Officers Report
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Committee Date: 03/10/2013 Application Number: 2013/05711/PA Accepted: 05/08/2013 Application Type: Full Planning Target Date: 04/11/2013 Ward: Billesley Billesley Common, Yardley Wood Road, Billesley, Birmingham, B13 0PT Construction of new 712 seat spectator stand with associated rugby facilities, indoor bowls multi-use centre, and new community sports changing facilities. Applicant: Moseley Rugby Club & Birmingham City Council c/o Agent Agent: PD Architects Milford House, 260 Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, B74 2NH Recommendation Approve Subject To Conditions 1. Proposal 1.1. The application is for the erection of a 712 seat spectator stand for Moseley Rugby Club with associated facilities, along with a new indoor bowls centre and replacement community changing rooms to the rear of the stand. 1.2. The stand would be centred on the halfway line at the western edge of the rugby pitch, in place of an existing 628 seat temporary stand which would be relocated. However, the applicants wish this location to be determined at a later date. The total length of the new stand would be approximately 40m, with the proposed cantilever roof rising to a maximum of 12.7m above ground level, 5.3m below the height of the previously approved 5,000 seat east stand (2009/04190/PA). At 31m deep, the stand would house home, away and officials changing facilities, weights, medical and physio rooms, and a spectator undercroft with toilets and food/ drinks counters all on the ground floor. Beyond the spectator undercroft would be a kitchen area shared with the bowls centre which would have a café, toilets and changing facilities. A dumb waiter from the ground floor kitchen would serve a 511 sq m function room for the rugby club above, which would have a separate bar and toilets, along with lift and stair access from the ground floor. 1.3. To the rear (west) of the proposed stand would be the proposed indoor bowls centre. This would contain a 1,060 sq m bowling area with 6 rinks, with views into the bowling area from the café at the rear of the rugby stand. Attached to the indoor bowls building would be 6 new community changing rooms to serve Billesley Common, replacing the existing isolated and dilapidated changing block 200m to the south west. 1.4. In terms of design, the cantilever stand would be constructed in blockwork with cladding panels, powder coated aluminium framed windows for the upper level Page 1 of 11 viewing area and the ribbed roof design would be clad in aluminium fascia panels. Spectator seating would be fixed to a pre-cast concrete terrace. The proposed indoor bowls centre would be in similar blockwork and metal clad panels with a low pitched roof 7.5m high to its ridge, 2m lower than the lowest part of the proposed stand. A simple glazed lobby constructed in power coated aluminium would form the entrance to the bowls centre, with separate doors for the community changing facilities on the opposite side of the building. 1.5. Access to the bowls centre would be via a new footpath running along its northern boundary and along the eastern edge of the existing Billesley Indoor Tennis Centre building. A 37 space car park to the north of the tennis centre building would be utilised, with vehicular access off Wheelers Lane (A4040). Access to the new stand for the rugby club would be as per the existing arrangements, with the main vehicular access and unsurfaced 316 space car park entered from Yardley Wood Road and a separate pedestrian turnstile access at the northern end of the site. The community changing facilities would be accessed either via the rugby club or from a new path and access gate leading to Billesley Common itself. The changing rooms would serve the common and the recently constructed all weather sports pitches on the common to the south west (2005/00394/PA). 1.6. In terms of operating hours, the applicant has stated that this will as per the existing operations. Which are as follows:- • 1st XV team games 14:00-18:00 Saturdays or 19:00-22:00 Fridays (during the September to May rugby season); • 1st XV training 18:00-21:00 Tuesdays and Thursdays/18:00-21:30 Mondays and Wednesdays. Pre-season training commences in mid July; • Mini/Junior teams 10:00-12:00 Sundays; • School/University games 15:00-18:00 Wednesdays; • Administration 08:00-18:00 Monday to Friday; • Ground Preparation 08:00-16:00 Monday to Friday; • Hospitality 12:00-15:00 and 18:00-23:00 Monday to Friday, 12:00-23:00 Saturdays and 12:00-15:00 and 19:00-22:30 Sunday; • Indoor Bowls Centre 10:15-22:15, seven days a week; 1.7. The proposal is the result of requirements for Moseley Rugby Club to erect a permanent spectator stand on Billesley Common following the decision to scale back original proposals for a new 5,000 seat east stand (2009/04190/PA). Plus, there is a need to find a new home for Stirchley Indoor Bowls Centre on Pershore Road/ Hazelwell Lane. The indoor bowls centre is earmarked for redevelopment as part of a Tesco-led redevelopment scheme (2010/05404/PA and 2013/03997/PA). 