The project during construction

A Birmingham suburb has a new heart after a £660,000 project to create a village square.

Accompanied by dancers, drummers and choirs, the new square in Kings Heath – a Community Spaces flagship project – will be officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Coun Anita Ward, and the Bishop of Birmingham, the Rt Rev David Urquhart, on Saturday October 15 at 10am.

The project has been masterminded by the All Saints Community Development Company in collaboration with All Saints Parochial Church Council. The group secured a £430,000 grant for the square from Community Spaces, £210,000 from Birmingham City Council and £20,000 from Kings Heath Centre Partnership

The Village Square brings together three separate areas of ground into a place for meeting and relaxing and where a regular programme events and activities will take place.

Major features in the square include:

- A ‘bubble pavement’ water feature which symbolises refreshment, new life and Christian Baptism

- A paved labyrinth, designed by artist Alison Ogle in consultation with local young people and community groups and which includes mosaic inserts and quotations on the theme of ‘Cherish Creation and Community’

- A paved Threshold/Swirl feature, which spirals outward from a restored Edwardian lamppost at the outer corner of the square toward the centre of the labyrinth and in which is cut a poem by local poet Rosie Miles who was a finalist for the title of Birmingham Poet Laureate in 2010

- A re-sited and renovated War memorial with seating

- Landscaping and planting

During the opening ceremony, the Bishop will switch on the water feature and bless the venue. Music and song will be preformed by the Kings Heath Brass Quintet, the Eritrean church and the Sing Live! choir.

Landscape architect Simon Watkins and site construction supervisor Peter Smith will “top out” the paved labyrinth by laying the final piece, a centre steel inlay circle.

Vivien Thickett of the All Saints Community Development Company said: “It’s been hard work putting together such a complicated project but the results make it all worth while. We now have a beautiful square for all members of the community to enjoy.”

Wendy Jenkins, programmes director at Groundwork UK, which manages Community Spaces, said: “The Kings Heath Village Square is one our flagship projects and I am delighted to see how the vision of the local community has become a reality.”