It is quite rediculous (and a total outrage) that the majority of these fine Victorian buildings being allowed to rot and eventually demolished, are part of the Arts and Crafts Movement at the end of the 19th Century. Such illuminaries of this great part of British architectual history was that of William Morris. The Birmingham born neo-classiscist Burne-Jones was also part of this movement (The Central Birmingham Art Gallery holds the largest collection of Burne-Jones' work in the world).

Birmingham is also home to much Arts and Crafts architecture as well as probably one of the largest collections of Victorian Gothic Revival- much of which is being allowed to rot away- in Britain.

Many people don't realise that St Chad's just off Masshouse circus was designed by Pugin who designed the tower that Big Ben (the bell in the houses of parliament) is housed.

All one needs to do is to take a trip down Hagley road (for one example) towards Bearwood to see the many examples of the Arts and crafts in architecture slowly rotting away.

I'm sorry Birmingham City Council, but the Selfridges building is just another designed-in-CAD monstosity which in 20 years time will be seen as yet another eyesore within Birmingham's centre. Also much to contary belief, much of the city centre wasn't destroyed by german planes during the 2nd world war, but by our own ignorant collection of city planners during the last century.