1.8. Total area of development- 3,483 sq m on a 3.27ha site. It is anticipated that an additional two full-time and twelve part-time jobs would be created by the development. Proposed Plans Proposed Elevations 2. Site & Surroundings 2.1. The application site lies at the northern end of Billesley Common. The wider site comprises a 120m long by 70m rugby pitch enclosed with low boarding, a two storey hospitality complex and associated seating, club shop and toilet facilities, clubhouse and changing facilities and a demountable stand which can accommodate 628 Page 2 of 11 spectators. The demountable stand measures 33m in length, 8.8m in width and 6.5m in height. Around the edge of the pitch there are eight 15m high floodlighting columns. The application site would centre on this demountable stand and land to the rear (west) of this which is fenced off within the rugby club and used as an informal training area. 2.2. To the west of the site is an all weather pitch and a number of tennis courts associated with the adjacent Billesley Indoor Tennis Centre. To the north is an area of public open space and a children’s play area and to the south, the large expanse of Billesley Common, much of which is laid out with sports pitches. The closest residential properties to the site lie on Yardley Wood Road about 35m from the overspill parking area and about 150m from the main rugby club facilities. 2.3. There is a public footpath along the northern boundary of the site, which provides a link from Yardley Wood Road past the rugby pitch and tennis centre onto Wheelers Lane. Site location Street View 3. Planning History 3.1. -24/07/03- 2002/06270/PA- Construction of rugby pitch, clubhouse, stand, hospitality accommodation, floodlighting, turnstiles, fencing, gates, embankments, parking spaces, servicing areas and means of access- Approved for a temporary 5 year period -23/03/05- 2005/00394/PA- Installation of all purpose weather pitch with 4 metre high fencing and floodlights- Approved -15/05/06- 2006/01519/PA- Amendment to existing planning permission 2002/06270/PA comprising revised layout of hospitality complex- Approved for a temporary 2 year period -16/10/08- 2008/04103/PA- Variation of condition C1 of application 2006/01519/PA to allow a further 5 year period for temporary hospitality complex to remain on site in association with Moseley Rugby Club- Temporary planning permission granted -16/10/08- 2008/03502/PA. Variation of condition C4 attached to planning permission 2002/06270/PA to extend the period of time of the temporary planning consent for a further 5 years- Temporary planning permission granted. -21/01/10- 2009/04190/PA- Construction of 5000 seat spectator stand with associated facilities and permanent consent for Rugby Pitch, clubhouse, floodlighting, fencing, gates, embankment and means of access- Approved. 4. Consultation/PP Responses 4.1. Transportation Development- No objections subject to construction management plan and updated travel plan conditions. 4.2. Regulatory Services- No objections subject to extract and odour control details and a scheme of noise insulation for the function room. 4.3. Leisure Services- Fully support the scheme. 4.4. Sport England- No objections, the indoor/outdoor sports facility is of sufficient benefit to sport to outweigh the loss of playing field. Page 3 of 11 4.5. WM Police- Fully supportive of the proposals. 4.6. WM Fire Service- No objections. 4.7. Centro- Awaiting comments. 4.8. Environment Agency- No objections. 4.9. Rugby Football Union (RFU)- Support the application. The RFU has worked closely with the club in the relocation from their old ground at The Reddings to Billesley Common and in the establishment of both professional and amateur rugby union. The RFU sees the further development of this site as essential to the growth of rugby in the West Midlands, accordingly the project has been identified by North Midlands RFU as a high priority and the RFU is keen to support its Championship Rugby Clubs to have appropriate training facilities of the very highest standard. 4.10. English Indoor Bowling Association- Support the application, the project will bring forward significant sporting, leisure and community benefits. 4.11. 4 statutory site notices posted, application advertised in press, Ward Councillors, MP, residents associations and surrounding residents notified- 45 comments of support received: Local residents, rugby supporters, bowls clubs and a local nature conservation group have written in supporting the