Committee Date: 06/03/2014 Application Number: 2013/09221/PA Accepted: 20/12/2013 Application Type: Full Planning Target Date: 21/03/2014 Ward: Sparkbrook Lidl Food Store, 579 Moseley Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, B12 9BS Demolition of existing Lidl food store and industrial units on Homer Street and erection of a new enlarged food store together with car parking and landscaping works Applicant: Lidl UK GmbH Wellington Parkway, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 4XW Agent: Recommendation Approve Subject To A Section 106 Legal Agreement 1. Proposal 1.1. Consent is sought to demolish the existing Lidl food store (1100sq.m) and adjoining industrial units (400sq.m) on Homer Street and to erect a new enlarged food store (2179sq.m), together with car parking and landscaping works (site area – 6526sq.m). 1.2. The existing store has a predominantly blank frontage to Moseley Road. The majority of the car parking (88 spaces) is located behind the store. It is single storey and located close to the boundary with premises fronting Cromer Road. 1.3. The proposed new store would front Moseley Road. The proposed store would be around 3m from the rear of properties fronting Cromer Road. The proposed service yard / deliver area would be located at the rear of the store. The store would comprise; entrance area, sales area (1391sq.m), bakery preparation room, bakery freezer room, warehouse areas, delivery store, office, staff room, cloak rooms and w/c’s. 1.4. The proposed new store would be single storey, with an aluminium raised seam clad pitched roof. The Moseley Road frontage, and a portion of the return elevation to the car park, would comprise predominantly full-height glazing. Towards the southern end of the frontage, adjoining 577 Moseley Road, a red brick framed rendered panel (with fire exit door) would be provided. Above the glazing / rendered panel, flat metal cladding panels would form a roughly triangular wedge to Moseley Road. Around 1/3 of the cladding, above the entrance area, would project forward by around 1m providing an entrance canopy feature. The reminder of the store would comprise red brick framed rendered panels with flat metal cladding above. On the roof, 3 air intake / ventilation flues (approx.1m high) are indicated. At the side, 4 condenser units are also indicated. Page 1 of 14 1.5. Externally, 84 car parking spaces, covered cycle storage (9 spaces) and a trolley park would be provided. Around the car park, including part of the frontage to Moseley Road, a 2m wide (minimum) landscaping bed is indicated. Parking spaces would comprise block paving and vehicular / pedestrian circulation spaces would be tarmac. The existing trees on the site (protected by T.P.O. 837), located within the north-west corner, would be unaffected by the proposals. In front of the proposed store, along the Moseley Road frontage, stainless steel bollards would be provided to protect the glazed areas. 1.6. The existing store employs 15 full-time and 10 part-time staff. The proposed new store would employ 16 full-time and 35 part-time staff. 1.7. The proposed opening hours would be 0800-2200 hrs Monday to Saturday and 1100-1700 hrs on Sundays (as existing). 1.8. The applicant is proposing to make a financial contribution of £50,000 towards securing environmental improvements and / or town centre management and / or business development within Balsall Heath. In addition, the applicant proposes that a commitment to employment of local people be secured as part of the section 106 agreement. 1.9. The following documents have been submitted in support of the proposals: • Design & Access Statement • Transport Statement • T.P.O Report • Loss of Industrial Land Report Location Plan Existing Elevations Existing Site Plan Proposed Site Plan Proposed Floor Plan Proposed Elevations Sheet 1 Proposed Elevations Sheet 2 Proposed Streetscene 2. Site & Surroundings 2.1. The application premises are located on the west side of Moseley Road, between Homer Street and Cromer Road. The existing food store and car park are located within the Primary Shopping Area of Balsall Heath Neighbourhood Centre as defined by the Shopping and Local Centres SPD (2012). 2.2. The application site comprises Lidl food store and a number of industrial premises. The existing food store is predominantly red / buff brick construction with clay tiles. The industrial premises are corrugated iron / red brick construction with grey Page 2 of 14 corrugated iron roofs. The industrial premises are currently vacant, but were previously predominantly used for car storage / breakage / parts sales. 