Survey Results - The Royalty Harborne

Options for the Royalty? Click on the various options to see ideas for the future of the Royalty.

Auditorium Restaurant Cafe Foyer Roof Bar New Hub

The Royalty Consultation Survey Results

The results of the survey are now available to download.

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HRT is grateful to the 1,180 respondents who spent time to complete the survey and of course to Birmingham City Council for arranging the Local Innovation Fund grant which enabled this consultation.

HRT would also like to thank Miller Kendrick, RIBA Chartered Architects and Crendon Insurance Brokers Limited for their help and support.

Over the short consultation period of just over five weeks, 14th September 2018 to 23rd October 2018, HRT received 1,180 valid responses. Set out below is a summary of key consultation results:

90% want to see the Royalty restored as a community facility.

88% would use a cinema.

75% think Harborne should have a new live performance venue.

95% No to the Royalty being demolished and rebuilt as apartments.

93% A restored listed building can add to the vitality of a High Street.

Out of the 1180 responses, 809 gave consent by HRT for updates which demonstrates the interest and support for HRT

Survey Responses

I think the entire circle should be turned into a cinema art deco style.
To keep as many original features as possible.
Ensuring that the art deco features are preserved and restored sympathetically in the context of a contemporary interior, with consideration of easy to maintain and clean and choice of finishes that are up to date, eco. Facilitating use by people with physical disabilities and learning difficulties. Needs a car park that is affordable.
Keep it high end.
Please please please don't build apartments. Parking is already impossible on my road. The community is crying out for facilities and a community space. Please listen to the voice of the community and use this fantastic opportunity for the good of Harborne residents and the residents of surrounding areas
Keep as much original as possible
Lovely period building that needs to be saved for the future
It absolutely should not be demolished. It should be restored to its former glory and be available for the use of the community. I think a cinema as part of it is a brilliant idea as that is lacking in Harborne.
It is very important to me to keep and restore beautiful Art Deco features
Whatever you create, if it will attract more people then you absolutely need to provide parking. Congestion is the biggest problem in Harborne right now, a residents car park would probably be a better use of the space than any of the proposed plans. If new plans would result in more cars with no significant additional parking then it’s not going to work.
Just that I am enthusiastic about conservation and it would be a terrible shame if the building lost its historic integrity.
Keep as much of the original building as possible and compliment in with new modern additions.
If something does happen soon, the building will be beyond saving. Alternative use could be convert it into a transport hub and put a tram down the high street into town.
I Harborne we need more community focused things to do. A cinema would support all ages, a nursery or stay and play would be an advantage.
I think this is a fantastic idea - would be a terrible shame if it turned into flats. A facility that could become a central hub for community projects/activities and somewhere that could support local businesses would be great and is something Harborne really needs.
No more flats please.
Art Deco Cinema - improve the look as well as community aspect of the west end of high street
Please don’t make it into apartments!! Harborne needs a community space to bring more money, jobs and enjoyment with community spirit to the area.
I think parking is a necessity, I lived in Harborne for 7 years and just moved to bearwood. But family were sometimes reluctant to visit places in Harborne due to the poor parking. Buses and taxis are not appropriate for everyone and I think some consideration needs to be given to this.
A building such as this should be used for something that the local community can take a pride in, it could be an iconic building with the right usage.
If the royalty was restored to its former glory it would definitely draw people in. Years ago people would travel for miles to go to the bear to watch comedy and a lot of people now come into Harborne to go to places like the plough. But it would need to be done well and offer something special that you can't get anywhere else.
Would like the original features i.e. windows and frontage to be kept as it has been part of the community's history for so long. Beautiful building which I would be sorry to lose.
Catchment of local schools already severely restricted by number of flats in close proximity
It needs to be retained as a community hub it's a much loved building and should serve as a focal point of the high street.
Retain all original features, do not destroy them. It is part of our heritage and should be keep and sympathetically restored
The proposal of community space alongside a cinema is very appealing. Really hope this happens!
It would be good to see our heritage protected
The heart of Harborne must have a community meeting point such as cinema. There are too many apartments. If social opportunities are not available to residents the community will have no reason to remain.
If you build the hub you lose any available parking you have. If this is then used as a venue for live stuff you will need parking as people will park on the street as close as they can. Parking is already bad even though there are a few car parks on the high street. Not close enough though for this new venue to use.
Please preserve this unique Art Deco building as much as possible. I love the arts' and an Art Deco cinema would thrive. Lindy hop/swing dancing (my dance style) and ballroom are growing in popularity and an arts space and/or dance floor would be useful in a space to use to accompany films and film related events. The lighthouse cinema and electric cinema host great events too.
I think of it being similar to the MAC or the The REP
Too many private apartments built to the loss of great buildings - a community space would be invaluable
See the Regal at Evesham as an example of what can be done or indeed a Harborne MAC would be great.
I have indicated my own preferences but don't object to the other options in principle. I wonder whether local businesses would be concerned about competition. But perhaps they could be engaged in the process.
Cinema
Retain as many original features as possible.
Keep the design in keeping with the original features and use it for its original purpose - a cinema.
Keep the Art Deco style – it’s history & beautiful.
Look at the Watershed in Cape Town re craft enterprise.
