University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Campus, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15
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Committee Date: 04/04/2013 Application Number: 2013/00523/PA Accepted: 25/01/2013 Application Type: Reserved Matters Development Target Date: 26/04/2013 Ward: Edgbaston University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Campus, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 Reserved Matters Application for the undertaking of library enabling works (Element 1c) associated with hybrid planning application 2012/02047/PA all reserved matters for consideration except Landscaping. Applicant: University of Birmingham Estates West, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT Agent: Associated Architects 1 Severn Street Place, The Mailbox, Birmingham, B1 1SE Recommendation Approve Subject To Conditions 1. Proposal 1.1. This application seeks reserved matters consent for the remodelling of a 2.78ha of land between Pritchatts Road and the western side and rear of the existing library to create new development plots and a new access road (from Pritchatts Road) into the University campus. This area of land currently consists of the running track, some parts of the inner service road and landscaped areas to the north and west of the existing library. 1.2. This application is made to provide the outstanding details associated with this phase of the Hybrid planning application, approved by Committee in August 2012, and which was subject to a S106 Agreement. That application proposed a range of projects, some in full detail and others seeking varying degrees of outline consent. The Hybrid approval consisted of 21 separate projects. The library enabling scheme, the subject of this consent, was annotated as Project 15a, 15b and 15c on the approved master-plan. This represented part of the Hybrid application (element 1c), which sought outline consent with all matters reserved. This application seeks consent for four reserved matters, being; access, appearance, layout and scale. Landscaping remains a reserved matter for consideration in the future when a wider landscape strategy is defined. 1.3. The land re-modelling would include the creation of a new road, connecting into the southern side of Pritchatts Road and linking into an existing road that runs to the rear of Aston Webb in front of the Munrow Sports Centre. The new road would then service the relocated running track, two new small car parks and the rear service entrance to the new library. These components are approved, in principle, within the master-plan but are still reserved matters in consideration of this application. This road would also connect to a roadway that currently runs to the rear of the existing Page 1 of 7 library and leads on to run underneath Muirhead Tower. The new road would create key development plots and would require significant land reforming – especially in connection with the new running track which is required to be on a flat plane over a large area. The demolition of the Munrow Sports Building has been agreed as part of the hybrid application but the creation of the running track is subject to a later reserved matters application outside the scope of this current application. 1.4. The proposal shows landscaping areas to the west of the new access road with wildflower planting zones as an interim solution whilst a more detailed landscaping scheme is developed for later consideration. 1.5. The application has been submitted with a Design and Access Statement and an updated Arboricultural report. 1.6. Site area 2.78ha. 1.7. A screening opinion was undertaken and concluded that an Environmental Impact Assessment would not be required. 2. Site & Surroundings 2.1. The site consists of the existing running track, its perimeter, part of a service road to its south and a landscaped area to the south of this area. The site is within the centre of the University Campus, to the north of the clock tower and Aston Webb buildings. The site is located to the immediate west of the existing library, east of Munrow Sports Centre and to the south of Pritchatts Road. 2.2. The site currently contains several groups of trees and individual trees principally to the perimeter of the running track and within an area of open land to the south of the running track. The running track and its central area is devoid of trees. The application site slopes down by 6 metres from North to South and down by 3 metres from east to west with the running track area being flat, approximately 3 metres lower than Pritchatts Road. 2.3. The application site is within close proximity to, Chamberlain Tower (Listed Grade II), Aston Webb (Listed Grade II*), Metallurgy and Materials (Listed Grade II), North Gate and lodges (Listed Grade II). 3. Planning History 3.1. 