Birmingham City Council Planning Committee 14 February 2019 I submit for your consideration the attached reports for the City Centre team. Recommendation Report No. Application No / Location / Proposal Approve – Conditions 9 2018/00484/PA Old Union Mill 17-23 Grosvenor Street West Ladywood Birmingham B16 8HW Proposed two storey extension to rear of original building to facilitate refurbishment to provide office floorspace (Use Class B1a), two new residential blocks within rear courtyard rising to 3 and 4 storeys to provide 13 apartments (5 x 1-bed, 7 x 2- bed, 1 x 3-bed), re-levelling and landscaping to form parking courtyard and communal gardens Approve - Conditions 10 2018/00505/PA Old Union Mill 17-23 Grosvenor Street West Ladywood Birmingham B16 8HW Listed Building Consent for demolition of 20th century extension to rear, internal and external alterations to existing building including two storey extension to provide additional access to the rear; replacement archway at front elevation (works associated with refurbishment to provide office floorspace) Page 1 of 1 Director, Inclusive Growth Committee Date: 14/02/2019 Application Number: 2018/00484/PA Accepted: 22/01/2018 Application Type: Full Planning Target Date: 04/02/2019 Ward: Ladywood Old Union Mill, 17-23 Grosvenor Street West, Ladywood, Birmingham, B16 8HW Proposed two storey extension to rear of original building to facilitate refurbishment to provide office floorspace (Use Class B1a), two new residential blocks within rear courtyard rising to 3 and 4 storeys to provide 13 apartments (5 x 1-bed, 7 x 2-bed, 1 x 3-bed), re-levelling and landscaping to form parking courtyard and communal gardens Recommendation Approve subject to Conditions 1. Proposal 1.1 The application seeks consent to carry out alterations to convert the existing listed building and construct two new blocks of residential apartments within the rear courtyard. 1.2 In more detail the first part of the proposals seek consent to part demolish part extend the existing frontage building facing Grosvenor Street West. This listed building would then be converted to offer five office units (Use Class B1a) ranging from 65sqm to 161sqm net indoor area (NIA). The proposed extension comprises a two storey addition to the rear measuring approximately 10.1m by 6.0m that would provide an external core and access to two of the five office units. The courtyard elevation would be constructed in a light weight contemporary modern glazed structure to contrast with the original red brick listed building. Access to the remaining three office units would be via existing doorways to the rear of the building. The renovation of the building would also include the demolition of an early 20th century extension to the original building together with repairs to the fabric, including the entrance archway and internal alterations to bring the building back into use. A separate listed building application for internal and external works has also been submitted and is reported on this agenda (2018/00505/PA). 1.3 Secondly it is proposed to demolish the existing modern two storey ‘L’ shaped building within the rear courtyard to provide two residential blocks that would align the west and east boundaries of the site. The blocks would fill the depth of the courtyard to provide 13 apartments; 1 x 3 bed, 7 x 2 bed and 5 x 1 bed ranging in area from 70sqm to 237 sqm NIA. 1.4 The proposed west block sited closest to the Dakota Apartments and Sherborne Lofts would reach a total of 3 storeys. The proposed east block close to the common boundary with an existing electricity substation would reach four storeys in height. The facades of the two new residential blocks would primarily have a brick finish combined with metal cladding and brick detailing to the front elevations to provide some discrete interest. Elements of the materials to the apartments are echoed in Page 1 of 19 the proposed extension to the listed building to create a visual link between the two parts of the scheme. 1.5 Pedestrian and vehicular access would be obtained via the arched opening within the listed building from Grosvenor Street West to the re-levelled and re-designed courtyard a new courtyard providing 16 parking spaces. 1.6 The proposed layout would also present an area of private amenity space at the end of the courtyard measuring approximately 11.4m by 7.6m where residents would be able to access views across the canal. 1.7 Link to Documents 2. Site & Surroundings 2.1 The layout of the existing site presents a two storey listed building to the front facing Grosvenor Street West and a two storey L shaped modern workshop building within the rear courtyard that was constructed in the 1990’s. The Grade II listed building, formerly known as the New Union Mill was constructed in 1813 with buildings arranged around three side of the rear courtyard; only the south east range, or frontage building facing Grosvenor Street West that accommodates a gated central archway providing access to the courtyard remains. It is proposed to demolish the modern two storey workshop block and it is understood that both of these buildings have been vacant for in excess of 15 years. 