Two of Birmingham's most 'at risk' landmark buildings are set to be saved as a brand new museum, which could become a major tourist attraction.
The Birmingham Municipal Bank, in is set to be transformed into a Museum of World Religions, which will bring the city's diverse faiths together under one roof.
Also earmarked for restoration is the stately Great Barr Hall, which has
This would be a place of contemplation and host religious arts and music festivals. If developed, the visitor attraction would stand as a Western equivalent of the Museum of World Religions in Taipei.
Birmingham, with its diverse range of faiths, is seen as an ideal location for the museum and a committee of faith leaders, academics and experts was set up in 2010 to develop the idea.
Now, they have earmarked the two historic buildings as the best places to develop their proposals and negotiations with the buildings' owners, architects and investors have started.
which owns the Municipal Bank, told the Post it was sympathetic to the museum proposal if it could be developed into a workable plan.
In its vision statement, the committee said Birmingham had a rich history as a forward-thinking city which welcomed people of all faiths from the early non-conformist Christian groups such as Baptists, Methodists and Quakers and the Jewish communities in the 18th century through to the Muslim, Sikh and Hindu communities as well as black Christian Churches which arrived in the 20th century.
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More recently, there has been wide inter-faith co-operation on areas like religious education and the creation of a city faith map and these have led directly to the Museum of World Religions project.
As well as serving the city's religious community, they argue the museum would be a major boost for Birmingham as a venue for international faith organisations and conferences such as the European Council of Religious Leaders or the Parliament of World Religions.
The committee said: "With its enhanced inter-religious reputation, the educational and cultural resources and exhibitions put on by the museum could attract visitors from around the world.
"We believe that visitor attractions, such as Cadbury World have a place in building up the city's tourist trade, and a Museum of World Religions could substantially add to that.
"The Great Barr site, for example, could become a retreat and celebratory centre with music and artistic festivals."
It says this facility would be a major education resource for schools and colleges and support university level research.
The Municipal Bank location would enable it to link with festivals and events at the and Museum and Art Gallery.
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The report added: "The economic impact of visitors engaged in inter-religious work and collaboration could be significant but even more significant will be the enhanced reputation of being a city where all are welcome and which is truly as interesting as the world, only now all within easy reach.
"We believe that international companies will find a city with demonstrably harmonious inter-religious relations, increasingly attractive."
The Municipal Bank has been empty for more than a decade apart from the occasional use as a TV studio or art gallery, while derelict Great Barr Hall is on the English Heritage list of buildings most at risk.
Council leader Sir Albert Bore said: "There have been discussions around the Municipal Bank, but they are at an early stage.
"The idea is good and as a western counterpoint to the museum in Taipei, it would bring a lot of kudos to have it here in Birmingham."
Previously, the city council stated its determination for the bank building to be restored as a cultural facility, rather than a nightclub or other commercial enterprise.
Great Barr Hall, off Chapel Lane, has been linked with a string of development proposals since becoming derelict in the 1970s.
Earlier this year, a planning application was submitted to Council for the conversion of the 18th century mansion, once home to the Scott Family, into a leisure spa and hotel complex, with proposals for 57 homes in the surrounding grounds. But this has not yet been approved.