Too many apartments in the area. Cinema/live venue idea differentiates from other local villages.
This is a perfect opportunity to create something positive for the families of Harborne.
Keep the features of the architecture. Do it quickly, it’s such a shame how it’s been left. I used to live in Hackney in London and the empire and picturehouse there were major to the community.
Would love to see it preserved and awaken again.
To lose such a unique building would be a tragedy. My Dad used to visit the Royalty when it was still a cinema – let’s bring it back so that I can do the same! With HS2 around the corner, opportunities to improve local community facility will only have a positive impact on Harborne and continue its reputation for being a great place to live.
Definitely support nonflat proposals
How about affordable flexible office space. We have a growing number of locals who are either running independent businesses or working from home. Open plan office hubs with hot desks for weekly or web daily rental.
Must be maintained ongoing if not developed into residential accommodation. Must not encourage anti-social behaviour. Must not attract the drug addicts seen around Harborne. Must not just be aimed at families with children, not all of us want or have them and some who do want a place to escape the kids!
More accommodation is required for retired people in the area as this age group is increasing. Also there are many of the uses listed already available in the area.
Would be ideal if as much of the auditorium could be preserved as possible
Keep it traditional
Such a beautiful building needs to be given the breath of freshness so that the community can enjoy all that it can offer again. A cinema can bring entertainment for all ages to enjoy again. Live music for local bands, themed events - Peaky Blinders evenings - similar to BCM, food festivals - markets
Need to preserve the character of the old building with any modern addition being clearly differentiated
Could incorporate a hotel
There is very little live music in Harborne and these plans could change that which would be very exciting
Definitely not more flats or apartments!
Make it like the Electric cinema in the town centre with a community space like in Stirchley Baths.
Redevelopment is surely a better option than an empty unused, unloved building & flats will add nothing to the community where a multi-function space will benefit many people & if you could add the addition of things such as comedy or local dram productions it will be another draw to a thriving community.
Close to the original
This beautiful building must be saved and restored. The future function of the building must serve the local community but should also attract people from other neighbourhoods who support culture. The new function should raise the 'reputation' of Harborne and should establish it as a cultural district.
Should be restored to its former glory and used for the community. It should be a cinema and performing arts space to bring trade to Harborne, working with local independent food and alcohol companies and local arts groups to bring together a fantastic experience unlike anything else in the West Midlands. The space could have studios for artists to hire for recordings, space for local drama / music groups to practice and perform, cinema that operates similarly to the electric with great events to accompany the films (new and old), Bollywood evenings, local film student meets, theme nights related to local history - Cadbury for example, venue hire for corporate events / weddings etc.
Should be community based not more homes
I think any development should try to keep the building looking as close to it's original design as possible. The heritage of such a fine building should not be lost. There have already been lots of apartments built in that area, Harborne doesn't need any more.
The closure of the clock tower has left a void in terms of community space and opportunities for adult education. This could go some way to replacing this
Keep original features!!!
I personally would like it to be restored.
I think the interior should remain as intact as possible. It would be a shame to only keep the shell
This building needs to be saved and restored. It’s beautiful!
A cinema is a great idea in walking distance of so many families and is on good bus route
To keep the Art Deco core design but add a contemporary twist eg see St Barnabas, Erdigton, which has mixed old and new.
It must be disabled friendly and it does not cost a lot to do that
Building flats will add absolutely nothing to the high St. It's such a beautiful building and it's a shame it's not already being restored or used as a community space or live venue!
The Royalty is a beautiful building that I hope the community can benefit from. Having a cinema and community space in Harborne would make a huge difference to the area.
Please keep the Art Deco architecture and style as much as possible
Keep it original
Definitely not apartments. Would be great to have something to be proud of. If a cinema, something like the Everyman cinemas would be perfect.
AS A LOCAL RESIDENT. PLEASE DO NOT PIT A FOOR TOP BAR
Keep the art deco look it has
Would love a cinema/live performance venue in Harborne!
"I have listed apposing options above, simply because a mixed use space will only work if some done an extremely good standard, and measure are out in place to run it properly. The Mac is a fantastic space, but can be so swefukly staffed at times - what would be done to see the Royalty tan to a standard to make locals want to keep coming back?
As a business’s person in the restaurant sector, my business is strong because of the passion and the need for it to make a profit via me.
In summary - mixed use sounds great, but would it be a jack of all trades. If it is I suspect it wouldn’t be good enough for people to come back with so much choice around."
It should be saved as an historic building. More expensive apartments are not needed.
"Using the space for the local Community would be so valuable. There is no central community hub and this would be perfect. It could offer a number of facilities for young and old."
It would be great to have a community facility back in the centre of Harborne. Apartments are not a community facility and will not benefit the majority of Harborne residents
Save a vital and wonderful old building - restore it yes but don't tear it down.
Main concern about any development is parking - people from outside the immediate vicinity will want to drive to it irrespective of what they say in a questionnaire or incentives to use public transport (Harborne Pool is a case in point). Will there be sufficient space to provide adequate parking?
This is a beautiful building and would be a great loss to Harborne if it was demolished. A cinema or live music venue would provide a much needed addition to the high street.
