Part Two: Centres and Site Allocations (Regulation 19)

3. Stourbridge

Introduction

3.1 This chapter outlines how Stourbridge Town Centre will develop and change over the plan period and sets out a vision for the town centre, which will be delivered through the Local Plan policies and site allocations (up to 2041).

3.2 Stourbridge, on Dudley Borough's south-west fringe, is a popular and attractive Town Centre close to open countryside, including the Clent Hills and Kinver Edge. With a compact and easily accessible Town Centre, it offers a pleasant shopping environment in the High Street and the Ryemarket shopping centre. The town is home to many smaller, specialist shops.

3.3 Stourbridge still retains many of its later medieval market town features which contribute to its unique character. Lower High Street housed the market which gained its charter around 1482 and the Town Hall was built in 1887 to mark Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. Students have been educated at King Edward VI College since 1430, and the present buildings date back to 1861. The Foster and Rastrick Iron Foundry (now Lion Medical Health) and the Bonded Warehouse, Canal Company Offices and Weighbridge in Canal Street are reminders of the industrial significance of the town throughout the 18^th and 19^th century. Stourbridge has been home to the world's finest glass designers and makers since the 17^th century forming part of the well-established Glass Quarter and today it still boasts the highest concentration of artists in the Dudley Borough.

3.4 This chapter aims to make the most of Stourbridge's valued and distinctive local character and further improve its vibrancy, attractiveness, and economic health.

The Stourbridge Town Centre Inset Plan Boundary

3.5 This inset chapter covers Stourbridge Town Centre, including its conservation area and also encompasses the Stourbridge Wharf and wider Canal Wharf, also designated as a Conservation Area.

Vision and Objectives Comment

Policies

Stourbridge Town Centre and Town Centre Core Area

3.6 The Stourbridge Town Centre boundary comprises the area within the ring road, and the area of land between the ring road and Birmingham Street, identified as Angel Passage.

Justification

3.7 The town centre will remain an important focus for day-to-day shopping and a range of other town centre uses such as office, leisure, and cultural facilities. As recognised in the Local Plan, in view of the changing nature of town centres, there is a need to diversify in terms of uses that promote and encourage their vitality and viability. The recent changes to the Use Class Order (wherein retail uses now lie within the same 'E' Use Class as other uses, including food and drink, or offices) mean that retail uses are now able to change more freely to other uses. Whilst this enables town centres to become more flexible and responsive to changes, it does mean it is now more difficult to manage the loss of retail uses.

3.8 Notwithstanding the above, in line with national planning policy it remains important to identify the Town Centre Core Area (formerly Primary Shopping Area) for the key purpose of identifying whether a retail development proposal constitutes edge of or out of centre development. It is recognised that there is likely to be a diversification of uses within the Town Centre Core Area, however, any new proposals for retail development will still be directed towards it in the first instance.

Stourbridge Wharf

3.9 Stourbridge Wharf is a 'linchpin' area between Stourbridge Town Centre and the existing and proposed housing led regeneration areas within the River Stour and Stourbridge Branch Canal corridor. It has been described as a historic community asset, contributing to the distinctive character of Stourbridge, and having a multi-functional role for the benefit of the local community and visitors.

Justification

3.10 The canal and the area to the north is designated as a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation (SLINC). Any proposed development for works should retain that vegetation which has nature conservation value and opportunities should be taken to enhance its value through development proposals or canal-side enhancement works.

3.11 The area is also a conservation area (The Canal Street Conservation Area), containing a Grade II Listed Building (The Bonded Warehouse) and four Locally Listed Buildings within a historic canal-side setting. The conservation area is currently included on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register. An opportunity exists to draw on this heritage, including promoting and enabling canal-based activities, uses, and tourism, to reinforce the character thereby sustaining and improving conservation area.