2.3. To the north, corner of Moseley Road / Homer Street is a Kwik-Fit garage. On the opposite side of Homer Street are 2/2.5-storey terraced dwellings. Adjoining to the south is a retail shop (577 Moseley Road), a dental surgery / health clinic (1-2 Comer Road) and 2.5-storey terraced dwellings. To the east, opposite side of Moseley Road, is a retail precinct with flats above. To the west are modern 2-storey semi-detached dwellings fronting Nursery Avenue and outdoor play space linked to Ark Tindal Primary Academy accessed from Tindal Street. 2.4. The surrounding area is mixed in terms of uses. Location Map Street View 3. Planning History 3.1. 08.03.2000 - 1999/02796/PA - Redevelopment of site to form A1 food retail unit with associated car parking and service area – Approved subject to Conditions. 3.2. 10.05.2000 - 2000/01584/PA - 2 internally illuminated box signs to side and front elevations – Approved and Display of 7m high flag pole at site entrance – Refused. 3.3. 10.07.2000 - 2000/02556/PA - Display of flag pole sign – Approved Temporary. 3.4. 07.12.2000 - 2000/02220/PA - Variation of condition C9 attached to application No. C/02796/99/FUL to allow collection and delivery of goods on Sundays - Approved Temporary. 3.5. 18.01.2002 - Variation of Condition C9, attached to application No. C/02796/99/FUL, to allow deliveries and collections of goods on Sundays or Bank Holidays – Approved subject to Conditions. 4. Consultation/PP Responses 4.1. Local Councillors, Roger Godsiff M.P, Resident Associations and local occupiers notified. Site and press notices posted. 4.2. 4 letters of comment (including 1 from Councillor Victoria Quinn and 1 from The Moseley Society) and 1 letter of support from a local occupier received. 4.3. The Moseley Society – Do not object in principle, although concerned that traffic flows / congestion would be increased. The road outside the Lidl store is already heavily congested, with car traffic reduced to a single lane due to bus lanes in either direction. There is a busy junction with traffic lights and a pedestrian crossing close- by. Consultation should take place with the Highway Department to assess the impact of the new, larger store on traffic patterns, and to suggest possible mitigation measures. 4.4. Councillor Victoria Quinn – raises an issue relating to an area of land to the rear of the application site. The land is currently City Council owned and is not part of this application. It adjoins Ark Tindal School, which has a gate which leads to this area. The land did not fall within the red-line of the Academy Transfer Order for the school Page 3 of 14 which was approved by Cabinet in 2011 / 2012. The school are concerned to establish what will happen to this area. A number of solutions are put forward: • Disposal of the land to Lidl as part of their development site; to provide additional parking and mitigating against potential anti-social behaviour and dumping. • Disposal of the land to the school; if they are able to acquire it. • Combined ownership / access rights; to create a cycle-hub that could be co- run by the school and Lidl, incorporating cycle storage, potential cycle hire and potential for a “safe cycle lane” infrastructural requirement for the Moseley Road. 4.5. Councillor Victoria Quinn also considers that any possible S106 levy could be linked to transportation (road safety) imperatives. In addition, any S106 resource emanating from this development would of course assist a number of plans for the area, many of which are part of the Draft Balsall Heath Neighbourhood Plan (BHNP). One of the main uses however is likely to be the development of health and wellbeing infrastructure within the area, where there are existing well developed plans established to develop a health and wellbeing corridor within the immediate vicinity in conjunction with Joseph Chamberlain College, the city health and fitness centre on this site and the surrounding green open spaces. 4.6. Comments sent on behalf of the managing agents for 2020 Housing Co-operative (2020 HC) who own 8 family houses in Nursery Avenue: o Light pollution - the potential impact of light pollution on their tenants should be given due weight. o Security and amenity - the proposed boundary fence should be sufficiently robust and high, while not interfering visually or blocking light to tenants. o Security – a barrier across the entrance should be provided. In the past tenants of Nursery Avenue have been disturbed by cars/motor bikes entering the car park when the store is closed. This issue was dealt with and Lidl have ensured that the barrier is secured at night. It is requested that this remains and that suitable precautions would be in place for the new site. o Delivery times - Lidl should consider the impact of deliveries on the tenants of Nursery Road. o General point - Surprised to find that the application and supporting docs do not refer to residential properties in Nursery Avenue, even though their short back gardens border the site.