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Bhangra Nation: A Musical Celebration of Identity and Unity Takes Birmingham by Storm

When a huge row changes the team forever, students Mary and Preeti start on journeys of discovery into what they stand for and who they want to be…reports Asian Lite News

Bhangra Nation is an uplifting, moving and funny new musical about friendship, family, rivalry and identity, brought to life with boundless energy and joy, incredible dance moves and a truly bhangin’ soundtrack. Originally called Bhangin’ It, this musical was premiered in San Diego in 2022.

As the Uni Bhangra dance team wait nervously backstage to find out if they’ve made it to Nationals, the real showdown has already begun as team mates Preeti and Mary clash over what Bhangra really means to them. Whilst Preeti, who is 100% South Asian, believes that the team needs to stick to tradition, Mary, who is bi-racial, is passionate about shaking things up to belong to today.

When a huge row changes the team forever, students Mary and Preeti start on journeys of discovery into what they stand for and who they want to be.

By focusing on the two students and their different ideals of dance, Bhangra Nation explores how we see ourselves and how we view others.

At the core of this approximately 150-minute musical is a story about how you fit in, according to its Director, Stafford Arima. “I think, no matter if you are British, South Asian, Canadian or whatever, we all struggle on so many levels on how to fit into the world these days,” he added. Asked what excites him about this musical, “that we’re pulling from the community of Birmingham but also introducing to the community of Birmingham new faces and new voices. We’re making it a big kind of soup of different ingredients from different places.”

A house-full audience reflecting multicultural Birmingham, attendees included director Stafford Arima, media representatives including Indy Deol, Satnam Rana, Amit Roy and Boy Chana, relatives of the cast and TV personality Dr Ranj. At the end, the audience took to their feet to applaud the fabulous cast. After the show, VIP guests were treated to drinks and food, the latter provided by Dishoom. Hats off to The REP’s Communications Team, including Aaliyah Collins, Samantha Lyster as well as Nada Zakula.

Local lad’s dream role

For 22-year-old Ajay Sahota, pictured, this is his first time on a professional stage. Ajay, from Great Barr in Birmingham, plays student Gobind. He had never dreamed he would be on stage at The REP, and is enjoying the experience. “I’ve only done amateur musicals at university and at school but I’ve always loved musical theatre and this show is a combination of dancing, singing and the cultural part of being a South Asian in the UK. It’s the perfect opportunity,”

Parambeer Samrai is a bhangra consultant from Walsall. “This show is fostering an understanding of cultural appreciation whether you’re South Asian, black or white,” says Parambeer. “We’re creating a memorable performance for all ages and we want this show to be accessible to anybody and everybody. Bhangra is a super cool dance and music tradition that lots of people in Birmingham enjoy but it’s not just about dancing. It’s about bringing people together and having fun.”

Bhangra Nation runs at Birmingham REP until 16 March. Receive one free teen (aged 13-19) ticket when you book a full priced ticket for a Mon to Thu performance.

ALSO READ-Birmingham Declares Bankruptcy After Equal Pay Claims, Halts Non-Essential Spending

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Birmingham Declares Bankruptcy After Equal Pay Claims, Halts Non-Essential Spending

The deficit arose due to difficulties paying between 650 million pounds and 760 million pounds in equal pay claims, according to the notice report…reports Asian Lite News

Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city, has effectively declared itself bankrupt, shutting down all non-essential spending after being issued with equal pay claims totaling up to 760 million pounds ($956 million), the media reported.

The Birmingham City Council, which provides services for more than one million people, filed a Section 114 notice on Tuesday, halting all spending except on essential services, reports CNN.

The deficit arose due to difficulties paying between 650 million pounds and 760 million pounds in equal pay claims, according to the notice report.

The city now expects to have a deficit of 87 million pounds for the 2023-24 financial year.

Sharon Thompson, deputy leader of the council, told councilors on Tuesday that it faces “longstanding issues, including the council’s historic equal pay liability concerns”, CNN reported.

Thompson also blamed in part the UK’s ruling Conservative Party, saying Birmingham “had 1 billion pounds of funding taken away by successive Conservative governments”.

In response, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that “clearly it’s for locally elected councils to manage their own budgets”.

