Welcome to our exhibition housing development A46 Wildmoor Alcester Road Canal Quarter A422 Town Centre housing development Warwickshire-based IM Properties, one of the UK s largest privately owned property companies, is developing proposals for a new business park south of Alcester Road and west of the Wildmoor. We are in the process of working up a planning application and we would welcome your views on our plans. This exhibition explains what we are proposing and how we plan to take the project forward. Later this autumn, we will submit a planning application to Stratford-on-Avon District Council. Our application will seek permission for new offices, space for research & development (R&D), industrial and retail uses. The site is allocated for commercial development in the Council s Local Plan and Stratford s emerging Neighbourhood Development Plan. IN SUMMARY, OUR PROPOSALS ARE ABOUT: Providing space for local companies which will need to relocate from Stratford s proposed Canal Quarter Regeneration area Safeguarding local jobs and supporting in excess of 1,500 jobs (including new employment) across the site Creating space for offices, R&D and industry to attract new high-quality businesses to support Stratford s long term growth Making provision for high-quality car showrooms and a new DIY store A sensitive and carefully-planned development with well-designed buildings set within a coherent and comprehensive landscaping scheme Feedback forms are available at the exhibition and you can also contact us via our website at www.landsouthofa46consultation.co.uk If you would like to comment on the plans, please complete and return your feedback form by 5.00pm on 3 August 2017.
The site and its local importance A46 Indicative parameters plan for the site There is an opportunity at the 23-hectare (55-acre) site to create a new high-quality business park, which could provide a new home for local businesses relocating from Stratford s Canal Quarter and attract new companies to the town. IM Properties has developed its proposals for the site in response to the need to relocate businesses from the proposed Canal Quarter Regeneration area, which Stratford-on-Avon District Council hopes will become a vibrant mixed-use location, delivering 650 homes by 2031*. Drayton Brook Drayton Manor Drive A46 Alcester Road The site Diverse employment opportunities Wildmoor As well as providing a new home for existing local businesses, if approved, the site would stimulate the local economy further by attracting new high-quality companies to the area and delivering new skilled jobs. A broad mix of employment opportunities will be created within space for offices, R&D and industrial uses. The site will additionally make provision for high-quality car showrooms and a new DIY store. The inclusion of these uses responds directly to known local demand and will help support the investment in, and early delivery of, key site infrastructure. Having a site prepared will be important to those businesses that will need certainty to relocate. As a gateway site for Stratford, we are conscious of the need to plan carefully and responsibly and of the site s proximity to new homes which are set to be built near the Wildmoor. Site allocation The site is allocated in the Core Strategy (2011-2031, policy SUA.2), which specifies a number of requirements relating to vehicle access, extensive landscaping on the south and western boundaries, hedgerow treatment, ecology and frequent bus services. *More information about the Canal Quarter Regeneration can be found in Stratford-on-Avon District Council s Core Strategy, available to download at: www.stratford.gov.uk/corestrategy
Masterplan Indicative masterplan We are drawing on our experience of designing, building and operating successful business parks across the Midlands to make this application the best it can be. The northern frontage of the site will provide up to 7.5 hectares (18.5 acres) for high-quality car showrooms, which is set to include space for Guy Salmon (Jaguar Land Rover) and Inchcape (Mercedes-Benz) with the potential for other car dealerships, and space for a DIY store and other commercial uses. As currently illustrated, the remainder of the site will provide space for approximately 10 hectares (24.5 acres) of offices, R&D units, light industrial/distribution businesses and ancillary business park uses. Our proposals will also include: A new on the A46 to access the site A clear strategy for movement to and within the site Electric vehicle charging points that will be provided at the on-site car parks A landscape strategy that responds to the site s context A strategy to reduce carbon emissions by maximising natural light penetration and constructing well insulated, airtight buildings and installing efficient building services The use of low carbon and / or renewable energy technologies where appropriate The inclusion of measures during and operation of our buildings to reduce water use and waste generation Images of recently completed Guy Salmon JLR and Inchcape Mercedes-Benz dealerships Examples of buildings at Blythe Valley Park
Design, landscaping and ecology Indicative landscaping and green infrastructure strategy Aquatic habitats New hedge Native shrub planting COMMERCIAL ZONE Main Spine Road Avenue tree planting New hedge Ecological enhancement zone EMPLOYMENT ZONE Green corridor Landscape buffer screening Examples of sustainable drainage, tree planting and swales Landscape and green infrastructure concept plan IM Properties is committed to high standards of building design, landscaping, ecology and management of the site. We will focus on high-quality building design that is responsive to and integrated within its landscape. An attractive and cohesive design for occupiers and users of the development is an important part of delivering a successful place, but we recognise the need to positively address other local impacts. Design Whilst accepting there will be a broad mix of uses on site (with specific design requirements), a palette of materials which respect the form of development and its setting will be agreed with the planning authority. A clear strategy for lighting, signage, boundary treatment and parking areas will complement this. Reducing visual impact We are committed to ensuring that building design reduces visual impact on the landscape as much as possible. Our approach will be informed by a robust landscape and visual impact assessment, which will consider a wide