Birmingham City Council Planning Committee 27 May 2021 I submit for your consideration the attached reports for the North West team. Recommendation Report No. Application No / Location / Proposal Approve - Conditions 9 2020/08399/PA Land off Witton Road and Tame Road Witton Birmingham B6 Development of a new Inner City Football Academy, erection of building containing indoor 3G training pitch, changing facilities, parents lounge and ancillary office space, creation of outdoor 3G training pitch, two accesses, two car parks, associated hard and soft landscaping and lighting and resurfacing of staff car park to west of River Tame Approve - Conditions 10 2021/02809/PA Birmingham Alexander Stadium Walsall Road Perry Barr Birmingham B42 2LR Reserved Matters application following 2019/07968/PA for the installation of temporary lighting and catenary structures required to host the Commonwealth Games 2022. Approve - Conditions 11 2021/00528/PA Boldmere Gate Sutton Park Stonehouse Road Sutton Coldfield Birmingham B73 6LH Alterations and refurbishment of existing car park Page 1 of 1 Director, Inclusive Growth (Acting) Committee Date: 27/05/2021 Application Number: 2020/08399/PA Accepted: 23/11/2020 Application Type: Full Planning Target Date: 04/05/2021 Ward: Aston Land off Witton Road and Tame Road, Witton, Birmingham, B6 Development of a new Inner City Football Academy, erection of building containing indoor 3G training pitch, changing facilities, parents lounge and ancillary office space, creation of outdoor 3G training pitch, two accesses, two car parks, associated hard and soft landscaping and lighting and resurfacing of staff car park to west of River Tame Recommendation Approve subject to Conditions 1. Proposal 1.1. The proposal is for the re-development of the site to provide a football academy for Aston Villa Football Club. The development will consist of one outdoor 3G, floodlit, pitch and one indoor 3G, floodlit, pitch with an attached single storey building providing changing rooms, parents lounge, office and storage. The proposal also includes 3 car parks providing a total of 445 parking spaces, areas of landscaping and the creation of a wildlife pond. Page 1 of 15 1.2. Information submitted in support of the application included: Planning Statement, Design and Access Statement, Transport Assessment, Air Quality Assessment, Contamination Report, Energy Statement, Flood Risk Assessment, Ecology Surveys and Arboricultural Impact Assessment. 1.3. The proposed sports facility falls under Schedule 2, 10b “Urban Development Projects” of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. However, as the site is within an urban environment and previously developed land the Council has screened the application as not requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment. 1.4. Link to Documents 2. Site & Surroundings 2.1. The site area is 4.24ha in total, split across 2 parcels of land either side of the River Tame. The 3.7ha to the east of the river was previously occupied by B2 industrial units which were demolished following a prior notification application in 2016. The parcel to the west of the river contained 2 gas storage units, also now demolished. The footprint of the previous buildings is still evident. Both parcels are accessed off Witton Road and the eastern part also has a secondary access off Tame Road. The land is generally flat but the western parcel is on higher ground. There is existing vegetation on the River Tame corridor and the railway to the west. It is currently used for parking for local businesses, HGV trailer storage and staff parking on match days. 2.2. The wider area is a mix of employment/ commercial uses and residential terrace houses. The houses on Tame Road, Deykin Avenue and Brantley Road are surrounded by the Witton Employment Area (to the east) and The Hub Employment Area (to the north). Witton train station is to the east of the site, between the site and the main Aston Villa stadium. A group of 20 houses on Tame Road, in three terraces, back onto the site. There is also residential on the opposite side of Tame Road and further south. 2.3. Site Location 3. Planning History 3.1. The following list is the planning history relating to redevelopment of the site. Older planning history relating to the industrial use is not considered to be relevant. 3.2. 2018/09436/PA – Installation of 7 lighting columns to car park – Approved subject to conditions 18th June 2019. 3.3. 2016/10444/PA – Prior notification for demolition of steel framed and concrete structures (western parcel) – No prior approval required 13th January 2017. 3.4. 2016/07889/PA – Prior notification for demolition of former Siemens, Startins and Council yard sites – No prior approval required 19th October 2016. 3.5. 2015/06450/PA – Replacement of perimeter fencing/ gates and creation of new access off Tame Road, new lighting and temporary security building and generator unit to existing car park. Demolition of derelict buildings to extend existing car park Page 2 of 15 to create 88 additional car parking spaces and re-grading of land to provide floodplain storage area – Approved subject to conditions 12th May 2016. 