Approval for New York City-style High Line park

A computer-generated image of what's envisioned for Digbeth - a so-called sky park akin to New York City's High Line attraction

Plans for a so-called sky park on a disused viaduct in Birmingham, replicating New York City's High Line experience, have been approved by the city council.

The project is part of major plans for Digbeth which would see new homes, a nightclub and more parking created in the area.

Two new bridges would be built to form "a linear sky park atop Duddeston Viaduct" near to Montague Street and The Grand Union Canal, council papers stated.

The viaduct was built about 170 years ago with the intention of it being used as a train line but tracks were never laid.

The High Line in Manhattan, which opened in 2009, is on a former freight line with greenery and artwork along the route which curves amid apartments on either side.

“The reinvention of the viaduct as a park for public access has been a driving factor from the first inception of the current proposals,” a previous council report said.

“There is an opportunity to create a vibrant public space that would be of benefit not only to the existing business and residential community but to the rest of the city centre, wider Birmingham and the West Midlands."

'Significant contribution'

Councillors in Birmingham were told the park could include a publicly accessible, raised pedestrian walkway with a mixture of hard and soft landscape, street furniture, play equipment and viewing platforms.

They were also informed new bridges would be required to compensate for the missing “high level links” to enable the new park to stretch the entire length of the viaduct, creating an elevated public space from Adderley Street to Montague Street.

“As a minimum, stepped access would be provided at the northern end of the viaduct connecting to a green space adjacent to the Grand Union Canal and at the southern end of Lower Trinity Street,” the report stated.

Key elements of Viaduct Park proposed in the application included enabling vegetation to be established, with the design of the park influenced by the nature of the buildings which face it.

There could also be opportunities for local initiatives such as community growing and events.

The report concluded plans would deliver a “significant contribution” to the wider regeneration of Digbeth and deliver new homes and jobs alongside new retail, hotel, leisure and community opportunities.

It said the project would also boost walking and cycling, encourage the cultural and artistic offer, improve safety through natural surveillance and increased footfall, and deliver "new and exciting townscape”.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.