Aston Villa in property blow
Aston Villa Football Club's move into the property sector has been dealt a blow after council officers recommended to defer its resubmitted plans for the former Siemens site in Aston. If a legal agreement is not completed in time, officers advise the 130-house scheme be refused planning permission.
Having failed to build the housing scheme after gaining planning permission in 2009, the club requested an order to extend the time limit to implement the proposals.
Officers advise deferring the plans, which go to Birmingham City Council's Planning Committee later this month (8 December). If a legal agreement is not completed by 22 December, officers have recommended planning permission be rejected.
Aston Villa's proposal for the Witton Road site – which they say is currently used as a 350-space car park – includes the construction of 130 dwellings. The mix of two- to six-bedroom properties would range from two to four storeys.
In its application to replace extant planning permission, Aston Villa FC stated that "despite extensive marketing of the site since the grant of planning permission in 2009, the market conditions over the last three years have resulted in the approved development being unable to proceed".
The applicant added that it was now "unlikely" that anything further would be achieved before the project's expiry date (February 2012) and requested an extension to the scheme's lifespan under the government's flexibility provisions.
Officers said proposals for the 12.9-acre scheme were "identical" to those previously approved in February 2009.
A legal agreement must be secured, advised officers, to now gain planning permission over an extended time.
Conditions include securing a £90,000 contribution towards improving the children's play facilities in the Perry Bar Ward; an 18 per cent share of the properties being made social rented and a commitment to target local unemployment during construction.
The director of legal and democratic services must authorise the agreement; if this does not happen, officers recommend refusal.
"In the absence of any suitable planning obligation to secure a financial contribution towards open space and play provision in the vicinity and the provision of affordable housing, the proposed development conflicts with Public Open Space in New Residential Development Supplementary Planning Document," states the officers' report.
If the agreement is secured, approval is advised by planning officers subject to 34 separate conditions.
No objections were received in relation to the extension of time application.
Birmingham City Council's planning committee will vote on the proposals next Thursday (8 December).
By Stephanie Bartup, Midlands Correspondent