Having a cinema to be able to go to in the local area would encourage me to go out to see a movie, rather than stay in. Having bar and restaurant facilities on site, especially if you could eat and drink in the cinema itself would make a nice change from the normal multiplexes and make it a place to go out to. The Electric Cinema in Birmingham is similar but is very small. This cinema would work on a bigger basis and be frequented by local people less likely to travel into Birmingham
Planting a few trees and adding greenery to the front often cinema makes a difference from the high-street and cinema design .. Having A live music restaurant and bar or a art pottery cafe for children will also useful .. defiantly no more flats !!!!
The Royalty needs to restored to a community facility
I love the plans put forward for the development of the site. We cannot lose this venue!!!!
Not flats or accommodation. Community events e.g. cinema bowling halls to hire.
In view of last nights fire it is likely that there will be pressure to bring the site into private residential use. While this may provide part of the solution (and potentially some much needed funding) it is important that the facade be retained and at least part of the available space be kept for community activities and facilities.
Would like it to keep the art deco style.
Definitely no more apartments.
This historic and graded building should not be used for apartments or anything other than a community space
To keep as many of the original features as possible, and build in harmony with them.
To be sympathetic to the old look.
We need a community hub which can be accessed by all. We lost the clock tower. Let's not lose this building as well
Art house cinema & live act comedy band venue would be great.
Try and keep original feel and styling, but with modern feel twist.
Needs to keep its architectural heritage.
Not apartments or retirement homes!!! Harborne has seen enough of these come up over the last few years it has the potential to be such a lovely building for the community, which it should be.
A place where everyone of all ages could benefit would be wonderful.
The Royalty is a fantastic piece of Harborne’s history. The community is crying out for a central resource with space available for groups & hire. The Royalty is perfect for this & in a great central location to serve the local area, which is easily accessible too. I think our children would benefit from this & would enjoy learning about past generations who have also enjoyed this beautiful amenity!
It should maintain AT LEAST the outer fabric (Post fire)
Keeping the facade and (if they still exist) key interior features should be the objective.
Harborne desperately needs, and could support, a kind of mini-MAC! It also needs a working hub for local independent workers, sort of 'hot-desking' or similar. Must be lots of workers locally like these. My son tried to get a group together last year.
After the awful fire we are all devastated and hope that unlike the Huntsman that this will not mean more apartments
For the integrity of the building to be retained and restoration to maintain its art deco history.
Harborne's character should be preserved. Disgusting that the Royalty has been burned out. I hope a real investigation is undertaken as it is no doubt commercially motivated arson.
Keep as much as original design/features as possible
Keep as much as possible of the original but more important to get it restored as something - we can sacrifice aspects of expensive restoration work in favour of getting it usable as something for the community - I love the St Albans one.
Cycle Parking should be provided close to the entrance - this should be Sheffield stands
Restore it back to its original state and use
Either apartments or modern building
It’s a beautiful building , restore it for the local community to use, no more flats pls
After the fire today someone needs to save and rebuild whats left before its too late.
Please don't knock it down and make more flats
I think it would be sad to lose a building with so much potential to offer the community of Harborne and beyond to apartments.
I would like to see it restored definitely not a mosque would like it to retained what it was designed for in the first place shame it couldn't have been looked after the building means a lot to me I worked there for many years
Absolutely must not be turned into flats. A Chelsea style market similar to Manhattan, permanent local stores, that’s a fantastic place to copy, a real destination and venue to be in awe of.
There are enough flats and apartments and supermarkets in Harborne there needs to be more of a community space for everyone to enjoy.
The original venue must be saved, restored. I do NOT want to see a new build and certainly not mundane housing or flats!
Please save this unique building. We don’t need any more tiny flats in Harborne!
If developers allow a property to be the target of arsonists then they should be made to return it to its original condition, regardless of cost
Has much of the original design to keep.
Keep the original design.
B17 does need need more small and short term rental properties - proximity to schools mean these would be used to get pupils into schools depriving people in the wider community of a school place.
It should be a community project there are enough horrible flats in Harborne.
Restored as true to it's original design as is practical would be ideal.
I really support your efforts, but even before the fire, I couldn’t see the need for more community facilities. Harborne has a wealth of them - a state of the art fitness centre, library, thriving churches like St Johns, schools providing after school community use - Slimming World at Harborne Primary for example, the Harborne Club, endless cafes and pubs to suit all tastes. Any use would have to be commercial - Everyman Cinema would be perfect, but probably too close to the one at the Mailbox, or a pub operator with experience and deep pockets like JD Wetherspoon.
The local community could really benefit from a community hub and this is the perfect location in my opinion
Office space with independent business space
I believe that a facility such as, The Royal , can provide a valuable local asset to the community. It is a very aesthetically attractive, Art Deco building, that we have a duty to preserve..otherwise our high streets are in danger of becoming an homogenized strip of coffee shop chains, charity shops and boarded up, closed shops. Surely that benefits no-one. I have seen community buildings in other areas that have a regenerative effect on those areas and I can see no reason why that cannot be replicated in Harborne..
I would like the Royalty to keep its Art Deco features
Let it be a space for all of us to enjoy
Yes if an owner of a listed building is so careless so it falls to disrepair or burns down any subsequent profit from development should be heavily taxed and reinvested in conservation of listed buildings, and be prevented from owning others.