The government has been “engaging regularly with them to that end and has expressed concern about their governance arrangements and has requested assurances from the leader of the council about the best use of taxpayers’ money”, the spokesperson added.

The multicultural city of Birmingham is the largest in central England.

It hosted last year’s Commonwealth Games and is scheduled to hold the 2026 European Athletics Championships.

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Lite Blogs Music UK News

Kalakar Arts to present Umrao Jaan in Bghm, Mcr

One of the most prominent art organisations in the UK, Kalakar Arts have been producing a series of live musicals titled “Tale of Tawaifs”, based on the famous female Indian courtesan’s lives and music, for the last 2 years.

Each musical is presented with impeccable music, dance, spoken words and acting and each has attracted a full house audience, wherever they have performed. 

After the resounding success in Leeds on 24th May, Kalakar will be presenting the last two concerts of the series “Umrao Jaan”, a mystic tale of a Tawaif (Courtesan) in Birmingham and Manchester.

A heart breaking story narrating Umrao Jaan’s life through drama, dance and world class singing, the 1981 famous Bollywood film has been enriched by creative updates from an extensive research on Indian Courtesans.

Written and Directed by the one of best Indian Classical Vocalists Vidushi Chandra Chakraborty (Founder and CEO of Kalakar Arts UK), the ensemble cast will perform on Hindustani Classical, Semi Classical as well as the popular songs from the movie to create a cultural extravaganza to remember.

The extraordinary show also features Roshni Sarker, Atreyee Bhattacharyya, Paramita Ghosh, Gairika Mathur, Arnisha Bardhan, Kamanbir Nandra, Shantanu Goswami, Anuiruddha Mukherjee and Amith Dey. 

The shows will take place on 10th June at MAC Birmingham and on 11th June at Players Theatre, Manchester.

Here are the ticket links-   

Birmingham

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/umrao-jaan-mystic-tale-of-a-tawaif-tickets-634250248567

Manchester

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on?q=umrao%20jaan

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Birmingham elects first-ever British-Indian Lord Mayor

Lal joined the Labour Party in 1989 and has taken part in many social justice campaigns to challenge inequality and all forms of discrimination…reports Asian Lite News

Councillor Chaman Lal has become the first ever British-Indian Sikh to take oath as Birmingham’s Lord Mayor.

Born in Pakhowal village of Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district, Lal came to England in 1964 with his mother to join his father Sardar Harnam Singh, a British-Indian army officer who in the Second World War served in the Italian campaign.

Lal joined the Labour Party in 1989 and has taken part in many social justice campaigns to challenge inequality and all forms of discrimination.

First elected to Soho and Jewellery Quarter ward in 1994, he has served the city council for the past 30 years. “By accepting this honour, I am very proud to be able to serve this great city as Lord Mayor. When I was first elected to the city council nearly 30 years ago, I never imagined that one day I would become Lord Mayor,” Lal said at a mayor making ceremony at Birmingham city council house last week.

“It will be a huge privilege to serve this city as First Citizen, and I look forward to representing Birmingham locally, nationally and internationally over the coming year,” he said.

Prior to his appointment to the ceremonial role of Birmingham’s First Citizen, Lal held various posts, including Chair of Sustainability and Transport Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC), and membership of Co-ordinating OSC and West Midlands Combined Authority Transport Scrutiny Sub-Committee.

He has served many years on the West Midlands Transport Authority and has a keen interest in improving public transport. “I’m also keen to meet people from our diverse communities and will do all I can to support organisations and volunteer groups that help vulnerable residents, especially during the current cost of living crisis,” Lal said in a statement.

He had attended Wattville Secondary Modern School and qualified as an engineer in electronics. During his year-long term as Lord Mayor, he will be supported by the Lady Mayoress, his wife Vidya Wati.

ALSO READ-West Midlands gets its 1st Indian-origin Lord Mayor

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Sunak attempts to catch up with Truss at Birmingham  

A recent survey of Tory voters said Truss has consolidated her lead over former chancellor Rishi Sunak in the race to become the Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party…reports Asian Lite News

As the result of the Prime Minister race nears, Rishi Sunak made his last bit of efforts to salvage the contest for the Conservative party leadership that most surveys favour Liz Truss to win.

