Smethwick to Birmingham Corridor

Overview

Birmingham City Council and Sandwell Council are consulting on the draft Smethwick to Birmingham Corridor Development Framework and Grove Lane Masterplan.

The draft Development Framework and Masterplan have been prepared jointly by Birmingham City Council and Sandwell Council working with the West Midlands Combined Authority, Homes England, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust and the Canal & River Trust.

The draft Development Framework covers the corridor of the BCN Main Line Canal and Dudley Road/Soho Way between Ladywood and Smethwick Galton Bridge Station. It outlines a vision and guiding principles for the area, sets out a transport strategy and development principles for the main development sites.

The Grove Lane Masterplan provides a more detailed plan for the redevelopment of the area around the new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital.

About this consultation

The draft documents are available to download below.

The public consultation will run for seven weeks and closes at 5pm on the 3rd December 2021.

An online survey has been set up for people and organisations to provide their comments on the draft Smethwick to Birmingham Corridor Framework and Grove Lane Masterplan and is accessible here.

Comments can also be provided by email or posted to the following addresses:

North West Planning and Development Team, PO Box 28, Birmingham, B1 1TU
Regeneration and Growth, Sandwell MBC, Freeth Street, Oldbury, B69 3DE

We will be holding consultation events during the consultation period so please check back for updates.

After the consultation period closes, all comments will be collected and taken into consideration. The draft Corridor Framework and Masterplan will be amended where necessary. Authority will then be sought from the council’s relative cabinets to formally approve both documents. Birmingham City Council will be adopting the Corridor Framework as a Supplementary Planning Document. A consultation statement will be produced as part of the cabinet process. This will outline who was consulted, the main issues that arose, and how those issues have been addressed in the final documents.

Smethwick - Birmingham Corridor Framework Document

Click on the image above to enlarge

This framework sets out our plan for ensuring change enhances the area for existing and future residents. It:

Creates a vision for the area and guiding principles which will be used by all the delivery partners in the detailed design and development of the main redevelopment sites in the corridor and by private sector partners in delivering development.
Provides a transport strategy for the corridor.
Showcases all the changes happening in the corridor and demonstrates the commitment of the delivery partners to making them happen, creating the platform for continuing private and public sector investment.

Grove Lane Masterplan Document

Click on the image above to enlarge

The Grove Lane masterplan builds on the Corridor Framework to set out in more detail how the Grove Lane area surrounding the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital can be redeveloped. The detailed masterplan for the Grove Lane area demonstrates how the site can be developed and sets the basis for its delivery. The Corridor Framework and the Grove Lane Masterplan are intended to be read together.

Key project milestones

Issues and opportunities

March 2021

People in the local area were invited to submit suggestions for the Smethwick to Birmingham Corridor.

Production of draft development framework

Spring 2021

Following the initial issues and opportunities phase, we are working on producing a draft Development Framework for the Corridor and an up-to-date masterplan for the Grove Lane area, around the new hospital.