Update: we can see lots of people are still putting in ‘Morrison’s and ‘Acocks Green’ as search terms. (No we don’t know who you are – just what search terms bring you here.) The short answer is that (at time of writing – 21 January 2011) no decision has yet been made. We have had warnings that, with the Asda Plan in the picture as well, this is going to be complex, and could still take some time. A hefty pile of anti-Morrison’s petitions has gone in. Asda are to be invited to the next Acocks Green Ward meeting, if their is still no decision by then, to put their case.
The long awaited Morrison’s plan for Acocks Green has finally arrived. The various documents involved are on the Birmingham City Council website here Acocks Green Morrison\’s Plan whilst the associated Retirement Village plan is here: ExtraCare Shaftmoor Lane Retirement Village There is clearly a great deal of material to absorb in both applications. Here we only offer a few preliminary observations.
The Morrison’s plan documents claim a high percentage of community support in their ‘Supporting Statement on Community Involvement’ It has become apparent that there is some desire for this plan around the Yarnfield area of Acocks Green, and in Tyseley, where residents are clearly keen for there to be a supermarket. Some residents also appear to have accepted the virtually standard issue supermarket plan promise of 400 jobs (Please think about this, people. Some ‘creative’ estimating’ goes into these figures. How many supermarkets do you know where there are 400 employees? Do not allow yourselves to be cleverly conned.) At the same time, there is also considerable disquiet amongst other inhabitants of Acocks Green. This has been reflected in the steady filling up of ‘Stop Morrison’s' petition sheets around Acocks Green centre. There are already more signatures on these sheets than the support figures claimed for the Morrison’s scheme. Pop into Jeffrey’s Hardware, The Swan Trio or Bal’s Supermarket, amongst others, if you will like to add your name. Many Acocks Green residents have voiced to us their own concerns both about the gradual closing down of Acocks Green Centre which the Morrison’s scheme could help increase, and about the loss of a site where skilled jobs could have been created in Shaftmoor Lane.
Meantime, the plot thicknened when we discovered that the Morrison’s plan has a potential rival: A ‘Tyseley Regeneration Scheme’ has been mooted by Mucklow and Helical Retail. This contains a large Asda supermarket, but, also, would offer over 1,000 jobs, including, it would seem, skilled jobs. This scheme, which describes itself as ‘putting Tyseley back on the map’ is based on a 13 acre site at Reddings Lane in Tysley: the old Eaton Electric site. This plot, further from Acocks Green centre, would include a 71, 600 sq foot Asda, a 70,000 ft retail park, but also an industrial manufacturing scheme involving Eaton Electric and EDF. Whilst the Morrison’s scheme involves a ‘Retirement Village’ (the drawings have been described by some as ‘a block of flats’) the Mucklow/Helical scheme includes a site with previous planning permission for five acres of residential development and up to seventy new homes. You can read more about the scheme in this Birmingham Post report. The 60 m. Regeneration Scheme for Tyseley It is expected that plans will be submitted by the end of November.
An extra twist in the plot: Mucklow/Helical say that if the Morrison’s plan goes ahead then they are likely not to submit their own plan.
So do Acocks Green Focus Group, or any other Acocks Green organisations, yet hold any position on the battle of the plans? As of yet Acocks Green has not formulated any general view on the two schemes. The Mucklow/Helical ideas were only on view a week ago. Morrison’s plan was only available on line this week and it is too early for any meetings to have taken place. However, there will be a discussion between representatives of Acocks Green organisations and Mucklow/Helical taking place soon. Watch this space.