During the 10th round of hustings in Birmingham, Sunak pitched values like patriotism, family, hard work and service to build a better Britain. “We need to do three things. First, we need to build trust. We need to rebuild our economy and then reunite our country,” he said.

Speaking to the Tory members on the economy, the former British chancellor said that he will reform the publicly funded healthcare system in England to prevent constantly throwing more money.

Rishi Sunak, who claims to have chosen an honest way, said, “I have not chosen to say what people want to hear but I have said things that I believe the country needs to hear.”

With the final results due in the first week of September, several surveys indicate that Sunak is bound to lose to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss in the Conservative party leadership race.

The result of the vote to decide who will replace Boris Johnson as the next British Prime Minister is due on September 5.

A recent survey of Tory voters said Truss has consolidated her lead over former chancellor Rishi Sunak in the race to become the Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party.

The latest Conservative Home survey released last Wednesday has produced much the same result as it did when it was last published earlier this month.

“Then, Rishi Sunak was on 26 per cent, Liz Truss was on 58 per cent and 12 per cent were undecided. Now, those figures are 28 per cent, 60 per cent and nine per cent. We have rolled Neither and Won’t Vote into the same column this time round,” said the Conservative Home survey of 961 party members, who either already have or will be casting their ballots in the leadership race.

Once members who fall under the “don’t know” category are equally distributed between the two contenders, Truss maintains a 32-point lead over the former Minister Sunak.

“If our don’t knows are divided evenly between the two candidates, an exercise we carried out last time, Truss goes up to 64 per cent and Sunak to 32 per cent – and so maintains the 32 point lead she had last time round. YouGov’s last poll, which closed on August 2nd, the day our last survey went out, gave her a 38-point lead. Opinium’s latest poll, conducted last week, gave her a 22-point lead,” the survey added.

The sum of Opinium, YouGov and Conservative Home surveys is that Truss is set to win by a margin roughly between 70-30 and 60-40 – perhaps a bit higher, perhaps a bit lower.

ALSO READ-Sunak signals he wouldn’t serve in Truss govt

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India News Sports

India wins historic gold and silver in men’s triple long jump

With this, the 25-year-old Paul won India’s first gold medal in the triple jump at the Commonwealth Games…reports B Shrikant

India’s Eldhose Paul and Abdulla Aboobacker Sunday scripted history by winning gold and silver medals respectively and securing a double podium finish for the country in the men’s triple jump event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, here.

Eldhose, who last month became the first Indian triple jumper to make the world athletics championships final, recorded a new personal best of 17.03m to finish top in a 14-man field at Birmingham 2022. His previous best was 16.99m logged at the Federation Cup earlier this year.

With this, the 25-year-old Paul won India’s first gold medal in the triple jump at the Commonwealth Games.

On the other hand, Abdulla’s silver-winning leap measured 17.02m – just 0.17m off his personal best. Bermuda’s Jah-Nhai Perinchief clinched the bronze medal with 16.92m, denying the Indians a clean sweep.

Meanwhile, Praveen Chithravel, the third Indian in the fray, finished a commendable fourth, with a best of 16.89m.

With Perinchief setting the benchmark with his 16.92m attempt in his first jump, Praveen Chithravel and Abdulla Aboobacker stayed on the Bermuda athlete’s coat-tails in second and third right from the beginning.

However, it was 26-year-old Eldhose Paul who leapt into the lead after the third attempt with a massive 17.03m attempt. Interestingly, Paul had made a slow start compared to his peers, with jumps of 14.62m and 16.30m in the first two rounds, respectively.

After the fourth round, Eldhose, Perinchief and Praveen occupied the top three positions with Abdulla Aboobacker in fourth. However, Abdulla produced an impressive 17.02m with his fifth attempt to climb to second place and pushed compatriot Praveen out of the top three.

Before Birmingham, India had won only four medals in the triple jump at the Commonwealth Games. Mohinder Singh Gill won a bronze (1970) and silver (1974), national record holder Renjith Maheswary won a bronze (2010) and Arpinder Singh won a bronze (2014).