The building is ugly but I have only seen today the art-deco interiors which we should seek to retain elsewhere.
The Royalty building is indicatively the essence of Harborne. The buildings frontage needs fully restoring, as does some of the buildings fabric & interior design.
Keep as much of the original building as you can including furniture and decor.
I do not want more apartments built on our high street! I want something for the community of Harborne, the high street is thriving better than it has in years with all the new shops opening up. I would like somewhere to go with my family to have fun, relax and make memories!
Cinema would be amazing- we would use it a lot
A cinema would be great as the closest ones are either Broadway Plaza or Quinton classic / REEL.
Do not wish to see this become apartments or anything related to residential use.
Parking could be an issue as elsewhere in Harborne.
Restore and preserve the interior design as much as possible.
It’s a building that in the heart of the area it needs to be restored it make it the centre of Harborne.
Must stay in keeping with original building.
Please try to save it.
Keep the beautiful front facade, Harborne is missing a good music venue.
The Royalty is at the centre of Harborne, it will bring the community together, FAR TOO MANY FLATS, Families will move away as no community spirit. The Old Harborne had a vibe about it.
Restored back to a cinema
We need something for the community NOT more apartments or more bars
Commercial use with a tenant being responsible for maintenance would be good. It will need repairing first though.
Wetherspoons??
To build it as sympathetically as possible to original Art Deco design.
The original architectural features of this once grand building should be returned to former glory.
It needs to be an alternative venue that brings added value not another predictable facility aimed at harbornites! We need to promote diversity and inclusion in Harborne
Allow young adults, mature adults and elderly to hold a Harborne council, with additional input from a youth council
Please restore to it’s original beauty. Harborne is over Populated with new builds and for the community to continue in strength this will be such a lovely community venue. Please, please no more land sold for flats or apartments!!!
It would be very sad to see more flats on the high street. I feel it would benefit the whole community more to have a communal leisure space than apartments and think it could be lucrative be for the owners
Love the art deco
Please don’t make more accommodation
The clock tower is sadly missed as a community centre for classes and toddler groups. The Royalty would fill that gap. A local cinema would tempt many people back to leaving their houses to watch a film!
Community
More unaffordable flats for locals or so called retirement properties won't help Harborne prosper.
It would be a real shame to lose a stunning, original architectural building. Surely there is something that can be done to restore it.
It should be restored to the beautiful art deco building it was and should have been again.
Frontage could be incorporated into school buildings, but open space for all with frontage incorporated into it.
Something with style
Traditional rather than glass fronted ultra modern eyesore.
Community centres are important to bring the neighbour together and keep Harborne as a friendly and warm area to live in. There are enough houses in the area but not enough facilities, so facilities for the community should be a priority especially since they pay council tax towards the area.
"It should be environmentally sustainable and accessible by public transport.
The Royalty should be returned to its former glory and be the jewel in Harborne’s crown.
As was.
Great plans. No apartments please.
It is imperative this process continues following the devastating fire
The front facade should be kept at the very least.
To my knowledge of the building when gala wanted to change the front it was refused as it was listed and rightly so. Now as the front of the building is still intact why not keep it in that condition (obviously restored) and extend to the back. By doing this it keeps the characteristics of the building and gives enough space to rebuild the balcony and upper floors which have been totally destroyed by the dome room collapsing.
To my knowledge of the building when gala wanted to change the front it was refused as it was listed and rightly so. Now as the front of the building is still intact why not keep it in that condition (obviously restored) and extend to the back. By doing this it keeps the characteristics of the building and gives enough space to rebuild the balcony and upper floors which have been totally destroyed by the dome room collapsing.
To save as much of the original building as possible to keep it as a community building
Too late
A multipurpose venue is essential to encourage more people to use it. I have often thought that a restored cinema would work well in Harborne, but to make it viable, it would also need to run other events such as comedy, amateur dramatics, and a social meeting hub. This would bring more life to that end of the High St.
If following the fire it does need demolition the building(s) that replace it should be in keeping with the area and show some features of the important building it has replaced
The Royalty should NOT be knocked down and converted to flats. It's an historic building, few of which remain in Harborne and every effort should be made to protect it.
The community need the spirit back and restoring this building with become part of a once thriving community. It is a valuable part of the history of Harborne.
Too many apartment blocks already...if we continue all inhabitants will travel to the city centre and elsewhere as there will be nothing happening in Harborne
We don't need more flats!
Restore and open it as Cinema.
Let’s keep it as a social community space. No bars, restaurants or apartments, there's enough of those.
Let’s not tear it down and see flat put up, please
I am shocked by the fire (arson?) and hope this can be turned into an opportunity rather than a loss - surely there can be no appetite for apartments if there is any way the building can be saved or the space otherwise used for community purposes?
Ask local business for funding or set up a gofund me page x
I think that adding to the community activities and entertainment available for the Harborne Community is vital in this difficult times. Having a venue for events/movies/performances would be the kind of factor that could convince me to permanently relocate to Harborne.
Definitely no apartments for greedy owners
I am avidly against the building of more apartments or accommodation. We need more community facilities.
