Former Birmingham Battery Site | Selly Oak | Retail Development | 8 Fl | Prop.

[Erebus555]

I think that's looking towards the sub-station, so the overhead wires will not go beyond that pylon.

[peaceful warrior]

The story from the public exhibition is that the Science Campus was a fairly recent request from Birmingham Council as Selly Oak is one of the identified 'Economic zones' for targeted development. The design for retail does seem to have been compromised but it does look like it opens the way for future connection to the existing Battery Park site - which Sainsbury's don't own. The developers have said that the canal is still a potential but the joining point of the Lapal and existing canal (next to the Bristol Road Bridge)is blocked by a gas main in the towpath. The cost of removing/relocating that gas main apparently is not yet known - hence no promises. Personally I liked the former scheme as it offered more for Selly Oak - the Science Campus wouldn't be publicly accessible I assume.

[sefton66]

Life sciences campus would have been ideal for pebble mill

I guess with this having funding and maybe a lack of retail interest m&s apparently pulled out in favour of longbridge with it being dragged out so long sainsburys jumped at the opportunity for the life sciences campus on the site with all the jobs that come with it

[sefton66]

New app

Application Number 2013/02178/PA
Application Type Outline
Site Address Former Birmingham Battery Site land between Bristol Road, Harborne Lane and Aston Webb Boulevard Selly Oak Birmingham
Proposal Outline planning application with some matters reserved for mixed use development comprising of life sciences campus (Use Classes B1a, B1b, B1c), supermarket (Use Class A1), non-food retail units (Use Class A1), financial and professional units (Use Class A2), cafe and restaurant units (Use Class A3), drinking establishments (Use Class A4), hot food take-away (Use Class A5), leisure (Use Class D2), student accommodation (Sui Generis), petrol filling station (Sui Generis), a linear open space walkway 'greenway', access, car parking (including multi storey car parking), landscaping, retaining walls, and associated works including demolition of existing buildings

Docs

http://eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk/N...APP&key=587345

[ReissOmari]

again? How many apps do they need, isnt this costing money?

[sefton66]

I'd think apart from reserved matters app this will be the final one now

It's unlikely to change now, the life science campus has full funding as does sainsburys, they're making the most of the remaining site with other retail and student blocks so I think it will get through planning, the last issues were too much retail and people complaining about the lack of highly skilled jobs that were originally promised - both now solved

[sefton66]

I cant get many of the documents to load but from what I can see it appears this has a 15 storey 57m student tower at the back of sainsburys....

[Pompous Pilate]

wasnt the issue on them promising to rebuild old canal then backing out...council told them to sort this issue out.

if its not part of plans expect more problems to get it sorted.

[lewlew]

The canal is essential to the long term prosperity of Birmingham. It will bring lots of tourism eventually. If the Lapal canal is fully restored it will creat a canal ring. Canal rings are popular with people hiring boats for a holiday as it means they don't have to go down the same canal twice. This ring would include the Netherton tunnel, Weoly Castle and a golf course landscaped by Capability Brown (so I was told by a guy from the Lapal Canal Society). These are the sorts of things people want to see on their narrowboat holiday. There's also the new aqueduct over the Seli Oak by pass. There can't be many modern aqueducts about.

[brum2003]

Looks like the developers have made pretty poor usage of the canal side and have reneged on plans to develop a link to the under restoration lapal canal. Shame

[Pompous Pilate]

lets hope council tell them to get canal link back in as promised...or no deal. plenty of other companies would love to develop the land.

[fosop]

The plans are little different to those offered in consultation despite considerable local opposition. But then the consultation was farcical, they did not even leaflet the houses on the estates next to the site. The only real difference is that they have made the car park a even bigger at the expense of some courtyard area and have added a weird lift at the back of the supermarket (presumably for disabled people coming from the bus stops as they’d have no way to get into the development otherwise).

A number of local groups have got together to oppose this plan and have even sketched out an alternative which would put the canal back and present a much better face to the Bristol Rd. You can read about it here www.cp4so.org.uk and here is a picture of what they’ve suggested.

