Agenda Item 8

Rowley Regis Scrutiny Panel

11 March, 2013

Summary of proposals contained within the Site Allocations and Delivery Development Plan for Corridor 13: Jewellery Line-Rowley Regis

1. Summary Statement

1.1 This report contains a summary of the proposals contained in the Council’s Site Allocations and Delivery Development Plan in relation to the Rowley Regis Area – Corridor 13: Jewellery Line.

1.2 An officer from Regeneration and Economy will be present at the meeting to answer questions and give more detail on the summarised information.

2. Background information

2.1 Vision

2.1.1 This is a housing led corridor, which means that by 2026 it is proposed to provide high quality sustainable residential communities, making the most of existing transport links.

2.1.2 Obsolete areas of industrial land will be redeveloped to create new residential communities.

2.1.3 The local centres of Blackheath and will be bolstered by a substantial increase in their catchment’s population base along with well integrated and improved bus and rail links, and will become thriving and sustainable places to live.

2.1.4 The corridor will also benefit from additional community infrastructure in the form of new healthy centres and the restructuring of some education provision.

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2.2 Housing

2.2.1 The corridor straddles the -Stourbridge railway line, including the local stations at Rowley Regis (Blackheath), and Cradley Heath.

2.2.2 The railway stations and the nearby town and local centres are the focus for the housing growth areas as they offer excellent transport connections, a variety of supporting services and are close to open space.

2.2.3 Most of the proposed housing growth is around Cradley Heath railway and bus station and Cradley Heath town centre. The remainder are located around Old Hill railway station, Old Hill local centre and Brickhouse:-

 In Cradley Heath there are large areas of underused industrial land where many landowners and businesses are seeking to relocate or sell. The Council has also put in place two projects (funded by Growth Points) to assist the bringing forward of other residential development sites at Woods Lane/Macarther Road and Newlyn Road/Oldfields.

 In Old Hill there are two sites in Council ownership that have been identified for residential development subject to relocation of services. Other sites have been identified by landowners themselves around Old Hill railway station.

 In Brickhouse a number of sites have planning permission (Harvest Road/Eagle Close) and other land in Council ownership has also been identified for future development.

[Members should refer to the attached Appendix and the site allocations document for further detail on these sites.]

2.3 Town Centres

2.3.1 The Black Country Core Strategy identifies two town centres within the corridor – Blackheath and Cradley Heath and on local centre – Old Hill. These centres offer excellent transportation connections and a variety of supporting services and housing growth tends to focus around them.

2.3.2 Proposed housing growth areas are located within a kilometre of Cradley Heath town centre and close to Cradley Heath railway station and bus station and served partly by Old Hill local centre and partly by other local shops. There is a gap in retail provision in Brickhouse, although there is existing planning permission in place for a neighbourhood store to serve existing and new houses. IL0 - Unclassified

2.3.3 Cradley Heath town centre has undergone extensive restructuring in recent years and now benefits from a bypass and large new foodstores to complement its range of traditional shops and two markets. The environmental quality of the High Street could be removed now that thru- traffic has been removed and there are opportunities to improve the shopping and market facilities.

2.3.4 Blackheath town centre has also undergone changes in recent years with the completion of its eastern bypass, a further foodstore again complementing the existing traditional shops and market. There is also a new library, which opened in 2011. The centre would benefit from further retail investment and improvements to the public realm. Opportunities for development for town centre uses have been identified at Bassano Road and Long Lane.

2.3.5 It is anticipated that both town centres will benefit from the proximity of new housing development and the consequent walk-in trade.

2.4 Health

2.4.1 Health provision exists at the Rowley Regis Community Hospital, for which improvements are planned. There is a health centre in Old Hill.

2.4.2 Sandwell PCT is not pursing any further provision in the area and consequently there are no allocated sites for health facilities.

[The refurbishment of Rowley Regis Hospital may provide the opportunity to create community combined heat and power to provide electricity to a few hundred or thousand homes and businesses in the area.

2.5 Transport

2.5.1 The corridor is based around the Birmingham-Worcester railway line with stations at Rowley Regis, Old Hill and Cradley Heath, all stations have park and ride facilities. Platform lengthening is proposed for Cradley Heath. A scheme for bay platform is currently being drawn up for Rowley Regis for trains to terminate/turn around at this station. Park and Ride facilities at Rowley Regis and Cradley Heath are currently being used to capacity. There are proposals to extend the existing park and ride at Rowley Regis subject to improvements to the junction of the car park and Station Road. Further consideration needs to be given to whether and how park and ride facilities could be extended at Cradley Heath. Centro has aspirations to improve the bus/rail interchange at Cradley Heath.

2.5.2 Frequent bus services run through the central spine of the corridor, notably the 404 bus showcase route (now 4) connecting to Oldbury and IL0 - Unclassified West Bromwich. There are less frequent bus services in some parts of the corridor which are seen locally as in need to improvement.

