Freedom of Information Requests: 8301, 8302, 8303, 8304

BirminghamCityUniversity- Perry Barr and Eastside

Please provide your current regeneration programme for the Birchfield, Perry Barr area?

Perry Barr/ Birchfield is classified as a district centre within Birmingham’s hierarchy of centres, and is identified as a growth point within the recently adopted Area Action Plan (AAP) for Aston, Newtown and Lozells. The AAP contains a number of policies which seek to stimulate and enhance the role of the centre as a key contributor to economic activity, employment opportunities and community development. To expand on policy within the AAP, a regeneration framework is currently being finalised for the Perry Barr/ Birchfield district centre and A34 (North) corridor, which will explore development potential in more detail, alongside improvements in connectivity and the public realm. The City Council is looking to adopt the final document later this year.

What funds do you have available to regenerate this area?

There are a number of potential development opportunities in the area, which predominantly fall within private ownership. The City Council is currently in discussions with these landowners to assist and inform their investment intentions, which in turn will guide the regeneration framework. We anticipate that a number of regeneration projects will come forward in the short to medium term, which will be led and funded by the private sector, and as stated above the City Council will work with landowners to ensure that appropriate development options are developed, which benefit the wider community.

In terms of City Council projects, funding has been allocated to contribute towards the infilling of the subways between the One Stop Shopping Centre and BCU campus, which will enhance the pedestrian experience and connectivity between the key sites.

Please provide all details, meeting minutes etc that disclose the City Councils desire to regenerate Eastside at the expense of Perry Barr?

There are no such meetings or minutes, as there is no City Council desire to regenerate Eastside at the expense of Perry Barr.

Why did the city council agree to a phase 2 building that will only hold 4000 staff and students whilst the current Perry Barr site holds 9000 staff and students?

The City Council dealt with a planning application for Phase 2 of BCU at Eastside.The application was required to be determined on its own planning merits. The supporting information for the planning application indicated that Phase 2 could accommodate 4,000 students, and the City Council as the Local Planning Authority was required to assess whether it was in accordance with the Development Plan and any other material considerations. As the applicant, BCU decided the maximum number of students they wish to accommodate, not the Local Planning Authority.

What assessment was carried out by the City Council on the impact of BirminghamCityUniversity relocating its teaching provision to Eastside?

The City Council determined the planning application for Phase 2 of BCU at Eastside in accordance with national and local planning policy. The decision to relocate the campus from Perry Barr to Eastside was made by the University, and this decision was not a material consideration in the determination of the planning application. The City Council is working with BCU to identify appropriate development options for the Perry Barr teaching campus site. Within the context of the emerging A34 framework, the site represents a significant regeneration opportunity with the potential to deliver proposals with considerable economic and community benefits.

What priorities were identified from such assessment for Perry Barr?

As an assessment wasn’t undertaken, priorities were not identified. However, the City Council is working with BCU to help identify appropriate development options in time for when the Perry Barr site is vacated in September 2015.

How long has the City Council known that Perry Barr teaching would close once the university (BirminghamCityUniversity) moves to phase 2?

The adopted AAP for Aston, Newtown and Lozells allocates the campus for education use, however, the preparation of the AAP and its subsequent public examination preceded BCU’s announcement to vacate the campus. The Local Planning Authority became aware of the implications when the planning application for phase 2 was submitted in July 2012. A Baseline Planning Report was prepared at this time, which primarily focused on parts of the site that will be surplus to requirements following the opening of the city centre campus in Eastside in 2015. The Report highlights the planning policy context, land use opportunities and constraints to development.

Please provide all minutes / documentation demonstrating that the City Council has scrapped the A34 Birchfield/Perry Barr Regeneration Plan?

Please see BCC’s response to the first question. A regeneration framework is currently being finalised for the Perry Barr/ Birchfield district centre and A34 (North) corridor.

What was the rationale for scrapping such plan?

Please see BCC’s response to the first question. A regeneration framework is currently being finalised for the Perry Barr/ Birchfield district centre and A34 (North) corridor.

Please provide documentation or minutes demonstrating that Eastside had a higher priority than Perry Barr in terms of regenerationpriority?

There are no minutes to demonstrate this, as there was no City Council decision to prioritise Eastside over Perry Barr. The decision to relocate the campus from Perry Barr to Eastside was made by the University, and the City Council as the Local Planning Authority determined the application for the new campus in accordance with planning policy and procedures.

What are the City Council plans to regenerate Perry Barr? Please provide timescales?

Please see BCC’s response to the first question. The City Council is looking to adopt the regeneration framework for the A34 corridor later this year, and already has a formal Development Plan Document in place in the form of the Area Action Plan that provides the planning policy context for the area.