‘Faceless’ high-rise buildings fear in Sutton Coldfield as group opposes centre redevelopment plan
A new campaign group has called for developers to rethink their plan to redevelop a major Sutton Coldfield shopping centre, saying it would destroy the ‘character and heritage’ of the town. The Sutton Deserves Better group called on the owners of the Gracechurch Centre, Birmingham Property Group and SAV Group, to rethink their plans which were unveiled in April.
The scheme would see around two-thirds of the centre demolished, retaining the middle section while building a number of high-rise blocks, which would have some 700 flats, with retail, restaurants and leisure outlets at ground level.
An informal consultation was held at the centre over a couple of weekends, with a formal planning application expected by the end of this year. But since that time, no more details have been made public.
READ MORE: First details of new-look shopping centre plan unveiled with huge rebuild
Now Sutton Deserves Better has taken to Sutton’s Parade to gauge the public’s opinion on whether its view - that the proposals go against the agreed 2021 Sutton Coldfield town centre masterplan - has wider support. An initial town centre visit on Wednesday, November 13 saw almost 500 people sign a petition opposing the plans.
The group feared the high-rise nature of the development would create a ‘dark and windy’ town centre environment which would ‘potentially deter people’ from coming. They said the drawings showed no outdoor living space with ‘not one single balcony’.
There were concerns the height of the new blocks would end the town centre’s generally low-rise nature. Other worries focused on the lack of green space in the plans, although there isn’t any currently.
A call to improve the retail offer is a constant call, and repeated by Sutton Deserves Better. And plans for hundreds of homes at what is currently Sutton’s retail heart was also questioned.
The group will be heading to the Parade tomorrow, Friday, November 22, to speak to more people about its concerns. Christine Whitehead, from the group, told BirminghamLive: “We have formed Sutton Deserves Better to challenge the development plans for the town’s Gracechurch Shopping Centre.
“We believe the current proposals do not in any way reflect the character and heritage of the Royal Town and fail to meet criteria laid out in the approved 2021 masterplan. We fear, if approved, the low-rise nature of the town centre will be lost, along with much of its retail spaces, replaced instead by multiple faceless high-rise buildings, including two up to 15 storeys high, that would be visible from well within Sutton Park.
READ MORE: Full set of artist’s impressions of what shopping centre could look like
“Our petition calls for any proposed development of our town centre to reflect the approved Masterplan and should include a good range of shops and leisure, attractive green public spaces and respects the character and low-rise character of our Royal Town.”
The group said it did not feel the consultation earlier this year was ‘very thorough or comprehensive’. It claimed a lot of people had not heard about it and many had not seen drawings – a series of artists’ impressions showing what was proposed.
Get the latest Sutton Coldfield news delivered direct to your inbox
Christine added: “While we welcome the proposed investment of BPG and SAV Group. We are concerned the current proposals will not achieve the high-quality and thriving town centre that residents want to see. The local politicians seem to be in favour of the plans.
"We want them to be aware there is a groundswell of local views that this isn’t want we want. Our aim is to get 2,000 signatures. We want a thriving, attractive, successful town centre. Change is needed. The current proposals as they stand don’t deliver what’s needed.”
The group will be in the Parade tomorrow from 10am to 3pm outside the closed Poundland on the Parade. The Gracechurch Centre’s owners were approached to comment but had yet to respond.