How will the Smithfield Development impact Birmingham Pride?

The Smithfield site has been used for many years by Birmingham Pride as a large outdoor space in which to hold the festival aspect of the event; holding tens of thousands of visitors. However, after the 2025 event, this site is set to be developed into 3000 homes, cultural and leisure facilities, business space, and new parks in a £1.9bn plan from Lendlease.

The plan has now been given the green light after a meeting of city planners on 14th June. the decision was previously deferred after councillors and campaigners said that one of the proposed parks and a public square were too small. The amended plans which have been approved have increased the size of the Smithfield Park by 23%.

A new report by the planning officers also added that another park in the plans, Manor Square, was of a sufficient size to accommodate ‘large scale’ public events of up to 6,900 people.

As a result of this development, Birmingham Pride have challenged the city council to find them a new home in the city centre to avoid moving too far away from the heart of the Gay Village, after its current site becomes unusable after next year.

Festival director, Lawrence Barton, said: "We were promised a space that would hold 20,000 people. Five years on, we're presented with a space that, with infrastructure, would hold probably 3,000 to 4,000 people. It's simply not conducive for us. The future at the moment looks a bit bleak".

Julia Robinson, the Southside Business District Manager, added that would harm the local economy: "It would be a disaster, not just for our businesses but for our residents, and the city too. The gay village is Pride, and Pride is the gay village. We think it's incredibly important that it stays here."

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson responded to calls from Birmingham Pride, saying: "It has been great to see Pride grow from strength to strength, and its success means it is more of a challenge to find a suitable venue, but we will continue to work with the organisers and partners to help secure its future."