2.2 The application site lies within a largely residential part of the City Centre. The Dakota apartments, which also front onto Grosvenor Street West, adjoin the site to the south west. Part of the rear boundary has a common boundary to Sherborne Lofts, a four storey apartment block and part to the Birmingham Canal and towpath which lies at more than 2.5m lower than the application site. To the north east of the site is a substation that is located at the corner of Grosvenor Street West and Sheepcote Street and reaches a height of approximately 4 storeys.. 3. Planning History 3.1 2018/00505/PA Listed Building Consent for demolition of 20th century extension to rear, internal and external alterations to existing building including two storey extension to provide additional access to the rear; replacement archway at front elevation (all works associated with refurbishment to provide office floorspace) (Awaiting determination) 3.2 2017/03387/PA - Proposed two storey extension to rear of original building to facilitate refurbishment to provide office floorspace; two new residential blocks within rear courtyard rising to 3 and 4 storeys to accommodate 13 apartments (6 x 1 bed, 6 x 2 bed and 1 x 3 bed); re-levelling and landscaping to form parking courtyard and communal gardens. Withdrawn 3.3 2017/03515/PA - Listed Building Consent for demolition of 20th century extension to rear, internal and external alterations to existing building and proposed two storey extension to provide additional access to the building to the rear (all works associated with refurbishment to provide office floorspace). Withdrawn 3.4 2017/02644/PA - Listed Building Consent for replacement archway at front elevation. Approved 18/05/2017 12 month consent for implementation. (Expired) Page 2 of 19 3.5 2017/00632/PA - Application for Prior Notification of proposed demolition of rear workshops. Accepted as needing prior approval from the Council and that permission be granted. 06/03/2017 3.6 2006/06914/PA - Demolition of workshops, conversion of existing buildings into apartments and offices, construction of town houses (of 1, 2, 3 and 4 storeys) with associated parking & external works. Approved 19/02/2007 3.7 2006/06918/PA - Listed building consent application for demolition of workshops, conversion of existing buildings into apartments and offices, construction of new town houses with associated parking and external works. Approved 19/02/2007 3.8 2002/05934/PA and 2002/05934/PA. - Planning and listed building consent for demolition of workshops, conversion of existing building into apartments and offices. Approved 11/03/2004 3.9 1992/03666/PA and 1992/04402/PA - Planning and listed building consent granted for demolition of existing sheds and provision of landscaped and car parking areas. Approved 29/04/93 3. Consultation/PP Responses 4.1 Transportation - No objection subject to the following conditions: • All works to remain within the private landownership; no works to infringe out onto the highway; • All vehicle parking to be designed in accordance with Manual for Streets and to be formally marked out on the ground; and • Secure cycle storage to be provided 4.2 Local Lead Flood Authority (LLFA) - Given the information provided the LLFA are content with the proposals and recommend standard conditions to require the submission and implementation of a sustainable drainage scheme. 4.3 Canal & River Trust (CRT) – The existing and proposed buildings are located close to the offside retaining wall of the canal basin. The proposed development is likely to include demolition operations, foundation removal/construction, earthmoving, excavations or other construction works which could, through increasing load and/or vibration, adversely affect the stability of the retaining wall and therefore the structural integrity of the adjacent canal. The responsibility for securing a safe development rests with the developer and the planning system is the appropriate method for dealing with this matter, because Building Regulations do not cover structural issues beyond the site area. 4.4 We appreciate that the issue of land stability can be complex and often also involves other regimes such as Building Regulations and legislation such as the Party Wall Act 1996. However, the NPPF is clear that planning decisions should ensure that new development is appropriate for its location in the context of avoiding unacceptable risks from land instability and being satisfied that a site is suitable for its new use, taking account of ground conditions and land instability. We therefore consider that the potential effect of this application proposal on the structural integrity of the canal should be considered as part of the decision-making process.