29/10/12. Pa no. 2012/02047/PA Redevelopment of elements of the University Campus buildings and infrastructure including: Outline application for a multi-storey car park, erection of student residences and sports pavilion, erection of new library and Full details for the erection of a new sports centre and the construction of a new pedestrian/cycle route to the Vale, Demolition of various buildings associated landscaping and car parking. Approved with section 106 to secure funding for off site car parking surveys and mitigation if necessary. 3.2. PENDING pa no. 2013/00524/PA. Reserved Matters Application for the erection of new library (Element 1c) associated with hybrid planning application 2012/02047/PA for all outstanding reserved matters. Reported elsewhere on this agenda. 3.3. Other current projects within the Hybrid application Page 2 of 7 3.4. 07/03/13. Pa no. 2013/00181/PA. Reserved matters application for the erection of a multi storey car park (element 1a) associated with hybrid planning application 2012/02047/PA for all outstanding reserved matters and consisting of 496 spaces. Approved. 4. Consultation/PP Responses 4.1. MP, Councillors, Residents, and Resident Associations consulted. Site notice erected and press notice made. No comments received. 4.2. Transportation – No objection, subject to the associated S278 seeking two replacement trees to off-set the street tree proposed to be lost to enable the creation of the new access road from Pritchatts Road. 4.3. Severn Trent - There is a public sewer located within the application site. Public sewers have statutory protection and may not be built close to, directly over or be diverted without consent. 4.4. Canal and Rivers Trust – no objection but ask that the applicant be advised to contact them for any works that might affect the canal infrastructure. 4.5. West Midlands Police – No objection. 4.6. West Midlands Fire Service – No objection, adequate access provided. 4.7. Western Power – no reply received. 5. Policy Context 5.1. Birmingham UDP (2005), Draft Birmingham Development Plan (2010), Selly Oak Local Action Area Plan (2001) SPG, Places for All (2001)- SPG, Car Parking Guidelines (2012), NPPF (2012), Conservation Strategy (1997). 5.2. Chamberlain Tower (Listed Grade II), Aston Webb (Listed Grade II*), Metallurgy and Materials (Listed Grade II), North Gate and lodges (Listed Grade II). 6. Planning Considerations 6.1. Background - The Hybrid planning application secured planning permission for 21 separate projects, some in full and some in varying degrees of outline approval. The scheme included the creation of a range of car parking opportunities to rationalise on site parking across the campus. This car parking strategy also included the removal of some pockets of ad hoc parking and sought to rationalise the total provision. In total this strategy has resulted in the identification of 3,500 parking spaces located in strategic areas; with new areas principally located adjacent to Pritchatts Road and Edgbaston Park Road enabling easy access to Bristol Road. A condition of the Hybrid application requires a quantum of 3,400 parking spaces to be maintained on site at all times and a further condition requires that each phase can only be implemented once the University have shown compliance with this condition through the submission of a car parking management strategy. 6.2. Scale – This part of the hybrid is concerned with land reforming as such issues of scale and appearance are not pertinent for this phase. Page 3 of 7 6.3. Layout – The library and environs enabling works consists of land re-grading, from the north (Pritchatts Road) down to the south (currently approximately to the front of Munrow Sports Centre and the side of the existing library). The proposal includes the creation of the plot for the new library discussed elsewhere in this agenda. The new library would overlook a new area of open space in the centre of the site that is proposed to be created through the demolition of the existing library and the relocation/erection of new library to the west of the current library site. 6.4. This also reconfiguring requires the relocation of the existing running track, the construction of a new library store and the associated re-grading and leveling works associated with this alteration. The new central space, known as the green heart, would consist of three new areas of land; being the lower existing grass courtyard (in front of the existing library) a slightly higher level of land (consisting of the existing library site) and a significantly higher area of land (located approximately 6m above the ground floor level of the existing library). The highest area of land currently consists of an area of car parking and leads onto Pritchatts Road via an access located at the north gate between the two listed North Gate and Lodges (Listed Grade II). The proposals for the library enabling works relate to the new green heart due to its close proximity and together would contribute to the character of the place created along the new access / link road. The new road would be an important route through the campus for both vehicles and pedestrians.