The lack of parking around Harborne is already a difficulty to residents. Any potential plans for residential flats will add to this problem. Residents would also benefit from having a local cinema venue.
Restore back to original features a 1930s Bar/restaurant would be fab and very classy
Harborne needs a place for teenagers to meet in a safe environment. E.G..cinema, theatre, which other age groups can enjoy too.
Anything except flats
My idea I think is a good one however it cannot be flats, the royalty site needs to serve the community, not be a cash cow for more rich landlords.
Please please no more apartments,! We are in need of something for the community children and families. Harborne has a lovely community but is over taken by the forever increasing overpriced apartments/ buildings which has no use. Just rich fat cats trying to make big bucks.
Wherever possible retain the art deco frontage
"Living within 700 m from two primary schools my neighbour did not get a local school when applied. The additional flats above sabai sabai and others have meant that houses are pushed out of catchment
There are many houses and flags and we need services and activity centres to service them not more flats! "
To be rebuild back to its glory
Tragedy to be knocked down
I love the idea of it being used as a live venue for comedy, music and other entertainment.
The Art Deco design of the building should be kept and restored. The Royalty deserves to back to being a cinema and to be cherished by the local community. We must pride ourselves in our history and not demolished something so beautiful and meaningful.
Back to how it was.
"It would be a shame to lose the potential to build on the Harborne community. The Royalty is perfectly placed to act as a hub for cultural events.
In response to the suggestion of flats. There are already huge challenges with parking close to the Royalty. I live on Station Road and can rarely park within 100m of my own home. If flats are built, that would need to be considered carefully. "
No apartments or flats!
Stick to original design. No new tinted glass disasters
"The biggest issue with the future use of the Royalty will always be the income stream. There are a number of local, multi-function, successful venues in Birmingham and surroundings (The Mac, The Artrix) and I think this type of venue would be extremely welcome but it needs to wash it's face! I think the Mac received BCC subsidy until relatively recently?
There are events I go to in Harborne provided by private shops/venues, and this is great because I can afford to pay for them. There is a perception that Harborne is a wealthy area and we all know this isn't the case. The venue needs to provide a range of services and it's possible the paid events could subsidise some of the other activities. There are also numerous church halls and other venues in Harborne which receive income from rental (Brownies, Slimming World, dance classes etc) - caution is needed so these aren't detrimentally affected by loss of income.
There are lots of comments on Facebook about restoring this to a cinema, but would it compete with the nearby cinemas? What offer would it provide to differentiate itself from the multiplexes, and also the niche cinemas like Everyman and The Electric.
Although the frontage is impressive, it needs significant investment to retain and restore. And as much as I would like to see a multipurpose building, I also wouldn't object to housing, if it brings the building back into use. There's a housing crisis in Birmingham, and many of the critics of housing on the Facebook page are ""nimby"" without any understanding of the planning issues. The frontage could be retained and redeveloped at the rear (e.g. The Orion building retained a listed frontage and built up from there) without losing the facade, and although a multipurpose building would be better in terms of regenerating that end of the High Street, housing would hopefully so the same, considering the linkages with the old Huntsman redevelopment."
I think it should be a community space retaining as much of the current architecture as possible.
I think it's fair if the new venue is built resembling the old royalty to keep people's sentiments. But rebuild it. It's not safe like the way it is.
The use of buildings at cannon Hill Park are a good example of community use
We have too many apartments in the area, the high street needs to offer more than charity shops and coffee shops
We need to keep the community spirit alive in Harborne as it's been slipping over the years. Both Bournville and Kings Heath are trying and succeeding, with an age where it's easy for people to be stuck behind a screen and alone we need to encourage community spaces for the mental health and wellbeing of residents.
Something to engage teenagers.
Keep the existing foundation and not knock it down as far as I know it's a listed building
Please no more flats!! Harborne is already overpopulated which is evidenced by Traffic, parking issues and oversubscription to schools. What we're lacking is a space for the community to come together and make this an amazing place to live
No more apartments.
Enough apartments already in Harborne. Need to create a centre of interest for the community.
In view of yesterday's events, I am highly suspicious about the fire and how it started. I would be gutted if none of this beautiful building could be saved. I do not want more flats built here so that greedy developers can make money. This building should have been protected by the owners.
Retain it's art deco styling. Once its lost it is gone for good. This needs saving.
Definitely needs to be a community space NOT more flats. Should be restored to its former glory retaining as many of the Art Deco features as possible.
It is an historical building for the community and should be treated as such, restored, looked after and help would help promote a sense of community
Whatever the building is it should have some architectural merit, not just another steel frame box with cladding and a few windows.
Harborne has enough apartments near there.
It should maintain historical features not just be replaced to new apartment
Any proposal should retain the original features / feel. A community setting would be great but maybe something like an extra care scheme for older people which have community facilities as part of them. Links to the schools and older people are great in these schemes as are the onsite opportunities. Also the location and size will be attractive to investors / developers of extra care a lot of which are charities. A flip to this could be the community developing / owning the extra care scheme to support older people in Harborne and ensure that care and support costs and opportunities support our older people community. If you think there is mileage in this then I'm happy to have a chat. Ticks so many boxes for Harborne in my opinion. Not to be confused this is not a care home. It’s a higher level to sheltered housing across the road (serpentine road). See the hagley road extra care villages