3.12 Enhancing the current pedestrian and cycle linkages around the Canal and River Stour in the Stourbridge Wharf area is important to promote active travel and create linkages within the communities. It is therefore important that new developments within these areas, such as Bradley Road East and West incorporate the development of new bridges to provide access to the surrounding areas and provide connections for residents on both sides of the canal and rivers to access surrounding infrastructure including, the Public Open Space, Riverside House, War Memorial Athletic Ground and Lion Health. While also providing better connection to the wider pedestrian and cycle network.

Design and Public Realm

Design

3.13 Local Plan Policy DLP39 provides the overarching context for considering design quality. Regard should also be had to policies for the historic environment (Local Plan Policy DLP55 – DLP62). This section sets out those characteristics of the most importance to the Stourbridge Town Centre inset plan area and town centre specific policies.

3.14 Stourbridge contains many buildings of historic and architectural quality and interest, as well as attractive views within and out from the Town Centre core.

Justification

3.15 The Assets in Stourbridge Town Centre help to shape the character, identity and visual quality of the town and it is essential that developments in the area that both respond to and respect the existing character and context of Stourbridge Town Centre.

3.16 Where the historic character of the built environment makes a positive contribution to local distinctiveness, this should be conserved and enhanced wherever possible. All new developments should respect and respond to the positive characteristics of the locality. This most up to date Historic Landscape Characteristic and evidence should be used in considering how new development proposals and the enhancement of existing townscapes and landscapes should respect the town's character.

Justification

3.17 Stourbridge Town Centre has a distinguished heritage and contains many buildings of historic and architectural quality and interest, as well as attractive views within and out of the Town Centre. Views and landmarks within Stourbridge help people find their way around the Town Centre and create a variety and interest to the townscape that reinforces its sense of place and gives local identity.

3.18 Having an understanding and appreciation of the landmarks, views, vistas and gateways of the town will help prevent the erection of out of scale, poorly designed or sited buildings and structures within particular sight-lines around the town.

3.19 The buildings in the Town Centre largely demonstrate a coherent three storey form, with frontages onto the street and traditional shopfronts. It is important that the local distinctiveness of the town is reflected through new development and enhancements that respect and complement the town's traditional built form, height, scale, and mass.

3.20 The 'Landmarks, Views, Vistas and gateways' plan illustrates an urban design appraisal of views, vistas, features and gateways both at the local and strategic level that positively contribute to the legibility of the town. Historically significant strategic landmarks such as the St Thomas's Church (SLP2) and panoramic, strategic views are included along with vistas and local views. Where new development is likely to have an impact on an identified view or landmark, accurate visual representation of changes to the view will be required. Careful consideration will need to be paid to building materials and finishes, skylines and silhouettes.

Figure 3.1: Stourbridge Town Landmarks, Views, Vistas and Gateways Plan

Public Realm

3.21 The town's character is greatly influenced by its public realm, with some locations in need of upgrading. Public open spaces provide a focus for community activity and form connections within the town centre.

Justification

3.22 It would be beneficial to soften the appearance of Stourbridge Ring Road through the introduction of greenery into this relatively robust urban environment, through the use of tree planting and planters around the inner and outer core of the Ring Road and resolve the competing needs of vehicles and pedestrians moving through the Town Centre core. This conflict is exacerbated by the narrowness of many footways and on-street parking, together with the volume and movement of traffic. Improvements to these streets are required to retain space for some on-street parking and the passage of vehicles, including emergency vehicles, whilst giving a greater priority to pedestrians within a greener space.

3.23 There are specific areas within the townscape which require a visual uplift. These are often streets which predominantly function as service areas, or where there is little activity or interest for those passing through to appreciate, as well as there are some parts of the town centre which have poor, inactive frontages facing the public realm, in particular those fronting the Ring Road . In addition, several the town's existing squares would benefit from an upgrade, enabling them to realise their function as places of congregation and as special spaces within the pattern of buildings. Also, enhancement of the existing gateways in order to create welcoming entrances into the town centre and helping improve legibility and wayfinding.