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Birmingham 2022 begins with spectacular opening ceremony

A stunning spectacle also included a Red Arrows fly-past and an appearance from a 10-metre high ‘Raging Bull’, in a section of the ceremony which focused on the plight of female chain-makers in the early 20th century…reports Asian Lite News

Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games kicked off in a carnival of colour at the Alexander Stadium. Local musical heroes Duran Duran and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi guest-starred on a night which celebrated Birmingham’s industrial heritage and its multicultural tradition, as competitors from the Commonwealth’s 72 nations and territories were cheered into the arena by a 30,000 crowd.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived in style, driving into the venue in an Aston Martin as part of a convoy of 72 cars which formed a Union Jack when viewed from above.

Charles later officially declared the 22nd edition of the Games open, with a spectacular fireworks display bringing the ceremony to an end and heralding the start of the world’s first major multi-sport event to take place free of Covid-19 restrictions since the pandemic took hold.

Charles delivered The Queen’s message to the Commonwealth Games. In it, she said the Games “remind us of our connection with one another, wherever we may be in the world, as part of the Commonwealth family of nations”.

The Prince of Wales added: “Tonight, in the words of the founder of the Games, we embark once again on a novel adventure here in Birmingham, a pioneering city which has drawn in and embraced so many throughout its history.

“It is a city symbolic of the rich diversity and unity of the Commonwealth, and one which now welcomes you all in friendship.”

A stunning spectacle also included a Red Arrows fly-past and an appearance from a 10-metre high ‘Raging Bull’, in a section of the ceremony which focused on the plight of female chain-makers in the early 20th century.

More than 5,000 athletes will compete in 280 events across 19 sports in the 10 days coming up, with a para sport programme integrated into the Games. It will also be the first major multi-sport games to award more medals to women than men – 136 and 134.

Other ‘firsts’ for Birmingham’s Games include a Commonwealth debut for women’s T20 cricket and for 3×3 basketball as the Games continues its bid to evolve.

The ceremony also featured an appearance from activist Malala Yousafzai. The 25-year-old, who now lives in Birmingham, campaigns and raises funds for girls’ education programmes in her native Pakistan.

Her determination to stand up for her beliefs almost cost her life, when she was shot in the head in an assassination attempt in 2012.

“Tonight teams from 72 countries and territories join the people of Birmingham to celebrate friendship across borders,” Malala said.

“They represent millions of girls and boys and our shared goal, where every child can go to school, where women can fully participate in society and where families can live in peace and dignity.

“Remember, every child deserves her chance to fulfil her potential and pursue her wildest dreams.”

All around the city is the slogan ‘Sport is Just the Beginning’.

Games organisers want sport to be the vehicle to start the conversations and prompt the actions necessary to tackle inequality and discrimination across the Commonwealth.

As the ceremony drew to a close, Tom Daley proudly emerged flanked by Pride flags as part of an “historic” statement against homophobia – one of six final torch-bearers to enter the stadium, each of whom represented a different cause or under-represented minority that is closest to their heart.

ALSO READ-India’s Harika targets medal at 44th Chess Olympiad

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University of Birmingham’s first international campus opens in Dubai

Hopkins have designed a building which responds appropriately to its local context whilst referencing the University of Birmingham’s origins…reports Asian Lite News

The University of Birmingham has officially opened its first international campus, in Dubai – the first Russell Group University to do so.

Designed to serve a growing demand in the region, the new campus offers a range of science, business, technology and other courses – equipping future generations with the skills and expertise they need to face future global needs.

As such, the new campus has been designed to adapt to fast-changing learning environments, with a flexible, future-proofed approach and a minimum anticipated life span of 30 years.

This high-quality campus building strongly references the original University of Birmingham campus in the UK – opened in 1900 – to create a coherent international identity and heritage brand.

University of Birmingham Dubai is located at the heart of the city’s academic quarter, Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), the largest education hub in the Middle East and home of many international universities.

Hopkins have designed a building which responds appropriately to its local context whilst referencing the University of Birmingham’s origins. Facing onto nearby parkland, the campus contributes to a wider masterplan, creating a walkable district with attractive pedestrian routes and better connectivity to surrounding facilities.

The crescent-shaped building echoes the University’s historic Aston Webb Building in Birmingham. Proportions and materials, including a precast structural system with textured red precast façade echoes the solidity of form expressed at the original ‘red brick’ campus, the UK’s first civic University.

The Dubai campus will initially house up to 2,900 students and 400 staff with scope to expand. Accommodation includes a multi-purpose lecture theatre, library, auditorium, general teaching areas, wet, dry and engineering labs and student support areas, all designed for maximum flexibility.