We don't need anymore flats!!!
The royalty should be restored and preserved as a art deco centre for the community
There is a great need for a community centre in Harborne, and a lack of live performance venues and cultural events when compared to Moseley and Kings Heath. The cinema would be an ideal meeting point for the community and would be a fantastic draw to the High Street, of benefit to local shops, restaurants and businesses. There is a need to preserve as much as possible of this listed building even after the fire damage and restore it as an important part of Birmingham's architectural and cultural heritage. The lower end of the High St has been well served by the building of apartment blocks and does not need more.
I think the Royalty is the only remaining building that means something to the older residents of Harborne when it was a proper Village.
It would be great to see the Art Deco features restored. It should be brought up to day environmentally (insulation, solar etc etc)
We can't keep turning away from community resources to build endless boxy flats.
Should be a community facility - too many flats in Harborne
It requires a little objective and innovative thinking. It’s easily financially sound to convert to flats, but this does not support the region as well as something collectively supportive to the community. I’d even condone commercial sponsorship and compromise (e.g., shared space with McDonalds for example) to allow something more community involved.
Try to maintain as much of the original facade as possible!
A Cinema would be a fantastic contribution to Harborne with a roof top bar/restaurant.
Accessibility is important
Kept as art deco
I was so sad to hear the about the fire. I hope you are able to continue with you plans for a Community Facility rather than flats, as I fear this might have been the motive behind the fire
I hope the frontage will remain now that the inside has been gutted by the fire. Harborne has so many apartments we need to build a community space to engage and connect residents and visitors.
Harborne is a lovely community, and this venue could be the hub of it. The shops are not quite the standard that you would think the area and its people would attract, so we have to look at other ways of improving the town. More flats would be a negative step and simply flood the area further.
Please do not turn it into any sort of accommodation
It would be nice to have a beautiful building restored. Please don't use steel or glass everywhere. That would look awful.
Would be shocking to lose yet more of the history of Harborne - particularly from the art deco period
Do not build more apartments
It would be good if it continued to have on site parking for people using the site, given parking issues in area.
Stirchley Baths is a great example of a community space with cinema, cafe and flexible space to accommodate a wealth of community possibilities. The Royalty has been left too long as a 'nothing' space. Needs a vision but this is not beyond to doable.
Royalty is part of Harbornes history. Please no more apartments to spoil it.
Harborne doesn’t need any more apartments!
Keeping as much of the original building as possible but somewhere light and welcoming to all age groups. Harborne has no central point and that is a real disadvantage to such a lovely place.
Harborne is saturated with apartments. Please don't build more apartments. There's not enough parking and the community is bursting at the seams to accommodate everyone. Schools are oversubscribed and the quality of life is needlessly deteriorating. Please let’s have the Royalty contribute to the welfare of the community as a cultural centre, not to its detriment in the form of apartments.
The problem with new build apartments (of which there are already many in close vicinity) is that they are now built without adequate resident parking as part of planning policy to increase use of public transport. Obviously this is also a factor for a community space too but it is easy walking distance for a huge pool of potential customers whereas more apartments would put even more pressure on local road parking as residents would want a permanent spot
Restore the building to its original design
We don't need any more "luxury apartments in Harborne that the average person could never afford. I've lived and worked near Harborne all my life. The average middle-class families have a right to enjoy something that's on their own doorstep.
Car parking would need to be considered
Retain as much of the original features and architecture as is possible.
This is a chance to be bold and brave with ideas. Apartments or other housing would not be a good use of such a large and prime site.
As independent artists and crafters are becoming even more prominent in the area, studios and collaborative areas would be invaluable to local artist such as myself! So studios with lots of light and open spaces would be amazing.
Make it sustainable. Cycling/bus/walking/electric vehicle friendly. Make it so easy to be green that an old fashioned petrol/diesel car is just not an option. One could rotate a main focal point every so often, and make it so that it celebrates something about the local community/area (e.g. something about the history of a place in Harborne / a celebration of a particular group of people who did something good).
Something needs to be done - it can’t sit there derelict for much longer. If the community can’t get the funding and permission to do something, then housing is better than the current state.
I would like the Royalty to keep its Art Deco features as much as possible.
Please do not build apartments as we have a lot of them on high street. Please do something for the community for people.
No mosque, community centre, cafe, library or any other religious building as there's no place in Harborne or wanted.
Cinema would be perfect. Restaurant with live entertainment would be great.
Please no more flats.
Please restore the cinema. The community and Harborne would love it and use it. All of my friends would travel to come.
Harborne and the locality would benefit enormously from a cinema.
These ideas sound amazing!
Harborne doesn’t need more flats or apartments, but more community space which is for local people to use and a cinema. there are lots of pubs and cafes and restaurants, Harborne needs variety.
Keep original features history etc as possible.
Please done knock this historic building down. Harborne has too many modern apartment blocks. Let’s see something the community can use.
No.
Please do anything with it other than apartments.
If it has to be demolished and rebuilt any residential property should be affordable low cost housing. Some rented some part owned
