Comment
Draft Black Country Plan
Representation ID: 21600
Received: 11/01/2022
Respondent: Pall Mall Investments
Agent: Highgate Land and Development
We write on behalf of Oldbury (Smethwick) Limited, a subsidiary of Pall Mall Investments,to make representations to the draft Black Country Plan (BCP) Regulation 18 Consultation.
Pall Mall Investments are the owners of residential development land situated off Heath Street/Cranford Street. The land is immediately to the north-east of the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital, and comprises approximately 1.78 hectares (4.39 acres).
The site falls within an area earmarked for residential development by the draft BCP, and is within a Core Regeneration Area (CRA) by virtue of draft Policy CSP2. In addition, the site is also a proposed residential site allocation known as SAH 085 in the draft BCP. The site is currently allocated for residential use by virtue of Policy H12.9 of the Sandwell Site Allocations Documents (SAD) which was adopted in 2012.
There is therefore an established residential planning policy context for the redevelopment of the site for residential use, and my client welcomes that this is continued in the draft BCP.
We understand that the site was previously used for employment purposes and other similar uses. A
large part of the existing complex of buildings have however now been demolished. We also understand that a small part of the neighbouring land originally
formed part of the site, but was subject to a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in order to facilitate the construction of the nearby Midland Metropolitan Hospital.
More recently, the majority of the site is being used for car parking to facilitate the construction of the Midland Metropolitan Hospital. The car parking was originally used by Carillion but following their collapse, is now being used by the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust to facilitate the completion of the hospital.
Our client now intends to put forward residential proposals for the site in anticipation of securing a house builder to bring forward the residential development of the site when the Trust's occupation of the site ceases, on completion of the Hospital.