Adaptable teaching spaces accommodate classes of various sizes and the main auditorium features raked seating for 300 in lecture theatre mode, but can be reconfigured to a flat floor mode for large gatherings and exams. There are also two interactive and adaptable auditoria of 200 seats adaptable to changes in layouts and furniture arrangements. Exposed ceilings with services and acoustic buffers, can also easily be re-configured depending on future spatial needs.

A logical plan, has allowed Hopkins to create a clear sequence of arrival and circulation spaces with intuitive wayfinding. Extensive social learning spaces, including external shaded external courtyards, are provided throughout the campus to encourage interactive learning. A generous stepped entrance to the main atrium and first floor library doubles up as an amphitheatre, providing additional space for informal socializing or teaching. Water features and soft landscaping create a pleasant cooling effect.

Designed to operate within the challenging climatic conditions of Dubai, every opportunity has been explored to integrate environmentally responsive and efficient design measures.

The building is 50% solid, with a modular façade system designed to allow for quality, factory- controlled construction whilst contributing to efficient site operation and fast erection.

Bespoke integrated shading to all windows and glazed facades, can respond to different solar orientations with adjustable angles which offer views out but reduce solar gain and lighting consumption. Exposed precast soffits and façades provide thermal mass to help control the thermal temperature from within and an external colonnade provides shaded circulation around the building. BMS controls to all spaces will help to monitor occupancy uses and further reduce any unnecessary energy consumption. Materials have been selected which can be locally produced with low embodied energy.

Smart technology has been incorporated throughout the building, including a room booking system, allowing it to respond to data on its everyday use and make further energy savings.

Hopkins have delivered a number of exemplary higher education facilities worldwide. The University of Birmingham Dubai is their first in the Middle East region, where they have worked and delivered a series of buildings and masterplans over the last 15 years.

University of Birmingham Dubai Provost Professor David Sadler said: “We are delighted to be open for business in our iconic, state-of-the-art campus in Dubai that reflects our long-term commitment to the UAE and the wider region – providing the best learning environment of any international university in the region.

“These excellent, innovative facilities allow us to provide students from the UAE and beyond with a first-class education from an elite British university. We are committed to making our campuses in Dubai and Birmingham as sustainable as possible and look forward to welcoming the local community for events and opportunities that will enrich Dubai residents’ lives.”

ALSO READ-King Saud University collaborates with IBM

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Begum Akhtar musical to be presented on April 9 at MAC in Bghm

After two house-full shows with standing ovation in London and Manchester, Begum Akhtar, The Musical will be coming to Birmingham, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) soon followed at Storey’s Field Centre, Cambridge on 24th April, reports Rahul Laud

 Presented by the renowned Kalakar Arts UK, Begum Akhtar is a live musical based on Ghazal Queen Begum Akhtar’s tragic life and music supported by Arts Council England and iKure.  The musical is scripted, directed and performed (as Begum Akhtar) by the Founder and CEO of Kalakar Arts UK, Vidushi Chandra Chakraborty, an eminent Hindustani Classical vocalist hailing from the Kirana Gharana.

Begum Akhtar musical show

 ‘’This musical is based on the tragic life of Ghazal Queen Begum Akhtar with outstanding acting, dance and of course those unforgettable music that were once performed by Begum Akhtar, said Chandra. Other cast members and musicians include Indrani Datta, Satarupa Ghosh, Maher Ahmed, Anju Roy-Hurst, Sangeeta Srivastav, Natasha Trikha, Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, Aniruddha Bardhan, Shiblu Rahman, Vidhur Prashar, Junaid Ali, Hamit Walia, Aniruddha Mukherjee, Amith Dey, Sourojyoti Basu, Ujjwal Banga, Shantanu Goswami and Kamalbir Singh on violin.

Chandra said, “Kalakar is known for the uniqueness of its shows and so far each show has seen an audience from all over UK, from all communities and cultural backgrounds. There are solo performances by distinguished artists in London but I wanted to stage something different for my audience.’’ Hence, the idea of performing live musicals based on life stories of famous musicians, she added.

