Birmingham developer, Sphere Group, has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Report in support of a request to Birmingham City Council for an EIA Scoping Opinion for its emerging proposals for 43 Temple Row, 1 Temple Row and the former Rackhams building in Birmingham.
The mixed-use regeneration plans form part of Birmingham City Council’s Birmingham Central Heart vision, the broader, once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform 17 hectares of underutilised commercial retail and office space within the city centre’s retail core.
Acting as Development Partner for Freehold owners, L&G, Sphere Group’s plans include up to 650 new homes, 35,000sqm of office space, ground floor retail and redeveloped public realm, all with market leading sustainability standards.
The EIA Scoping Report is the first stage of the EIA process and a precursor to a future planning application, which Sphere Group intends to submit later in the year.
The Report sets out the proposed scope of the assessment of environmental effects to be reported in the Environmental Statement which will be submitted with the planning application in accordance with the EIA Regulations.
The EIA Scoping Report has considered the various options that are being appraised for the site before the business brings forward a more detailed proposal for full public consultation with stakeholders and the local community, prior to the submission of a formal planning application.
Thomas Taylor, Managing Director at Sphere Group, comments: “Our exciting and ambitious development plans will regenerate this centrally located site, providing modern office space, much-needed homes, new retail and beautiful public open spaces.
“This EIA scoping request is a positive step forward for our emerging proposals as we explore several options for the site from a sustainability, viability and deliverability point of view. Following this, we will have more detailed proposals which we’ll unveil for a full and formal public consultation later in the summer and we’re really looking forward to discussing our plans with the community as things progress.”
