Former North Works, Lickey Road, Longbridge, Birmingham

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1 Committee Date: 14/11/2013 Application Number: 2013/06431/PA Accepted: 27/08/2013 Application Type: Full Planning Target Date: 26/11/2013 Ward: Longbridge Former North Works, Lickey Road, Longbridge, Birmingham Construction of highway access road & footway, associated drainage infrastructure, lighting & landscaping Applicant: Agent: Recommendation Approve Subject To Conditions St Modwen Developments Ltd c/o Agent Planning Prospects Ltd 1 Broomhall Business Centre, Broomhall Lane, Worcester, WR5 2NT 1. Proposal 1.1 Planning permission is sought for the construction of a new highway link road (Austin Avenue and Cooper Way) that would facilitate access to the future town centre phase 2 in addition to providing vehicular and pedestrian access to the proposed residential development (Phase 4 to be determined elsewhere on this agenda 2013/06311/PA) and mixed use proposals for Longbridge North generally and would link to the adopted highway at Lickey Road. 1.2 The public realm design would be in keeping with Phase 1 of the Town Centre. The proposed surface materials would be robust and would continue the strategy set out and used in Phase 1 in terms of colour, bond and size. Block paving would be used to create places, highlight junctions, areas of high activity and pedestrian crossing points, with the aim that a change of surface would heighten drivers awareness of their environment as they arrive in the Town Centre. The carriageways and footways to the access roads would predominantly be tarmacadam and would be separated with wide verges, street tree planting and hedges making for a green, legible and friendly streetscape. 1.3 Austin Avenue would be approximately 128m long and would extend north from the previously consented and now constructed dalmuir link road (2012/07693/PA) at Lickey Road. It would join the east-west proposed road of Cooper Way, which would be 434m long. The junction would consist of a four-spur roundabout (Austin Circus). 1.4 Austin Avenue as proposed within the accompanying design and access statement would measure approximately 18m in width and would comprise 2m pavement, 3.5m verge and trees, 3m carriageway, 1.3m central reservation, 3m carriageway, 2.75m verge and trees and 2.75m pavement. Cooper Way would measure approximately 14.5m in width and would comprise 2.5m pavement, 3m carriageway, 1.3m central reservation, 3m carriageway, 2m verge and trees and a 2.75m pavement. Page 1 of 7

2 1.5 The application is supported by a Flood Risk Assessment and Design and Access Statement entitled Public Realm and Landscape Design Report. 1.6 The Local Planning Authority has issued a screening opinion that concluded that an Environmental Impact Assessment is not required for this proposal. 1.7 Site area 1.53Ha. Detailed Highway Layout 2. Site & Surroundings 2.1 The wider Longbridge site straddles the boundary between Birmingham and Bromsgrove, located approximately 11km to the south west of Birmingham City Centre. 2.2 The application site encompasses land formally occupied by MG Rover and known as the former North Works. The site has been remediated and reprofiled ready for development. 2.3 The application site for the highway link road covers approximately 1.53Ha. The site is bounded to the north by the under construction town centre retail development, Bournville College and Longbridge Lane; to the west by Bristol Road South (A38) and Lickey Road; to the east by the cross-city railway line and to the south by the retained Nanjing works. 2.4 The wider area contains the cleared former West Works, west of Bristol Road South, the Longbridge Technology Park to the north of Longbridge Lane, SAC/MG Motors (UK) Ltd to the south, and residential areas to the west of Lickey Road and east of the railway line. Site Location Map Streetview 3 Planning History - Extensive history including: /06311/PA. Outline planning application for residential development (up to 215 dwellings), access, parking and landscaping. All matters reserved. Awaiting determination elsewhere on this agenda /06476/PA. Residential development comprising 18 no. 2, 3 and 4 bedroom houses and 64 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, access, parking and landscaping. Awaiting determination elsewhere on this agenda /06430/PA. Re-profiling and remodelling of site levels, remediation works and creation of two vehicular access points. Awaiting determination elsewhere on this agenda /06429/PA. Outline planning application (with all matters reserved, except access) for the erection of up to 95 dwellings and works associated with profiling of site levels. Awaiting determination elsewhere on this agenda /05330/PA. Application for retail development (Use Class A1), car parking, access and landscaping comprising - (1) - Outline application for retail unit (Use Page 2 of 7

