The Wider Botanical Gardens Area Framework August 2014 Contact Economy Directorate Birmingham City Council Click: Email: consultation_P&R [email protected] Web: www.birmingham.gov.uk/widerbotanicalgardensarea Call: Telephone: Keith Watson (0121) 303 9868 Visit: Offi ce: 1 Lancaster Circus Birmingham B4 7DJ Post: P.O. Box 2470 Birmingham B1 1TR You can ask for a copy of this document in large print, another format or another language. We aim to supply what you need within ten working days. Call (0121) 303 9868 If you have hearing diffi culties please call us via Typetalk 18001 0121 303 9868 or email us at the above address. Plans contained within this document are based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Offi ce. © Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Birmingham City Council. Licence number 100021326, 2014. © Photographs: Birmingham City Council and Calthorpe Estates the wider botanical gardens area framework / contact Contents Foreword 1 Introduction 2 Context 4 Vision 6 Consideration of key assets 8 Policy context 12 Issues and Challenges 14 The Opportunity 16 Delivery 18 contents / the wider botanical gardens area framework To Lichfield N Blake Street Not to Scale Butlers Lane Four Oaks Sutton Coldfield HS2 A452 A5127 A453 Wylde Green To Walsall Birmingham Metro A453 Chester Road M42 Birmingham Canal A452 Hamstead Erdington M5 M6 Birmingham & Fazeley Canal A34 A5127 A38 To Manchester Spaghetti Junction Perry Barr Gravelly Hill HS2 Witton Sandwell & Dudley A47 A41 Aston A38M HS2 Smethwick Galton Bridge M6 M42 Smethwick Rolfe Street Birmingham & Fazeley Canal Langley Green Birmingham Canal A47 Birmingham & Warwick A4040 HS2 Birmingham Junction Canal To Worcester Duddeston City Centre Stechford A457 Snow Hill Adderley Park Lea Hall Moor Street A4540 New Street Ring Road Bordesley A456 Five Ways Marston Green The Wider Small Heath A45 Botanical Gardens Area Worcester & Birmingham Canal Birmingham Airport & NEC A38 Tyseley Birmingham University A41 International Acocks Green A34 Spring Road Grand Union Canal To London B4121 Selly Oak Olton Hall Green A435 To Warwick A38 Bournville M5 Yardley Wood Stratford-upon-Avon Canal Kings Norton Northfield Shirley A441 A38 Longbridge B4096 To Stratford-upon-Avon Worcester & Birmingham Canal © Crown Copyright . All rights reserved Birmingham City Council 100021326,2014 Copyright . All rights reserved © Crown Plan 1 Location Plan the wider botanical gardens area framework / foreword Foreword 1 The area surrounding Birmingham Botanical Gardens has a unique character, and is home to a number of important organisations. The City is keen to ensure that they all have a bright future, but also that the character of the area is maintained. This framework sets out clear recommendations for the wider Botanical Gardens Area, to facilitate the investment potential of several important sport and education providers as well as Birmingham Botanical Gardens itself. It provides a co-ordinated local vision for the area building upon the strategic approach within the emerging Birmingham Development Plan. It is our aim to ensure that the wider Botanical Gardens Area becomes known as an important location for fi rst class leisure, sport and education provision within Birmingham. This will be achieved by ensuring the delivery of high quality facilities fi t for the 21st Century. This framework will help to secure a co-ordinated approach to investment proposals, assisting the Botanical Gardens, leisure organisations and schools to develop with confi dence. The Council is committed to working with the local community, businesses and partners to achieve the goals set out in this framework, and invites you to comment on our proposals. Councillor Tahir Ali Cabinet Member for Development, Transport and the Economy Birmingham City Council foreword / the wider botanical gardens area framework 2 Introduction The area bounded by Westbourne Road, Richmond Hill Road, Farquhar Road and the railway, (see Plan 2) referred to as the wider Botanical Gardens Area, is a unique area of Birmingham. It is characterised by green, open spaces with a number of nationally and locally signifi cant leisure, recreational and educational uses which refl ect the area’s rich history. The area is surrounded by some The management of these assets the Development Plan, it does of Birmingham’s most prestigious lies in the hands of each of the have a valuable role in helping to housing and Edgbaston Ward main occupiers. To maintain what is support the delivery of appropriate remains one of Birmingham’s special about the area and to tackle Development Plan policies and premier suburbs. some of the problems requires objectives, defi ning how they