Consultation Portal

Preferred Option SA1 – Aston Manor School Relocation to Park Lane Open Space

• Site area: 2.8 ha
• Existing uses: public open space and housing
• Proposed allocation: education/ community use

Justification: It is proposed that Aston Manor Secondary School is relocated to a new education campus on the existing Park Lane open space as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme second phase 2011. This will provide an improved educational facility in the area, a new community focal point and the opportunity for the upgrading of the remaining open space. The school grounds will become a shared community facility managed by the school and the venue for play and sports provision. The loss of open space will be required to be mitigated by the provision of new compensatory open space in the South Aston area through the future housing regeneration proposals. There will also be increased benefits for the wider community from access to the new school’s facilities including open space, playing fields and indoor sports facilities.

Preferred Option SA2- Mixed-use Urban Boulevard along A34

• Site Area: 1.5 ha
• Existing uses: open space
• Proposed allocation: commercial/residential/leisure/community open space

Justification: A key element of the proposals for the South Aston area is the development of an Urban Boulevard along the A34 corridor. This will link the City Centre to South Aston through high quality public realm framed by high density, mixed-use land use frontage.

The current area comprises open space at Old Park Walk which forms a green corridor adjacent to the A34 High Street. However this open space is described as poor and unsafe in the Urban Living Green Space Audit. The Preferred Option for this area is a mixed-use boulevard of medium/high density uses set within high quality public realm, including tree-lined areas of community open space.  A dynamic mix of uses would be sought including apartments/duplex units and city townhouses of mixed tenure providing aspirational and affordable housing, commercial and leisure uses.

The boulevard will have high quality public realm and linear open spaces to facilitate improved pedestrian and cycle links, and improved junctions giving priority to pedestrians and cyclists. Gateway treatments will be encouraged at key junctions. The boulevard will also need to incorporate land required for a possible Rapid Transit route along the A34, and improved bus lanes and stops. Innovative design would be encouraged which would set the tone for the area to become an iconic gateway to the City. The preferred option also includes the enhancement of Philip’s Park as part of the Urban Boulevard concept.

Preferred Option SA3 – South Aston Housing Regeneration Area

• Site area: 20.70 ha. approx.
• Existing uses: housing
• Proposed allocation: housing regeneration

The preferred option for the estate is a combination of measures including improving the surrounding environment e.g. lighting, better quality open space including pocket parks in key locations, improving the layout of the existing housing to enhance permeability (bring back streets/ reduce pedestrian–only areas), remodelling, refurbishment or improving the internal layout of the housing, and selective demolition and redevelopment of the worst/most unpopular housing with new housing.

Justification: The South Aston area comprises a number of housing estates that for reasons of low demand, their poor layout, poor condition and surrounding environment do not provide adequate living standards for their owners or tenants. The dominant housing layout in the area is based on the problematic 1960s “Radburn” model where cars/vehicle movements are separated from pedestrians with resulting issues of access, housing orientation, and crime and safety. The housing stock in the area is generally in need of major investment to meet current standards.

Preferred Option SA4: - New Local Centre on Park Lane/Upper Sutton Street

• Site area: 0.64 ha
• Existing uses: neighbourhood centre
• Proposed allocation: shopping/ community use

Justification: The preferred use is for a new small-scale neighbourhood shopping centre to complement the existing local provision on Upper Sutton Street and at the Newtown Centre. The South Aston Masterplan identified a need to bolster the local shopping and community facilities in the area as a key component of the remodelling of the residential areas. The preferred location is close to the site of the new Holte School which is to be the community focus for the neighbourhood. The scale of development and most appropriate site would be subject to a specific retail study to confirm market demand.

Preferred Option SA5: - Gateway Development Site at Park Circus.

• Site area: 0.62 ha
• Existing uses: community/ religious use
• Proposed allocation: mixed-use including business/ leisure/ community/ religious/ health use

Justification: This key gateway site is currently under-utilised and offers the opportunity through redevelopment for a landmark building at one of the main entrance points into the area. A mixed-use development for business (Use Class B1) /leisure/community/religious or health use is considered appropriate.

Preferred Option SA6: - New Town Row Industrial Regeneration Area

• Site area: 14.6 ha
• Existing Uses: industrial, storage,distribution
• Proposed allocation: Industrial Regeneration Area

Justification:This area is identified in the emerging EBNS Strategic Investment Plan as a key employment area providing a range of accommodation for various economic functions and an important source of jobs for the local community and service functions to the City Centre nearby. The area has benefited from recent investment, however it presents a poor frontage to the major roads at Newtown Middleway (A4540) and New Town Row (A34). The area has the potential for further investment through rationalisation and redevelopment of existing major uses in the area to provide new business space in this strategically important location.

Preferred Option SA7: - Land off Thomas Street, South Aston

• Site area: 0.64 ha
• Existing Uses: storage/depot area
• Proposed allocation: landscaped area/ open space

Justification: This site accessed off Thomas Street and adjacent to the Aston Expressway is used as a highways storage area/depot. It is highly visible but currently presents a poor image to the area on this major route to the City Centre due to its use and condition. The Preferred Option for the site is to undertake an environmental improvement to create a landscaped area that would improve the attractiveness of this major transport route.