3 Class A1), multi level car park (up to two levels), hard and soft landscaping, access and associated infrastructure (all matters reserved except access), and (2) - Full details (matters not reserved) for terrace of retail units (Use Class A1), service space, surface level car parking, hard and soft landscaping, access, roads, footpaths and associated infrastructure. Awaiting determination February /07693/PA. Planning permission granted for a highway link road, street lighting and landscaping September /00773/PA. Planning permission granted for Mixed use development comprising new superstore, shops (A1), Financial and Professional (A2), Restaurants/Cafes (A3), Public Houses (A4) and Hot Food Takeaways (A5), Offices (B1a), 40 residential apartments, hotel, new public park, associated parking and service infrastructure and new highway access from Longbridge Lane and Lickey Road January /02787/PA. Planning permission granted for Construction of new highway, associated service infrastructure, drainage, bridge over river, culverts, foot and cycle ways, crossing facilities, access points and landscaping following part closure of existing highway. 4 Consultation/PP Responses 4.1 Local Residents, Ward Councillors for both Northfield and Longbridge wards, resident associations and MP notified. Press and site notice posted. No comments have been received. 4.2 West Midlands Fire Service - no objection. 4.3 Severn Trent Water - there are public sewers located just within the application site. Public sewers have statutory protection and may not be built close to, directly over or be diverted without consent. No objections to the proposals subject to the inclusion of a drainage safeguarding condition on any approval. 4.4 Regulatory Services no objection. 4.5 Environment Agency no objection subject to drainage and controlled waters conditions. 4.6 Transportation no objection subject to conditions relating to S278 agreement and a construction management plan. 4.7 West Midlands Police no objection. 5 Policy Context 5.1 Birmingham UDP (2005), NPPF, Longbridge Area Action Plan (2009), Draft Birmingham Development Plan. 6 Planning Considerations 6.1 The application site sits within the Longbridge Area Action Plan (AAP) framework, which forms part of the Development Plan for the purposes of determining planning applications. The AAP contains a shared vision for Longbridge: Page 3 of 7

4 "Longbridge will undergo major transformational change redeveloping the former car plant and surrounding area into an exemplar sustainable, employment led mixed use development for the benefit of the local community, Birmingham, Bromsgrove, the region and beyond. It will deliver new jobs, houses, community, leisure and educational facilities as well as providing an identifiable and accessible new heart for the area. All development will embody the principles of sustainability, sustainable communities and inclusiveness. At the heart of the vision is a commitment to high quality design that can create a real sense of place with a strong identity and distinctive character. All of this will make it a place where people will want to live, work, visit and invest and which provides a secure and positive future for local people." 6.2 Planning permission is sought for the construction of a highway link road that would facilitate access to the future town centre phase 2 in addition to providing vehicular and pedestrian access to the proposed residential development (Phase 4 to be determined elsewhere on this agenda) and mixed use proposals for Longbridge North generally and would link to the adopted highway at Lickey Road. The application site would be situated on land designated as EZ1 and LC4 in the Longbridge AAP. EZ1 is a designated Employment Zone and LC4 is designated as the Local Centre Mixed Use Quarter. The AAP also includes a Movement Strategy, which whilst not envisaging some of the highway proposed in this location, emphasised the need to create a network of streets within the site organised into an access hierarchy comprising primary and secondary streets. All routes to provide for pedestrians and cyclists. (Proposals T3. Paragraph 3.137) 6.3 The proposed highway would be integrated into a network of hierarchical streets with the proposed link forming a key access into the town centre and remaining development plots. I consider that the proposed highway is sited in an acceptable location to comply with the relevant AAP policy. 6.4 The application is supported by a Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy. Its conclusions state that surface water from the application site would discharge into the wider town centre drainage network whilst modelling results confirm that all flood events up to and including a 1000 year event would be contained within the River Rea channel and new park. On this basis, the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water have raised no adverse comments and I concur with this conclusion. 6.5 Transportation has raised no objections to the proposal. The road would be constructed to adoptable standards although it is likely to remain in private ownership and maintained by the existing management company on site. 7 Conclusion 7.1 The proposed link road forms a vital component of the redevelopment of the former North Works site into the Local Centre envisaged by the Longbridge Area Action Plan. The road will provide access into future development plots (one of which are to be determined elsewhere on this agenda), and provide servicing access into the town centre. The new road supports the aims and objectives of the AAP. 8 Recommendation 8.1 That planning permission is granted subject to the conditions listed below. Page 4 of 7

5 1 Requires the scheme to be in accordance with the listed approved plans 2 Requires the prior submission of a sustainable drainage scheme 3 Surface water drainage and controlled waters 4 Requires the prior submission of hard and/or soft landscape details 5 Requires the prior submission of a construction method statement/management plan 6 Requires the prior submission of sample materials 7 Requires the prior submission and completion of works for the S278/TRO Agreement 8 Limits the approval to 3 years (Full) Case Officer: Pam Brennan Page 5 of 7

6 Photo(s) Figure 1: Phase 4 and link road site from junction with Lickey Road Figure 2: View of link road position and Phase 4 from town centre Page 6 of 7

7 Location Plan This map is reproduced from the Ordnance Survey Material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Birmingham City Council. Licence No , 2010 Page 7 of 7