Crest Nicholson has submitted an application to Birmingham City Council for the renewal of its outline planning consent for the landmark final phase of its award winning Park Central regeneration scheme in Birmingham city centre.

Working in partnership with Birmingham City Council and Optima Community Association, Crest Nicholson has already transformed the majority of the 61 acres of the former Lee Bank area of the city, from a run-down estate into an integrated socially sustainable and highly successful new city centre community.

The application is for a significant mixed use building located on the prominent south east corner of the Lee Bank Middleway and Bristol Road intersection, previously the site of the 20 storey Haddon Tower building and the former Springvale Shopping Precinct. The former tower and shopping precinct were demolished by Crest Nicholson in 2006 to pave the way for this last phase of development. The site is currently in use as a temporary car park. 

The proposed scheme for this gateway location comprises an anchor 7,294 m² A1 food store with adjacent A1-A5 retail /leisure units and under croft car parking, together with over 400 new private and affordable apartments situated in a 20 storey landmark tower and six further residential buildings, clustered around a new landscaped courtyard. 

The striking new tower will be the focal point of the scheme but unique to the development will also be the positioning of the food store and associated car parking beneath the newly created Haddon Gardens, a bold landscaping strategy designed to hide parking from public view and allowing the new terraced gardens to link the scheme with Park Central's existing eight acres of parkland. 

With Lower Parkside, the latest residential phase of the development selling successfully and the worst effects of the credit crunch behind the project, The Retail Quarter is once again economically viable and Crest Nicholson is keen to maintain the momentum of the regeneration process through its timely delivery. 

The outline application for The Retail Quarter was originally granted following a Public Enquiry in 2008. Submission of the detailed planning application however was delayed due to the ensuing recession which brought development across the city to a halt. An application to renew the outline consent was therefore submitted in December 2010 but was deferred by Birmingham City Council in May 2011 following a formal objection to the supermarket element of the scheme by Tesco.  

In the meantime, Crest Nicholson has been working up a detailed planning application for The Retail Quarter in co-operation with Birmingham City Council, Optima Community Association and a supermarket operator and is hopeful that the consent will be renewed at this week's Planning Committee so that a detailed application can then be submitted.

Chris Tinker, Group Board Director and Regeneration Chairman for Crest Nicholson commented: "Our proposals for the former Haddon Tower site constitute the final phase of the regeneration scheme and will deliver The Retail Quarter which has been part an integral part of the vision for Park Central from the start. Delivering the retail element, which is designed to serve both the original and new Park Central community, has been the long term ambition of residents and the Partnership alike and will mark the completion of this exemplary development.

"The principles of the scheme, approved following the Public Inquiry back in 2008, were commended at the time for providing not only a substantial retail facility with all the employment opportunities which that brings, but also much needed housing and a worthy addition to the cityscape in the form of a new landmark tower and an extensive area of new parkland.

"It has been regrettable that that the credit crunch has delayed the delivery of this last and important phase of the development. However, with over 1,000 apartments and houses already completed, sales progressing well and strong interest from retailers, we now look forward to delivering this final and most exciting phase of the Park Central development."

In answer to recent press coverage following the formal objection from Tesco, Mr Tinker added: "The comparative merits of the Park Central and Tesco schemes were considered by the Inspector three year ago and the Park Central scheme was consented. The Government has subsequently provided guidance to Councils regarding the need to be flexible in renewing planning applications which have been delayed by the impact of the credit crunch. Given the significant regeneration benefits which the scheme will deliver we remain confident that the City Council will approve this renewal application paving the way for the delivery of The Retail Quarter."

Approximately 40 of the new homes proposed within The Retail Quarter will be affordable housing to be delivered by Crest Nicholson on behalf of Optima Community Association which already owns and manages  around 300 new affordable homes at Park Central.  

Simon Kimberley, Chief Executive of Optima Community Association added:   "The Park Central development has created a thriving urban community that is a very popular place to live. Working in partnership with Crest Nicholson and Birmingham City Council, we have been able to provide much sought after high quality affordable housing and amenities such as award winning parks and public art.  

"Crest Nicholson are in negotiation with Optima to deliver 42 one and two bedroom apartments for affordable rent which will provide much needed new affordable homes in the city centre.

"The final phases of the redevelopment and the completion of the regeneration of Lee Bank is wholly dependent upon the timely completion of the supermarket which will enable the residential elements to be viable. We are frustrated that Tesco's objections are delaying a development in a prominent part of Birmingham, which will bring much needed job opportunities, regeneration and economic benefits to the area, as well as increasing amenities for local residents."