Neeraj Sharma Director – Legal and Governance Services

Contact Officer Stephnie Hancock Democratic Services Unit 0121 569 3189

Source Documents Sandwell Site Allocation and Delivery Development Plan

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Residential Development in Rowley Regis

Our records show that at April 2012 there were 24 sites in Rowley Regis that had planning permission for a total of 410 residential units.

The table below sets out the status of the sites, this information was gathered via phone calls to the developers / agents, site visits and officer knowledge.

Status of site Number of units Actively under construction 45 Due to start work on the site within 5 years 21 Site has stalled 65 New planning permissions submitted / renewal of existing 279 planning permissions

The Site Allocation and Delivery DPD allocates land for various uses including for residential purposes. Within Rowley Regis a further 28 sites have been allocated totalling 1125 residential units. None of these sites currently has planning permission for residential use. The DPD anticipates that these units will be delivered by 2021.

In planning policy terms, flexibility with regard to contributions towards infrastructure such as affordable housing and open spaces can be applied where developments demonstrate viability issues. Payments for infrastructure can be deferred, reduced or even potentially waived to encourage developments to be implemented. Similarly flexibility will be applied to the renewable energy requirements. However it is important that development is supported by the necessary infrastructure and is sustainable.

Below is a list of all the sites: Sites listed below have had planning permission granted for residential purposes (information correct at April 2012) Year Date Site Address Address No of Complete Planning decision Date Ref Address1 2 3 units d App issued Ward Started Comments Cradley Road / Cradley Not DC/10/51 27-Apr- Cradley 856 Bannister Road Heath 51 started 785 10 Heath 2007 permission renewed Land Between 33 & Not DC/11/53 05-Oct- Cradley 896 38 Reddal Hill Road Old Hill 3 started 718 11 Heath Site cleared in 2009

Cradley Not DC/10/52 25-Oct- Cradley Lots of different PP's with 996 Road Old Hill Heath 21 started 056 10 Heath varying layouts since 2004 Cradley DC/10/52 23-Dec- Cradley Other units on site completed 1592 Corngreeves Hall Heath 6 U.C. 756 10 Heath 2011 2011/12

Cradley Not DC/06/46 Cradley Conversion element of 1857 5-7 Cradley Road Heath 2 started 355 21-Jul-06 Heath application completed 2009

Phone call - will look to Adj 101 Beeches Rowley DC/06/45 10-Apr- progress with the site when the 1945 Road Regis 16 U.C. 692 06 Blackheath Sept 2010 market picks up Land adjoining 205 New Birmingham Not DC/10/52 18-Aug- Phone call - hoping to start in 2185 Road Tividale Oldbury 1 started 407 10 Tividale 2013

Phone call - cannot get a land at 413 Cradley Not DC/10/52 Cradley developer on site so will not be 2253 Halesowen Road Heath 9 started 196 12-Jul-10 Heath starting in near future Sentinel Plastics Limited 39 Wrights Cradley B64 Not DC/10/52 12-Nov- Cradley Renewal of permission og 2008 2259 Lane Heath 6QY 13 started 670 10 Heath - company still in operation Land Adjacent To 18 Rowley DC/08/49 26-Jun- 2346 Rowington Avenue Regis 1 U.C. 455 08 Blackheath Aug 2012 Site under construction 116/117 Graingers Cradley DC/08/49 26-Sep- Cradley 2396 Lane Heath 6 U.C. 723 08 Heath 2011 Site started but stalled 18 Chester Cradley Not DC/08/49 08-Oct- Cradley Developer no longer owns the 2402 Cradley Print Limited Road Heath 45 started 251 08 Heath site

Sites listed below have been allocated in the Site Allocation and Delivery DPD and do not have a valid planning permission (Information correct at April 2012)

Rear of 213 Cradley DC/08/50 30-Oct- Cradley 2424 Halesowen Road Heath 2 U.C. 049 08 Heath 2011 Site under construction & Land rear of Admirals Victory Rowley DC/09/51 05-Nov- Phone call - site due to complete in 2451 Way / Yewtree Lane Ave Regis 36 U.C. 104 09 Blackheath 2011 2012

2008 permission renewed - Phone call will start development when Land at Rear of 31-41 Rowley Not DC/11/53 15-Sep- market picks up but sooner rather 2491 (inc) Perry Park Rd Regis 1 started 631 11 Blackheath than later Land adjacent 65 Cradley Not DC/12/54 10-Sep- Cradley 2521 Silverthorne Lane Heath 7 started 871 12 Heath 2008 permission renewed Cradley Not DC/11/53 18-Aug- Cradley 2625 Haden Cross Drive Heath 41 started 412 11 Heath 2004 permission renewed Cradley B64 Not DC/09/50 10-Jun- Cradley 2664 3-4 Cradley Road Heath 6AG 4 started 547 09 Heath Permission expired June 2012 Land adj 5 Regis Halesow Rowley Not DC/10/52 30-Jun- 2733 Road n Street Regis 1 started 122 10 Blackheath Permission granted 2010 Newtow Cradley Not DC/10/52 19-Nov- Cradley 2785 St Lukes Church Hall n Lane Heath 1 started 654 10 Heath Permission granted 2010 land adj. 80 Summer Rowley Not DC/10/52 17-Dec- 2853 road Regis 1 started 672 10 Blackheath Permission granted 2010 Cradley Not DC/11/53 30-Jun- Cradley 3004 Newlyn Rd Heath 139 started 174 11 Heath Outline app granted 2011