Not apartments or office block. Would love an old fashioned cinema/dance hall and keep a bit of history in Harborne
We should cherish the current design. Once it’s gone it’s gone. Another faceless erection of flats adds nothing to the area
It would be a crime to destroy such a beautiful building with such a long history. Perhaps a permanent history of Harborne in pictures could be displayed here too.
Keep the old design outside and modern inside
There’s enough overpriced properties in Harborne please give back to the local community and bring a community spirit back
A cinema would be amazing so local people would have a facility close to home.
Do upset to hear about the terrible fire at this beautiful place. Please, please restore it do it can be put to good use by the local community. No apartments!!
Most definitely NOT demolished!
Please do not use as flats
Adult learning centre like the old clock tower centre
It would be nice if it could be a community facility if that would be commercially viable. However the building has been an eyesore for many years now and I would welcome any development that changes this as quickly as possible.
To reiterate previous points, I'm afraid that this consultation survey provides insufficient evidence of demand or statistically validity. Please consider what will drive people to a space. People visit the Mac as it's in a park, how many people pass the royal with an interest in art for example? Please look at the Altrincham model it would revitalise Harborne.
It is vital to keep this beautiful building and not have it destroyed.
PLEASE do not build apartments, no speculative developments like with the Huntsman! It would wound the character of the area and the spirit of honest people that saw the Royalty burn.
No more housing / apartments!
It is essential that the Royalty is protected as a community development, and must not be transformed into residential property
Whatever the building becomes, allow for some sort of community activities to happen there, and of course, keep the original exterior building the same as much as possible.
No more box type flats please!
Please not apartments. To bring in back to its former glory
No more flats, a community place is needed to revive the area ..Places like Moorpool have a great schedule of activities that are well attended but space is limited
Restore the exterior to its former glory; make it accessible for wheelchair users; and stream live shows / drama / comedy from London theatres
I believe the building should keep as many original features as possible and should be used for local community activities at affordable prices for all to enjoy.
Please let this remain as a community venue. These are vital to everyone.
This is a listed building Harborne has already lost a few listed building e.g. police station, public house etc.
Made available to the community.
Keep it traditional please
The listed building frontage must be preserved and used. I would want it to be a cinema again with a stage that could be used for a variety of performances.
A vague community space or more flats would not be a profitable use of space or appeal to the main demographic of Harborne. A food market would appeal to families and young professionals and would be an opportunity to add something vibrant and unique to the community. A community and arts space would be replicating what is already available at the MAC without the picturesque surroundings. The MAC is such a popular venue because of the park. This could not be successfully replicated on the high street.
A vague community space or more flats would not be a profitable use of space or appeal to the main demographic of Harborne. A food market would appeal to families and young professionals and would be an opportunity to add something vibrant and unique to the community. A community and arts space would be replicating what is already available at the MAC without the picturesque surroundings. The MAC is such a popular venue because of the park. This could not be successfully replicated on the high street.
Would be great to see it restored, nice building with historical character.
Would need adequate parking.
The pressure on local services such as schools, GP practices, green areas is getting greater and greater. Developments are/have been ongoing for years and these include large extensions with a larger number of people living in each house. The Royal site would represent a large development and the Section 106 Planning Obligations/Community Infrastructure Levy never seems to materialise into anything back to the community. However, the words in the Birmingham Mail from Chris Pengilly representing True Pearl may have missed a line. He said ''Some people say It's good for developers when a building burns down. But I can categorically say that it's not it's a nightmare''. I think he missed the words something like 'However, its is all worth it as the developers eventually make there millions'. Birmingham City Council appears to have a record of ignoring what the local residence say, wasting millions on its own 'pet projects' and allowing big developer to do what they like. I for one are getting sick of it!
As close to original as possible
Is there any connection between the former owner of The Huntsman and the current owner of The Royalty?
Yes. Question 10 is misleading if it refers to the owner's original plans which were and still are perfectly acceptable. In fact, it is a bad question all round - supposing one would like to see some apartments but not demolish ? And what is meant by 'result' - a copy of the old building ? Furthermore, the question forces only one of three responses - please read this question as not being answered by me .
The True Pearl proposals did NOT include complete demolition but partial demolition of the auditorium and retention and restoration of the front block. Significant architectural features eg doors, windows, decorations were to be retained and reused. Residential blocks were to be located in the present car park which was to be replaced with underground facilities. The scheme was costed, viable and, unlike the HRT proposals, had finance in place. If the Conservation Heritage Panel had not been so obstructive and short sighted this residential scheme would now be up and running. Unfortunately HRT proposals are still unformed, without finance and the Trust lacks any realistic chance of aquiring the building without robust business and financial plans or any funding. The public benefit of having the Royalty brought back into active use after so long far outweighs any harm to the interior of the building necessary to effect that new use. This still applies to the residential scheme as the HRT proposals are now unrealistic. HRT reliance on public finance is a major flaw in your proposals.