Chandra Chakraborty, CEO, Kalakar Arts, UK

Chandra informs that a lot of research work was conducted to write the musical. This was followed by Begum Akhtar’s short form that was performed at Rich Mix (as part of the Bangla Music Festival of Saudha, Society of Poetry and Indian Music in 2018). Before the pandemic the full 2.5 hours musical at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan and at SOAS (2019 and 2020) was part of Kalakar’s repertoire. ‘’Experiencing a huge demand from the audience, with the support of Arts Council England, we started the UK tour from this year March,’’ Chandra pointed out.

Recently Chandra visited Banaras to carry out some more research work for her upcoming project on ‘Tawaifs’ (courtesans), their music and life. Chandra explains that these visits are part of research ‘’ so that when an audience attend shows, they experience world class music, dance and acting in addition also gain a lot of information about the main characters of the musicals.’’

Audience response has been spell binding, informs Chandra. Repeat audience is a unique experience, said Chandra. Contented over her response , she said , ‘’one member of the regular audience refused to accept a guest pass offered to her saying that the show is so good that she feels honoured by attending and would like to pay for the ticket.”

Indrani Datta dance recital

Kalakar Arts UK is here to stay with more projects in the offing.

Ticket link for Birmingham- https://kalakararts.org/events/akhtari-the-musical-438/

Ticket link for Cambridge- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/akhtari-the-musical-tickets-265059168107

Website-www.kalakararts.org

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Plans to revive historic Birmingham hotel linked to Gandhi

The board’s decision will now trigger detailed negotiations between the WMCA and the developers to finalise an investment deal…reports Asian Lite News

Plans to regenerate an historic Birmingham hotel where Mahatma Gandhi is believed to have once dined are being backed by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

The Victorian-built Murdoch Chambers & Pitman Building in Corporation Street started life in the late 1800s as a vegetarian restaurant and hotel, thought to be the first in Britain, but now stands empty, apart from two fast food outlets on the ground floor.

That could soon change after developer MP Devco Limited drew up proposals to transform it into an ‘aparthotel’ offering 136 apartments.

Now, as part of its nationally acclaimed brownfield regeneration programme, the WMCA board has agreed in principle to make an investment to kick-start the aparthotel scheme, which is expected to create more than 70 jobs.

It will be the latest in a series of WMCA investments using money it has secured from the government to provide new homes, jobs and commercial spaces on urban, brownfield sites, helping to support the region’s economic recovery from Covid 19 while reducing pressure on the green belt.

The board’s decision will now trigger detailed negotiations between the WMCA and the developers to finalise an investment deal.

West Midlands mayor Andy Street said: “Murdoch & Pitman is an iconic city centre building with a glorious history. This scheme will breathe new life into the building and the area, helping to safeguard a valued part of our local heritage.

“It is also yet another example of how the WMCA is putting its funding to good use to help drive forward a successful economic recovery from Covid-19 by transforming brownfield sites into new homes and communities, creating vital jobs in the process.”

The Murdoch Chambers & Pitman Building was originally built in 1896 by J Crouch and E Butler for Dean’s Furniture and the Pitman’s restaurant, which is thought to have been named after Sir Isaac Pitman, then vice-president of the Vegetarian Society and creator of Pitman’s shorthand.

The building features carvings depicting its early uses, showing diners at the Pitman Vegetarian Restaurant and workers at Dean’s Furniture offices. Pitman’s restaurant had expanded into a hotel by 1898 and was still open when Gandhi visited the city in the 1930s. Later uses of the buildings included offices and barristers’ chambers.

With the on-going shift away from bricks and mortar retail to on-line shopping, it is hoped the scheme will also help revitalise the top end of Corporation Street, traditionally one of the city centre’s premier streets and also the location of other historic buildings such as the Grade I Listed Victoria Law Courts and the Grade II Listed Methodist Central Hall, which has stood empty for nearly 20 years.

In approving the investment in principle, the WMCA board was told how the proposed development would restore and revitalise the entirety of the historic building and its façade, enhancing the historic and cultural distinctiveness of the local area and integrating well with the other Victorian architecture within the vicinity.

The board was also told how the developer had committed to utilising modern methods of construction while reducing carbon emissions and that the aparthotel would support and address growing city centre housing and commercial market demand while providing additional jobs for the region.

ALSO READ-Birmingham pays homage to Netaji