number of locations and proximity from the site. Landscaping We are proposing a landscape strategy that acknowledges the site s existing setting, responds to the requirements of prospective occupiers and will deliver a positive experience for those visiting the site. The key landscape principles include: Retaining existing trees and hedgerows where possible, and where lost, establishing new native planting to create green corridors Using sustainable drainage with attenuation ponds and swales through the site Developing a mosaic of landscape areas within the site for amenity and ecological value Establishing an extensive landscape buffer to mitigate the potential visual impact of the development Ecology The site has been subject to a number of ecological surveys and assessments, which have determined the extent of any required mitigation measures and helped informed the landscape strategy. The ecological mitigation proposals will: Ensure that the favourable ecological conditions of the site are supported Include the potential for notable plant species to be translocated into retained and enhanced habitat zones Allow the site boundaries to continue to function as wildlife corridors
Sustainable transport Cars HGVs Bus Cycle / pedestrian access Potential future cycle / pedestrian access Transport connectivity through the site Retail unit boundary Mixed native species boundary hedgerow and fence Avenue Tree Planting along back of pavement Combined pedestrian and cycle route (3m wide) Shrub planting along spine road Spine Road Shrub and avenue tree planting along spine road Pedestrian route Shrub planting Swale with semi aquatic planting Grouped native trees Mixed species native hedgerow and fence The proposed site access would be carefully delivered to ensure that there is scope to widen the A46 if plans are put forward by the highway authorities in the future to create a dual carriageway. Illustrative section along business park spine road We are committed to delivering a sustainable transport strategy. We are developing our proposals for the site by considering its connectivity to the consented South Western Relief Road to the east, which will be delivered by housebuilder, Bloor Homes, and the approved residential developments at Bishopton Lane and Shottery. Our transport work has indicated that adding an additional (fifth) arm to the improved Wildmoor, or seeking access off the proposed South West Relief Road are not viable solutions. The proposed development would bring forward a mix of complementary land uses with different traffic peaks during the day. This will mean that potential traffic impacts are effectively managed. The industrial/ logistics uses proposed would generate relatively few trips on the road network during peak hours when traffic movements associated with the offices are greater. With some businesses relocating to the site from elsewhere in the town, these occupiers will not add additional traffic to Stratford s road network. Sustainable transport We are developing a sustainable travel plan for the site and are working with local public transport providers to ensure that bus services are extended into the site. Pedestrian and cyclist connectivity We will ensure that the business park is accessible to all by creating well-designed pedestrian and cycling infrastructure to and within the site. We are exploring a number of options as shown on the plan set out above, which seek to maximise the use of existing networks but provide for additional future connections. Access to the business park would therefore be provided by a new off the A46 located on the north western part of the site. The principle of access in this location has been agreed with Highways England, which is responsible for the A46, and with Warwickshire County Council.
In summary Thank you for taking an interest in our proposals. We hope you have found this information useful. Our proposals respond to local and national planning policies and guidance for investment, job creation and properly-planned development. While we draw on our own comprehensive experience and the specialist insight of our consultant team, we know we can achieve a better planning application by engaging the local community and others who can help to refine and improve it further. If you have any comments on any aspect of our proposals, please complete a feedback form and return it to us. IF APPROVED, OUR PROPOSALS WOULD BRING: AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES TO STRATFORD INCLUDING THOSE IN THE R&D SECTOR SPACE FOR LOCAL COMPANIES WHICH WILL NEED TO RELOCATE FROM STRATFORD S PROPOSED CANAL QUARTER REGENERATION AREA A SITE WHICH CAN SUPPORT IN EXCESS OF JOBS 1,500 A WELL CONSIDERED LANDSCAPING SCHEME WHICH RESPONDS TO THE SITE S CONTEXT AND THE USER S EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT NEW BUSINESS RATES GENERATED FOR STRATFORD HIGH-QUALITY AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS NEXT STEPS Deadline for receiving comments 3 August 2017 Application submitted with supporting technical assessments Autumn 2017 Target decision from Stratford-on-Avon District Council Autumn/Winter 2017 Construction starts on site Spring 2018 CONTACT US: Telephone: 03308 384 199 Email: info@landsouthofa46consultation.co.uk Write to us: IM Properties, c/o Camargue, 11 Waterloo Street, Birmingham B2 5TB www.landsouthofa46consultation.co.uk
About IM Properties Office building at Blythe Valley Park IM Properties (IMP) is a Warwickshire-based company located near Coleshill and has a strong track record of bringing forward high-quality sustainable developments across the region. Blythe Valley Park Birch Coppice OUR TRACK RECORD We work in partnership with councils and stakeholders to help drive local economies forward. Our investment along the M42 corridor is creating one of the region s most ambitious new sustainable, mixed-use communities at Blythe Valley Park. This established master planned site is home to world class occupiers and set in a stunning 122 acre country park. We worked with North Warwickshire Borough Council to transform the site known as Birch Coppice from a disused colliery (employing circa 1,500 people when operational) into an award-winning business park, creating 6,000 jobs locally. Birch Coppice was developed to the highest standards of building design, park infrastructure, landscaping and management. Blythe Valley Park For more information, please visit www.improperties.co.uk Views at Birch Coppice