"I totally object to the Royalty being turned into apartments. I live on Serpentine road and saw the Huntsman burn down. The 15 apartments that have been built only have two parking spaces and the council have allowed the developers to advertise our road as a parking option. It has literally been advertised as such! We already have parking issues in Harborne with far too many apartments and not enough parking spaces provided. In addition, we have enough traffic on our roads in central Harborne. If the Royalty was to be turned into a cinema with restaurant, cafe and bar, customers would travel to it by foot or bus as indeed is evident at all the local businesses. I
What has happened is criminal and somebody is culpable for the destruction of this property."
I think that it would be really good to use the restored building for things Harborne does not yet provide for our community. Spaces for mother and toddler groups, restaurants, and similar facilities are important of course, but Harborne already has these. What we don't have is somewhere to promote lifelong learning, to encourage creative expression, and to provide a platform for live performance. The Royalty seems to me to be particularly appropriate for the latter.
I strongly believe The Royalty should be used for the benefit of the local community. All I would ask is that parking is considered so that no more strain is put on local streets.
We need more support for independent shops, bookshops, places for classes for kids and adults, independent cinema, Brazilian dancing, art classes, flamenco classes, a place where all the family can go, please no more apartments at least not in the royalty
"This end of the high street could do with a vibrant hub with social and commercial spaces and a brilliant bar and restaurant. In my view it would be a waste to turn it into apartments, but, if all that could be negotiated was a mixed use that would at least be better than all residential.
Love the idea of juxtaposing a glass hub next to the building.
I would love to see some independent shops there too, we don't have a delicatessen in Harborne, or a cheese shop and I'd really welcome shops like these."
Please keep some of the traditional features such as the frontage and stained classes windows
The current proposals look ideal for the Royalty
it needs to find a way to be inclusive of a range of local residents, by age ,income and interest and not purely commercial or appealing to only those who use the existing commercial offer on the high street but needs to look good too.
Harborne has many apartments and the most recent build includes apartments for which there is no allocated parking spaces - adding to the problem of on-street parking. To build more apartments which inevitably means more people and more cars means our suburb is on the verge of being overloaded in terms of what the local facilities can cater for. A community build serves the suburb, brings people together and had a greater chance of maintaining at least some of the outward features of a once beautiful building creating at least some attachment to the history of our suburb which an apartment block will not do.
No more flats in Harborne !!
It’s a beautiful building and I’d rather see it as a community hub where it’s useful to many people
It would be such a loss if this building was demolished. More flats will add nothing to the area, whereas restoring the building for community use would mean we have a beautiful and unique space offering something different that many people would benefit from.
I would like to see a venue similar to The Mac in Canon Hill Park
Retain, restore or rebuild as much as possible within the historic designing of the building.
Light, airy design, retaining all of the artistic features remaining. No ghastly grey/plastic prison like windows or doors and definitely no wooden cladding .Needs to have some flexibility of space within to accommodate different group sizes .Adequate car parking for those needing to drive. Not like the disastrous Harborne fitness centre's poor car parking, a source of much irritation and congestion on the Lordswood Rd.
Cinema, car park, taxi lane, disabled parking
Look at how other places have made use of similar buildings (are quite a few in Northern England) & don’t be limited by what has been lost elsewhere in Harborne
To keep as much as possible of the original building with added facilities for the activities stated.
Retain as much original building as possible. Reinstate the stained glass
Keep all remaining original features please
Rebuild the building
Keep the frontage the same, the rest would probably have to conform to modern day regs.
I've always said the building and space would be fantastic as an art defo boutique style hotel. Harborne doesn't have a single hotel and I personally think it would be fantastic and bring a lot of jobs to Harborne residents. The Royalty hotel Harborne has a nice ring.
The building should be in keeping with the current design/style to preserve heritage
Already too many new apartments
Much of our city is been raised to the ground and listed buildings been torched to get around regulations, some of our old buildings need to be kept and reporsed.
No flats, no apartment pls.
We have too many apartments and retirement homes already
Most definitely not NOTE apartments.
Flexible community space for meetings and activities, talks etc.
An opportunity for regeneration of this end of the High Street
Where possible keep the front facade but behind it have a modern, clean, energy efficient space with some of the original features incorporated
Since the loss of the Clock Tower we need something that serves such a purpose
Partially demolish building but retain the frontage, foyer and first floor above the foyer. Birmingham needs 80,000 more homes by 2030. Residential use is appropriate.
Knock it down and build some much needed houses.
Retain listed features.
Three exclamation marks with the 'No' above.
Absolutely not want to see Royalty demolished and rebuilt as apartments. Complement the art deco but be more modern and interesting. Not pseudo art deco or other period.
Flats are a waste of space and time. There are already so many flats within the vicinity of the Royalty that it's stupid. A music/theatre venue would bring more life and culture to the High St.
Apartments add to commercial viability so should be considered as part of the solution
Would like the interiors kept and restored.
Make it flexible but ensure at least one major tenant.
I am grateful for your work!!! I don't want to see another ugly cheap building on the High street and I believe the restoration of Royalty would raise the standard of the life in Harborne. We would love to have a beautiful art deco building where we can have a lively community place with cinema, theatre, cafes on our doorstep.
There are already new build flats and houses throughout Harborne. A community facility would enhance the life of all residing in Harborne and build a sense of community/belonging.
None (keep it as it is).