Land Adjacent 16 The Cradley B64 Not DC/11/53 02-Aug- Phone call - development will start 3102 Mount Heath 6SQ 1 started 444 11 Blackheath within 18 months

Cradley B64 Not DC/11/53 12-Oct- Cradley Phone call - development will start 3134 215 Halesowen Road Heath 6HE 2 started 706 11 Heath within 5 years 6- 7 Lower High Cradley Not DC/10/52 25-Jun- Cradley 3152 Street Heath 4 started 084 10 Heath Permission granted 2010

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Site Number Year Reference Address1 Address2 Address3 of units Completed Ward UDP Site Planning Status Ho82 (2 661 Newbury Lane Oldbury 24 Not started Tividale HOC12) Allocated in SAD Rowley Ho97 (97 768 Reservoir Road Regis 30 Not started Blackheath HOC13) Allocated in SAD Cradley Ho133 1376 Elbow Street Old Hill 24 Not started Heath (H13.9) Allocated in SAD Cradley Cradley Ho141 (71 1436 St Annes Road Heath 36 Not started Heath H13.8) Allocated in SAD Cradley Cradley Ho143 (72 1437 Lower High Street Heath 12 Not started Heath H13.3) Allocated in SAD Cradley Cradley Ho169 75 1461 Waterfall Lane (West) Heath 15 Not started Heath H13.8) Allocated in SAD Land at 12 Grange Road Grange Cradley 2172 and The Wharf PH Road Heath 40 Not started Blackheath 285 h13.8 Allocated in SAD Road 2987 and Anvil Drive, Oldbury B69 2JW 9 Not started Tividale (5) H12.1 Allocated in SAD Hillcrest Ind Estate) Corngreaves Road (City Palmers Cradley 1301 3010 Estate Garage 73 Not started Heath H13.2 Allocated in SAD surounds Waterfall Cradley 3017 Sandwell MBC Depot, & Lane, Heath 43 Not started Blackheath 284 H13.8 Allocated in SAD and Broadcott Industrial Broadwyn Estate, Cradley 3020 Estate, Trading Waterfall 47 Not started Heath 656 H13.8 Allocated in SAD Station Road, Lane & 99 to Cradley Cradley 665 3021 80,82,85 & 90a Waterfall 125 (odds) Heath 11 Not started Heath H13.8 Allocated in SAD Barrs Road, Cradley (RRUDC Cradley 3022 Heath Offices) 26 Not started Heath 296 H13.7 Allocated in SAD Estate, Macarthur Road Cradley Cradley 3023 Industrial Heath 35 Not started Heath 599 H13.1 Allocated in SAD

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3025 Silverthorne Lane/ Forge Lane, 74 Not started Cradley 282 H13.3 Allocated in SAD Cradley Heath Heath Lane, Station Street / Cradley Cradley 3026 Graingers Heath 41 Not started Heath 268 H13.4 Allocated in SAD The Bridge Trading Cokeland Corngreaves Cradley 3027 Centre Place / Road, 18 Not started Heath 280 H13.4 Allocated in SAD Street, Cradley Road, Lower Cradley Cradley 3029 High Heath 31 Not started Heath 587 H13.4 Allocated in SAD Road, Cradley Majestic Cradley 1124 3031 Station Street / Cradley Heath (opp Cinema) 12 Not started Heath H13.4 Allocated in SAD Oldfields, Cradley Cradley 3032 Oldfield Trading Estate, Heath 51 Not started Heath 260 H13.5 Allocated in SAD Lane, bounded by Mousesweet Cradley 3034 Providence Street (Land Newtown Brook, 126 Not started Heath 933 H13.6 Allocated in SAD Woods Lane, Cradley Cradley 3040 Heath 212 Not started Heath 283 H13.1 Allocated in SAD Lane, Cokeland Place / Cradley Cradley 3041 Graingers Heath 12 Not started Heath 281 H13.4 Allocated in SAD Palmers Timber site, Road, Old Cradley 3043 Station Hill 35 Not started Heath 297 H13.7 Allocated in SAD High Street Rowley 613 3044 Jewson Limited 89 - 105 Regis 12 Not started Blackheath H13.11 Allocated in SAD Spinners End Industrial Cradley 1302 3142 Estate 22 Not started Heath H13.5 Allocated in SAD Fox Oak Street/ St Kawasaki Cradley Ho142 3225 Annes Road Garage 14 Not started Heath 217 H13.6 Allocated in SAD forgings Site, Bank Street, Cradley West of Cradley Cradley 1303 3226 Heath Kimber Drop Heath 40 Not startedHeath H13.6 Allocated in SAD

IL0 - Unclassified