The Birmingham Public Works Department was a department within Birmingham City Council during the postwar period responsible for the construction of buildings for the city's residents. This included the construction of housing estates and large masterplanning schemes down to small things such as libraries and fire stations. They had a far reaching influence in Birmingham which had been devastated by World War II bombing. Positions within the department included city engineer, a position famously held by Sir Herbert Manzoni and city architect, which was held by a variety of people.