Stafford Road Corridor Area Action Plan

• No areas of flood risk affecting development sitesalthough there area site specific recommendations inthe SFRA which need to be considered.• Potential for connection to a City Centre districtheating network if such a network is established.• Parts of the area only have moderate access for freshfood and schools – may require investment ortransport improvements.Strategic Options Considered:• The Core Strategy identified the potential for housinggrowth on employment land to the east of the WestCoast Main Line. The Land interests Study indicatedthat some areas should clearly be retained foremployment uses, including the southern part of theACS&T site, and Fallings Park, Guys Motors andMerry Hills Industrial Estates.• Bridge St / Bank St / Wood Ln employment area wasconsidered for housing development to deliver morecomprehensive development with the BluebirdTrading Estate, however it was felt that there was notenough certainty at this time to indicate this area wascapable of being brought forward for housingdevelopment given the multiple ownerships involved.• Potential for part of Fowlers Playing Fields to bedeveloped for housing to secure investment in the site(see Policy Area 4 for further details).Sustainability AppraisalIn addition to increasing housing offer in the area, theproposals for this area have a close focus on improvingthe built environment and supporting the historicenvironment through the protection and enhancement ofimportant local heritage assets and improvements to thefabric and setting of undesignated heritage assets.Through seeking to promote the retention of local qualityemployment land, the proposals for this area will alsosupport existing businesses and employment. Whilst theretention of existing areas of local employment land mayhave the potential to have effects on the quality of thepublic realm in the vicinity of some new areas ofhousing, this is likely to be limited by the initiation of theenhancements linked with the EmploymentImprovement Areas and the Policy Areas seeking toenhance the built environment of the area.Taking forward Housing Option 3 will lead to the loss ofan area of open space on Fowlers Playing Fields. Theloss of environmental infrastructure at this location hasthe potential to have implications for a range of aspects,including climate change adaptation, health andwellbeing, townscape quality, biodiversity enhancementopportunities and the quality of local neighbourhoods.The development will need to compensate for anyissues that do arise. Otherwise, with the exception ofHousing Option 3, the proposals for this area seek toimprove the quality and multifunctionality of open spacein the area.Area DesignationsThese mainly relate to the employment areas the planneeds to protect, and will offer accommodation for localemployment opportunities. Park Village will be identifiedas a Housing Improvement Area to support appropriateinvestment to increase the physical and socialenvironment.Policy Area Name Area Ref Type SizePolicy Fallings Park, Guys Motors LQEA 4 Local Quality Employment Land 4.1haArea 1&4 and Merry Hills Industrial EstatesBridge St / Bank St / Wood St LQEA 5 Local Quality Employment Land 3.6haACS&T, Park Lane LQEA 6 Local Quality Employment Land 3.4haPolicy Area 5 Park Village HIA 1 Housing Improvement Area 15.4haOptions Report for the Development of the Stafford Road Corridor57