also found the best availability of car parking in the UK in Birmingham and also the lowest cost for parking.
Outside of London, Birmingham was also considered to be the best city to locate to as a business today, offering the easiest access to markets, the best external transport links and the easiest recruitment of qualified staff. Its office space was also viewed as offering the best value for money, outside Sheffield.
These statistics have been further underlined following the decision by Big Lottery Fund to relocate to Apex House in Edgbaston, the largest city centre office letting in Birmingham in almost three years, and the record £150 million sale of office tower block, Colmore Plaza, in what is thought to be the biggest investment deal for an office development in the city.
These two schemes have highlighted Birmingham’s development as a professional centre. Apex House recently won the prestigious title of the ‘Out of London Best Office Refurbishment 2006’ at the Office Agents Society Awards in October and global equity firm The Carlyle Group chose to relocate to Colmore Plaza, helping to reinforce Birmingham’s reputation as an international business city.
The Cushman and Wakefield European Cities Monitor 2006 again reinforces this by stating that Birmingham’s office space is considered to be the 10th best in Europe in terms of value for money and ease of access to markets. It was also viewed as the 11th best city in Europe for external transport links.
And Birmingham has been recognised internationally after being awarded the title of ‘European City of the Future’ at the Property Awards in Munich at the end of last year - beating the likes of Barcelona, Paris and London.
Living in the city has also become more and more alluring for investors as well. House prices in the highly desirable Edgbaston area, are now significantly above the national average - currently standing in excess of £625,000. These prices reflect how highly sought-after properties in the area now are.
Zoe Reece, Sales and Marketing Manager for Calthorpe Estates commented: “Anyone who currently lives and works in Birmingham knows what a vibrant and thriving city it is. Its reputation as an international destination is rapidly growing and it is increasing in importance and attractiveness for both UK and international businesses.
“All of the recent reports, statistics and awards go to show that Birmingham is very much the best place to live and work”.
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