Former Rubber Factory

Stonebond Properties was established in 1975 and have secured a reputation as a quality provider working in partnership with Registered Providers, local authorities, PRS Investors and Homes England.

Stonebond creates new mixed-tenure communities, with well thought out developments and an individual sense of place.

The business focuses on promoting local skills and labour, supporting growth of responsible regional businesses, creating healthier, safer and more resilient communities and protecting and improving our environment.

Stonebond have a clearly defined pathway to net zero and are working to reduce the company’s carbon footprint through their own operations and also in collaboration with the supply chain, subcontractors and vendors.

Flood Risk and Drainage

The areas shown as developable in the illustrative plan and the area of the public open space are located within Flood Zone 1, which represents the lowest probability of flooding, as defined by the Environment Agency. A drainage strategy will support the planning submission and a detailed plan accompanying will set out how surface water drainage will be dealt with.

Trees and Hedgerows

The existing site is devoid of vegetation owing to its historical use as a commercial premises.

The proposals will seek to create new and enhanced green infrastructure, including areas of public open space, native tree and shrub planting.

The public open space has been located within the site, providing opportunities for social interaction between residents.

Ecology

Ecological surveys are being undertaken to inform the emerging proposals.

Measures will be incorporated to protect wildlife during construction and once the development is occupied. These will include appropriate timing and methods of clearance, protection of habitats, enabling animals to move safely through the site and a sensitive lighting strategy around important habitat features.

The proposal will be designed to achieve the required level of Biodiversity Net Gain, ideally on-site.

Additional biodiversity enhancements will be incorporated into the development, such as integrated bat and bird nesting features, hedgehog access through suitable garden boundaries and wildlife-friendly planting designed to provide food and shelter for birds, bats, invertebrates and other species.

Heritage

The project team includes Heritage Consultants who have reviewed the site and local area. No heritage assets are within the site boundary, and the development does not border a designated conservation area. The impact of the proposal on any nearby listed buildings will be assessed as part of the formal planning submission. 

The assessment will support the planning submission and identify the impact of the development on any identified heritage assets. 

Highways

The site is located adjacent to an established residential community, with good pedestrian infrastructure surrounding the site. 

The application proposal will be supported by a Transport Statement, which will present the proposed development, the on-site layout from the highway perspective, assess the traffic impact at the site access, as well as detail the accessibility of the site for future residents.

The existing highway access to Icknield Port Road will be upgraded to ensure a suitable width for vehicles accessing and leaving.

The site is located close to existing bus stops on Icknield Port Road that serve bus route 80. This service has a 10-minute frequency Monday to Friday, 15-minute frequency on Saturdays and 20-minute frequency on Sundays. The No. 80 serves the centre (Upper Dean Street) of Birmingham to the east and the centre of West Bromwich (bus station) to the northwest, providing very good accessibility to key facilities for future residents.

Electric vehicle charging infrastructure will be provided across the site to promote the use of zero or low-emission vehicles. In addition, new homes will benefit from cycle parking provision to encourage travel modes other than the private car.

Air Quality

The Site located within the City wide Birmingham City Council (BCC) Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and is adjacent located at the corner of Osler Street and Icknield Port Road. The nearest BCC monitoring location to the Site  is BCA 13, located approximately 530m to the southeast along the A4540 (Ladywood Middleway).

The application proposal will be supported by an Air Quality Assessment. The assessment will include the following:

• A review of BCC’s published air monitoring and modelling data for the area would be undertaken, so that air pollutant concentrations at the Site and its surroundings can be quantified relative to the relevant air quality objectives governed by the Air Quality (England) Regulations.
• Modelling of PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and NO₂ pollutant concentrations at the Site and existing future receptors. The modelled results will be compared against the relevant National Air Quality Objectives for NO₂, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5. Impact significance will be determined with reference to IAQM/EPUK guidance. Where necessary, best practice mitigation measures to offset development-related emissions will be recommended.
• In addition, the potential effects of dust and traffic emissions during construction would be considered, and controls necessary to protect existing sensitive development would be recommended. Information on the proposed methods of construction during the different phases of construction would be used to undertake a dust risk assessment in accordance with the IAQM, and indicative dust control measures would be recommended.