are a co-ordinated programme of to be applied in the context of site The importance of both the historic investment. It is clear, however, that specifi c delivery. It is hoped all and green environment is refl ected the historical and environmental parties will commit to it, endorse in that the whole of the area falls assets that are worthy of protection its content and use it as a means of within Edgbaston Conservation in themselves impose considerable guiding and encouraging ongoing Area and the following constraints on the ability to investment. considerations are also recognised. invest. These assets have to keep pace with modern demands and There are: needs if they are to remain viable, competitive and attractive in the • Two nationally recognised parks future. and gardens of specifi c historic interest (Birmingham Botanical To maintain the area’s uniqueness Gardens and The Guinea and make it suitable to meet the Gardens). demands of the 21st century is beyond any one occupier or user. • 3 areas of Protected Trees (Tree To move forward requires a shared Preservation Orders). vision, an agreed set of priorities • 7 Listed Buildings of and action and collective effort. historic and/or architectural This framework has been prepared importance. to facilitate and support this process. • 2 sites of local importance for nature conservation. Purpose of document The City Council considers a • 5 different sports playing fi elds. framework document to be an appropriate way to identify: • 2 private sports clubs. • An area of historic allotments • What is special about the area. (the Guinea Gardens). • What needs to be protected • Important links in two wildlife and enhanced. corridors. • Issues and problems that detract from the area. The area is home to Birmingham Botanical Gardens, some of the • How to address those issues. best independent schools in the country, a number of substantial • A vision for the area. residential properties, a public • A set of opportunities and house/restaurant and offi ces. actions to encourage ongoing These activities, however, generate investment and maintenance. considerable vehicular trips within the general area. Peak period • A proposed way forward. congestion raises concerns about current highway capacity and Whilst this Framework does not parking issues in the area. carry the same formal status as PlanImage ? 1Environment/Constraints Botanical Gardens the wider botanical gardens area framework / introduction 3 N Not to Scale Westbourne Road 2 Richmond Hill Road Cross City Line Farquhar Road The Vale Halls of Residence Worcester & Birmingham Canal © Crown Copyright . All rights reserved Birmingham City Council 100021326,2014 Copyright . All rights reserved © Crown © Copyright Geoperspectives supplied by Bluesky International Ltd. Plan 2 The Wider Botanical gardens Area introduction / the wider botanical gardens area framework 224 Context This area forms part of the historic Calthorpe Estate, purchased by Sir Richard Gough in 1717, and subsequently added to. Originally the parkland and surrounding fi elds to Edgbaston Hall; Edgbaston was largely developed in the fi rst half of the nineteenth century as a prestigious residential estate. Large parts of Edgbaston now fall within the Edgbaston Conservation Area, characterised by tree-lined avenues, substantial houses and signifi cant areas of open space. Edgbaston is a high-quality, high- The Chad brook passes through the value suburb, and the key assets area and is subject to occasional found within the Wider Botanical fl ooding. The fl ood corridor and a Gardens Area refl ect this. Opened number of other environmental and in 1832, the Botanical Gardens constraints are shown on Plan 3. cover 6 hectares of land and is an important facility attracting many A number of high-quality, high- visitors to the area and to the city. value residential properties are also in the vicinity fronting Westbourne Edgbaston is widely regarded Road, Richmond Hill Road, and as offering some of the best on Farquhar Road. The other independent schools in the properties within the study area country. 11 independent primary comprise The White Swan, a pub/ and secondary schools are present restaurant, and Westbourne Manor, within the locality, 3 having now occupied as an offi ces for operations within the boundaries Pertemps. of the Framework Area itself. Each of the 3 schools has their own designated playing fi eld. A number of sports clubs utilise land surrounding the Botanical Gardens; the Edgbaston Archery and Lawn Tennis Society (EALTS) and Edgbaston Croquet Club are both well-established. There are two unused former playing fi elds, one off Richmond Hill Road, the other to the rear of Farquhar