[Selly Oak ..]

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Lapal campaigners celebrate concession

 

 

 

 

 

The Lapal Canal Trust is celebrating after appearing to gain a concession from developers to incorporate a section of the canal in its plans for a huge new supermarket development at Selly Oak.

 

 

 

 

Last month it was reported that the developers, Land Securities, and their partners Sainsbury's, had backtracked on an offer to restore a section of the waterway from the junction with the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, where it runs past the proposed new store.

 

 

 

 

The replacement plans unveiled in September unleashed a storm of protest when it was discovered that the proposed 'canalside' stretch had been reduced to a narrow pedestrian 'greenway' strip. The developers had blamed the poor economic outlook for scaling back the ambition to restore the canal section.

 

 

 

 

Lapal Canal Trust Chairman Peter Best had urged cautious optimism, because he said that apart from ignoring the canal line, there were 'undoubted innovations' in the revised plan.

 

 

 

 

His gentle line seems to have paid off. On 22nd November he announced that "the [selly Oak] Partnership now intends to submit for outline planning consent a plan which includes a length of Lapal Canal across the site instead of the greenway. Unless some unforseen issues arise, they intend to implement that Plan at their expense."

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 22 November | Andrew Denny | 2.48pm, Tuesday 22 November 2011

[Selly Oak ..]

Was it not incorporated into the 'local plan'? Doesn't that oblige developers to make allowances for it...?

Yes, and mentioned a few time too. "The design, including levels should allow for re-opening of

the former Lapal Canal and a pedestrian/cycle route

between Selly Oak Park and the Birmingham BatterySite."

8.32 The Worcester & Birmingham Canal should be used as

a focus to help generate activity. The development

potential of land alongside the canal should be recognised,

where this does not adversly affect its landscape quality

and openess. Development should front the canal and

enhance it as a wildlife and recreational resource. Access

should be improved for pedestrians, cyclists and canal-boat

navigation, and the introduction of visitor moorings and

information panels will be encouraged. In particular, new

pedestrian accesses should be created at Bristol Road,

Selly Oak hospital and the Birmingham University. There is

an opportunity to open up the canal using creative lighting

and public art features. Further design guidance on

development alongside canals is set out in the “Canalside

development in Birmingham” Design Guide (draft SPG).

8.33 The value and feasibility of re-opening the former

Dudley No. 2 Canal between Selly Oak, the City boundary

and beyond should be further explored. In particular,

adjacent development should restore that part of the canal

adjacent to the Birmingham Battery site (between the

Worcester and Birmingham Canal and Selly Oak Park). link Pdf sellyoak lap1002 <http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=Development-Planning%2FPageLayout&cid=1223092558783&pagename=BCC%2FCommon%2FWrapper%2FWrapper>