Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Selly Oak, Birmingham
The Birmingham Post today revealed revised plans by Sainsburys to develop a massive site centred around the Worcester and Birmingham canal in the shadow of the recently opened splendid canal aqueduct and magnificent Queen Elizabeth Hospital at Selly Oak in Birmingham….
New canal aqueduct at Selly Oak
The original planning permission was gained about 5 years ago, but no development has yet taken place. It would seem that now the Selly Oak bypass complex has been completed, which provides efficient feeder roads to the site, that Sainsburys is now ready to move forward.
However their original submission to Birmingham’s Planning Dept has gone by the board and a new development is to be submitted.
This looks a wonderful transformation for the land which has been derelict for many years and will herald the revitalisation of Selly Oak which currently looks a little jaded.
Unfortunately for canal lovers and the Lapal Canal Trust’s aspirations in particular the restoration of a short stretch of the Lapal Canal, that was to head towards the current limit of termination at Halesowen, has been removed from the planning application. On the face of it this is another example of a large (usually supermarket) company promising investment in the community alongside their main development to make the proposition look attractive to the Planning Dept. and gain approval. Then when it comes to it the communal aspects are diluted – but the site and area has deteriorated for a number of years and peoples expectations have been set in concrete and popular opinion is to go with whatever dilution is proposed, it being better than no redevelopment of an eyesore than none at all. And, of course, the original planning consent has effectively stopped any other development of the site.
So, that’s the dark side of the develoment, but the bright side is still very exciting for the citizens of Selly Oak and, indeed, visiting boaters and canal lovers.
An enhanced waterside place will be part of the development which serves the local community more than visiting boaters (moorings unknown?), but nevertheless it is badly needed and should be a super place to visit for all canal users. Also a green walkway is to be constructed in the was to be line of the Lapal Canal; this passes under a bridge in the bypass complex specifically built at high cost by Birmingham Council to accommodate the restored canal, into Selly Oak Park and hopefully could be easily converted into a canal when better times provide more funds.
A wall in Bournbrook Park, Selly Oak, Birmingham
A pedestrian bridge will give access over the canal to Bournbrook Park, which has great potential, but is currently in need of a little TLC judging from my photo left! You might appreciate the irony of the futile threatening notice in the centre!
The Sainsbury website for this development shows what is now proposed. Strangely this has only today come to light to the Birmingham Post I presume, which is too late for the site’s invitation to an exhibition of the proposals which took place on 30 Sept and 1 Oct. Nevertheless you can submit your views on the proposals in the site.
You can draw your own conclusions about Sainsburys conducting of this development. Us ordinary individuals must make the best of what we are given, I suppose!