[djay]

Originally Posted by fosop

The plans are little different to those offered in consultation despite considerable local opposition. But then the consultation was farcical, they did not even leaflet the houses on the estates next to the site.

If this was a pre-submission consultation then they do not have to consult at all. There is no legislation which requires them to do consult at all before an application.

[fosop]

Originally Posted by djay

If this was a pre-submission consultation then they do not have to consult at all. There is no legislation which requires them to do consult at all before an application.

I know that but they chose to run a consultation - which presumably looks good - but then did not do a very good job of it.

[djay]

Not really. If committee decide the application then it may swing a vote or two but they are more likely to go with where they get votes.

[Spread]

From Business Desk:

Battery Park scheme could create 7,000 jobs



PLANS for a life sciences campus on the former Birmingham Battery Park site in Selly Oak have taken a significant step forward following the acquisition of the site being green-lighted by the city council.

It has been suggested that the campus could create 7,000 jobs - 2,400 on the site and up to 5,000 more indirectly.

The campus will be a key part of the new Life Sciences Economic Zone in Edgbaston. It would also be a component of a major 12-hectare regeneration site being developed by the Harvest Partnership, which is made up of developers Land Securities and Sainsbury’s.

The city council is working with Harvest Partnership to develop the four hectare site near the University of Birmingham and QE Hospital. Harvest’s proposals include a new Sainsbury’s store, other shops, a petrol station and student accommodation.

It is expected the campus, which will take up approximately one third of the former Battery Park site, will attract both new and existing companies in the life and health sciences area.

Cllr Ian Ward, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Birmingham has a growing reputation as a leading international centre for life sciences and this latest development is part of the wider commitment of this administration to secure and develop a Life Sciences Economic Zone.

“We want to see a thriving and globally competitive life sciences sector, building on our current provision, including the world class clinical practice, research and trials to be found at the university and hospital.

“It is expected that the campus will provide up to 2,400 jobs on site and generate a turnover of up to £243m, in addition to bringing back to life a site that has been left vacant for decades.”

Neil Carron, Land Securities project director, added: “This is an important step towards cleaning up and regenerating a site that has remained derelict for years.”

[lewlew]

^but what about the Lapal canal?!

[Birminghamnz]

The canal is not part of it. So what!!! I cannot believe people complain about this project. It could not be much better for the area! Just get on with building it! As an example... 200 years ago there was nothing in Sydney Australia. Now it has one of the worlds great cities . They just got on with it ! We continue to complain and moan when great projects like this are gifted to us. That is why we are not a great city yet.

[Birminghamnz]

So is the whole project green lighted now? Will it start next year as planned or are there more steps in the process?

[Spread]

Interesting insight from EGI:

Brum deal breathes life into Selly Oak
A strategic land acquisition by Birmingham council looks set to finally bring forward a major redevelopment at Battery Park in Selly Oak.

Sainsbury's and Land Securities, through their Harvest joint venture, have been seeking to develop a 430,000 sq ft retail scheme on the 30-acre park for several years and submitted initial* plans last year.

The council objected owing to the high level of retail, however, and the parties had been locked in talks ever since.

This latest deal, which sees the council pay around £10m for a 10-acre site, will enable a reconfiguration of the park to bring forward a 1m sq ft mixed-use scheme.

Birmingham council, working with the University of Birmingham and the Queen Elizabeth "super hospital", wants to build a 418,000 sq ft life sciences campus on its land.

On the remaining 20 acres LandSec and Sainsbury's are proposing a mixed-use scheme, with a 171,000 sq ft supermarket, 163,000 sq ft of shops, 161,500 sq ft of student accommodation and residential and 21,000 sq ft of leisure. Outline plans will be submitted imminently.

A source said: "The acquisition of this 10-acre site by the council means the delivery of the whole picture. The council would not have given consent to the previous proposals and this is a good all-round solution."

Lambert Smith Hampton and GVA advised Birmingham council on the viability of the life sciences campus.