Gallery of 15 things to look forward to in 2015

Gallery of 15 things to look forward to in 2015

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Birmingham is booming, and 2015 promises to be one of the most significant years in the city’s proud history.

A combination of showpiece landmark redevelopment, big sporting events and anniversary celebrations mean there will be plenty of red letter days.

“This year is set to be one of Birmingham’s busiest and most exciting periods for over a decade,” says Marketing Birmingham spokesman. “The city is building an exciting future for itself as a leading international destination.”

Here are 15 reasons to be cheerful in ‘15.

1. Birmingham New Street Station

The long-awaited, and much-needed, redevelopment of the tired station has been many years in the making and will finally complete in 2015. New parts have already opened with passengers seeing a brighter station more able to cope with the thousands of people passing through daily.

2. Grand Central Birmingham

Anchored by a four-storey, 250,000 sq ft John Lewis store – the chain’s biggest unit outside the capital – visitors to the former Pallasades will be able to enjoy some 60 shops and eateries, straight from leaving the train without having to step outside. Grand Central will also be connected to the Bullring.

3. Mailbox

The former Royal Mail sorting office was sold in 2011 but new owners Brockton Capital and Milligan Retail have commissioned a wholesale £50 million regeneration, anchored by a revamped 45,000 sq ft Harvey Nichols store.

4. Resorts World

Casino chain Genting is behind the £150 million leisure complex on the NEC site , which will include a conference centre, 11-screen Cineworld cinema, four-star hotel and more than 60 shops and restaurants. It will be Western Europe’s largest leisure development, creating 1,150 jobs.

5. Midland Metro

The current tram line runs from Wolverhampton city centre to Snow Hill via Wednesbury and West Bromwich. A £127 million extension will add a further three stops , terminating outside New Street Station, before more stops outside the Town Hall and in Centenary Square open in 2017.

6. Hotels

More than 1,000 new hotel bedrooms are expected to come onto the market including the four-star, 300-room hotel development at Park Regis Birmingham, the revamped Snobs nightclub building in August, and Staycity’s new apart-hotel in the Jewellery Quarter.

7. Rugby World Cup 2015

Villa Park is one of two stadia in the Midlands to welcome the global showcase in September . Fans from all round the world will descend on the UK to see one of the biggest sporting showcase events on the calendar

8. Birmingham Royal Ballet 25th anniversary

The city’s own ballet company, celebrating its 25th anniversary , has received a £1.85 million grant from Arts Council England to undertake major improvements to its base at the Hippodrome, which had remained untouched since the company moved from London to Birmingham in 1990.

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9. Selfridges

The eye-catching Bullring department store has just confirmed plans for a major £20 million facelift as it targets a 25 per cent rise in sales to compete with city rivals Debenhams, House of Fraser and the new John Lewis.

10. Birmingham Cathedral

The building in Cathedral Square is planning a year-long series of events to celebrate its landmark 300th birthday. It has been at the heart of the city’s Anglican faith since 1715 when it was built as the church of St Philip and has received a £30,000 Jerusalem Trust grant to help with the celebrations.

11. The Ashes

Edgbaston Stadium will host the third test of the 2015 Ashes series between England and Australia from July 29 , with more than 100,000 spectators expected to enjoy over five days of cricket.

12. Middle Earth Weekend

The world-famous celebration of Lord of the Rings writer JRR Tolkein’s work will return to Sarehole Mill , in Hall Green, after it was axed for 2014 because no volunteer organisers could be found. Sarehole Mill is one of the inspirations for the writer’s work.

13. Rotunda

Still an iconic part of the city’s skyline, Birmingham’s famous Rotunda celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It underwent a revamp and re-opened in 2008, and now houses residential apartments and apart-hotel rooms run by Staying Cool.

14. Ikon Gallery

The gallery famous for startling, and often controversial, art marks its 50th birthday with Ikon Icons, a series of exhibitions during which the work of five key British artists, each of whom has previously been featured at the galery, will be displayed.

15. Pride Of Birmingham

After a spectacular inaugural event last year, the Pride of Birmingham Awards – organised by the Birmingham Mail – will return to the city’s iconic Town Hall in the Autumn, recognising the courage, care, compassion and community the city is famous for.