Re Great Western Arcade....I found this article from the Birmingham Mail in March which announces a "reno" for the arcade. Hope it comes to pass.
£1m to make Great Western Arcade great again. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/1m-to-make-great-western-arcade-59655
Mar 7 2008 By
Jon Griffin, Business Editor
BIRMINGHAM'S historic Great Western Arcade is in line for a 21st century facelift of up to £1 million, restoring it to its Victorian glory.
A major upgrade of the arcade units, which date back to 1876, is on the drawing board to help breathe new life into the shopping complex, which links Colmore Row with Temple Row.
The Great Western has suffered at the hands of the new Bullring and other city centre outlets, with shop units falling vacant as shoppers flock to more modern stores.
Managing agents King Sturge are now drawing up proposals for the Great Western's biggest facelift since the 1980s, taking advantage of the tens of thousands of people who walk through the arcade every week.
The property consultancy is working with clients Morley Fund Management and arcade owners Norwich Property Trust to plan a new dawn for the complex.
Initial work is already under way, with the centre's Temple Row facade being cleaned up ahead of a major facelift later in the year.
King Sturge said: "Our clients have plans to redevelop the arcade and return it to its former glory.
"Some of the shop windows have been changed and we aim to put back Victorian window frontages.
"The Great Western has a huge footfall - over 70,000 people a week -but until we can redevelop it I cannot see there being a great demand for retail in there.
"The Temple Row facade has already been cleaned up as the initial start of the refurbishment. It is already a very attractive arcade, and we think it can be more attractive, but it is going to be a major job to get it back to where it should be.
"It can be a thriving arcade again. The facilities are there, but we need to get the redevelopment in there to fill the empty units."
King Sturge will now liaise with Morley Fund Management and Birmingham City Council on detailed refurbishment proposals.
The arcade's last major overhaul in 1985 earned it a heritage award.