3.6. 2011/06441/PA – Application to replace extant consent 2008/06167/PA – Approved 23rd December 2011. 3.7. 2008/06167/PA – Outline residential redevelopment for approx. 130 units and associated access – Approved subject to conditions 27th February 2009. 3.8. 2003/04929/PA – Redevelopment of site to provide Class A1 retail store, petrol filling station, new access to Witton Road and realignment of River Tame – Withdrawn. 3.9. 1999/04073/PA – Provision of staff car parking for use by Aston Villa FC (western parcel) – Approved subject to conditions 3rd August 2000. 4. Consultation/PP Responses 4.1. Surrounding occupiers, local councillors, MP and neighbourhood forums have been notified. A site notice and press notice has also been displayed. No comments have been received. 4.2. Sport England – No objection subject to a Community Use Agreement condition. 4.3. Transportation Development – No objection subject to conditions. The extent of the on-street parking bays (Tame Road) will need to be reviewed/ suitably modified to ensure that satisfactory visibility is achievable at the proposed Tame Road car parking facility. 4.4. Network Rail – Increased footfall at Witton Station will need to be mitigated by funding from the developer and provided advice on developing adjacent to a railway. 4.5. Regulatory Services – No objection subject to conditions regarding construction management, noise mitigation, hours of use, noise levels, lighting and contamination. 4.6. Environment Agency – No objection subject to a condition requiring the development to be in accordance with the FRA and contamination conditions. 4.7. Severn Trent Water – No objection subject to conditions to require details of foul and surface water drainage. 4.8. LLFA – No objection subject to conditions to submission of a sustainable drainage scheme and a Sustainable Drainage Operation and Maintenance Plan. 4.9. West Midlands Police – No objection. Recommends “Secured by Design”, a secure boundary treatment and gates, CCTV on building and car park, lighting to the car park and landscaping to consider security, CCTV coverage and user safety. 4.10. West Midlands Fire Service – Provided standard advice on access for fire fighting vehicles. 4.11. Employment Access – Recommends a condition to require local employment during and after construction. Page 3 of 15 5. Policy Context 5.1. The following planning policies are applicable: • Birmingham Development Plan (BDP) 2017 • Birmingham Unitary Development Plan (UDP) 2005 (Saved Policies) • Places for All SPG • Car Parking Guidelines SPD • Nature Conservation • Aston, Newtown and Lozells Area Action Plan • Development Management in Birmingham Development Plan Document • National Planning Policy Framework 2019 6. Planning Considerations Principle of development 6.1. The site is identified in the Area Action Plan and the SHLAA for residential redevelopment. Consent has previously been granted for residential development (130 dwellings) in 2008 and was renewed in 2011. The residential consent has since expired. The current proposal will be a departure from the residential allocation the agent but advises that the consent was granted and renewed but has not been implemented and there is no viable option for residential development on the site. 6.2. The previous use of the site was industrial however it is not necessary to consider the proposal as a loss of employment land due to the previous residential consent and the allocation in the AAP. 6.3. The AAP also notes that the area lacks indoor and outdoor sports facilities and playing field provision and that the site needs to provide enhancements to the River Tame. 6.4. Aston Villa already operate a training facility at Bodymoor Heath which is north of Sutton Coldfield and approximately 12km from the stadium. The club have advised that the Bodymoor facility will become player training only for the AVFC players. The proposed development at Witton Road will enable growth in their youth training programme and not provide for professional player training. The application site is more accessible by public transport and is located closer to both the stadium and the residential areas in Birmingham. The academy will be run by AVFC for young people, by invitation. The facility will provide youth opportunities from age 4 upwards and expands the existing youth offer provided by the club. 6.5. It is proposed that the academy will run between 16:00 and 21:00 Monday to Friday and alternate Saturdays, when AVFC are not playing at home. On average there will be approximately 70 players and 20 staff and parents on site at any one time, but this could be increased up to 100 players. During the daytime week-days the facility may be used by the club as part of its community programme and foundation work, though this is not a regular use.