Grand Central owner submits major new retail scheme for Oldbury
THE new owner of Birmingham’s Grand Central shopping centre has submitted plans for a major new mixed-use development in neighbouring Sandwell that could generate millions of pounds of investment and create hundreds of new jobs.
Hammerson, which is also half-owner of Birmingham’s Bullring shopping centre, has lodged plans with Sandwell Borough Council for a derelict site in Oldbury.
The scheme includes three associated food and drink units, a 555-space customer car park, a new signal controlled junction to Bromford Road, alongside various public realm improvement works, servicing, soft landscaping, and enhanced pedestrian links.
No retailers are yet attached to the scheme but the applicant is experienced in the development of such retail parks with similar examples elsewhere in the UK.
The application, submitted on behalf of Hammerson (Oldbury) Ltd, will do much to improve the urban landscape of Oldbury, which has been synonymous with industrial decline.
The scheme consists of:
• The construction of food and non-food retail floor space arranged in a sub-divisible terrace;
• The construction of a standalone discount foodstore;
• The construction of a semi-detached restaurant unit;
• The construction of a single drive-through hot food and beverage take away unit;
• On-site associated car and cycle parking, trolley bays, service areas and landscaping;
• Off-site enabling infrastructure including a new signal-controlled junction on Bromford Road, and improvements to the junction of Bromford Road and Fountain Lane;
• The construction of a new service vehicle only access off Fountain Lane;
• The integration of pedestrian and cycle access within the scheme.
The site, now vacant, was previously the home of Hunt Brothers Griffin Foundry which was demolished in 2003 to make way for a larger retail and leisure development, including a multi-screen cinema, that never came to fruition.
Smaller scale industrial units had occupied the northern end of the site since the 1950s. Prior to this the north of the site had been the location of the Oldbury Wakes.
Fountain Lane borders the north-east and north-west boundaries of the site, West Bromwich Street the west and south-west, with Bromford Road the south east where it meets Oldbury Ringway and Church Street at the roundabout.
Bordering the site are a row of two-storey 1930s semi-detached houses on Fountain Lane, four-storey apartments on Bromford Road and Industrial uses to the north and west. The civic offices of Sandwell Council and the council’s car park are positioned to the south and west.
Further towards the south-west along Oldbury Ringway is Oldbury Green Retail Park whose occupiers include Homebase, Poundland, Carpetright, Pets at Home, Brantano, Smyths Toys, Argos, Next and Costa Coffee.
The planning brief prepared by architects Stephen George & Partners, on behalf of Hammerson, states: “Our client has determined that there is sufficient demand for development of both food and non-food retail space in this location for units with floor space upwards of 464m².”
The retails units will be of sufficient height and volume to accommodate mezzanine floors – similar to the additional floorspace created at the nearby Homebase and Next stores.
“The expectations of retailers and their customers alike dictate a layout whose disposition maximises visibility of the shop entrances and which has immediate access to car parking. This needs to be arranged in a clearly legible and familiar format,” adds the brief.
“The proposal should respect the site’s key location in its relationship to Oldbury town centre and also strive to make a positive contribution to its local environment through the quality of design.
“(It) should reflect the evolution of retail park design to offer a comfortable and enjoyable shopping environment.”