Figure 3.2: Stourbridge Legibility and Public Realm Plan

Historic Environment

3.24 The historic environment and heritage assets are to be protected, conserved and enhanced as per Local Plan Policy DLP55 – DLP62. This section sets out those characteristics of the most importance to the Stourbridge Town Centre inset plan area.

Justification

3.25 The Stourbridge UHLC provides the evidence base to inform an understanding of the town's historic character. This evidence should be used in considering how new development proposals and the enhancement of existing townscapes and landscapes should respect the towns character.

3.26 The study describes the historical development of Stourbridge and identifies 19 Historic Townscape Character Zones within the Town Centre and beyond (plan DLP S6). For each Character Zone, individual buildings and spaces have been identified, which contribute positively or otherwise to local character. Where physical evidence of historic character persists in the form of assets that make a positive contribution to local distinctiveness, such assets should be conserved and wherever possible enhanced. In addition to the High Street Stourbridge Conservation Area and the Stourbridge Branch Canal (Canal Street) Conservation Area (designated heritage assets), locally significant areas of high historic townscape and landscape value have been identified alongside individual heritage assets of varying significance, including Archaeological Priority Areas (APAs).

Figure 3.3: Stourbridge UHLC Boundary and Character Zones

Stourbridge Ring Road

3.27 One of the greatest design challenges that faces Stourbridge is to improve and raise the profile of the routes into and out of the Town Centre from the surrounding areas across the ring road.

Justification

3.28 The ring road functions effectively in channelling traffic, but it is the dominant infrastructure within the town and, as a result, constrains pedestrian movement, funnelling people into subways under the multi-lane highway.

3.29 The ring road also has had the effect of severing existing development blocks, leading to the exposure of the backs and sides of buildings and service areas, some of which are enclosed by advertisement hoardings (which serve to further reinforce the visual dominance of the ring road corridor). This gives rise to a fragmented environment. Potential improvements to the public realm of these areas could be achieved through the introduction of public art, such as green walls and murals.

3.30 It is vital that new development has an active frontage onto the ring road and improves permeability, giving preference to pedestrian and cycleway connections across the ring road, greening the fringes and redressing the entrances at the outward face of the Town Centre.

Pedestrian Access and Cycling

3.31 All developments should retain and improve existing cycle and pedestrian routes and provide new connections to facilitate access and allow for safe and easier movements around sites and the Town Centre.

Justification

3.32 Pedestrian access across the ring road is currently via six subways and two surface level crossings. The subways provide safe and easy access between the Town Centre and surrounding areas, particularly for wheelchair users. However, these subways, which include the main passage from the Town Centre to the public transport hub, are not popular and often present poor-quality environments.

3.33 The subways are likely to have to remain as some are the primary or only means of accessing the town from the adjoining areas. However, most will require upgrades to make them safer and more inviting for users. Additional surface level crossings will also be considered to enhance greater permeability within the environment in general, lessen the visual and physical impact of vehicular traffic and provide direct links to the Town Centre.

3.34 A national cycle route (Sustrans Route 54 from Stourport to Derby) passes through the plan area, this Inset Plan aims to facilitate and sign these routes and enhance the environment of the corridors through which they run. This includes providing additional cycle stands, this will allow those using the national cycle route and residents cycling into the town to use the facilities offered by Stourbridge, as well as the provision of new tree planting.

3.35 It is important to continue to enhance the active travel offering in Stourbridge, this includes the development of new cycle and walking routes and the development of a Dudley Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan.

3.36 Enhancing the current pedestrian and cycle linkages around the Canal and River Stour in the Stourbridge Wharf area is important to promote active travel and create linkages within the communities. It is therefore important that new developments within these areas, such as Bradley Road East and West incorporate the development of new bridges to provide access to the surrounding areas and provide connections for residents on both sides of the canal and rivers to access surrounding infrastructure including, the Public Open Space, Riverside House, War Memorial Athletic Ground and Lion Health. While also providing better connection to the wider pedestrian and cycle network.

Figure 3.4: Transport and Movement Plan: Stourbridge Town Centre

Stourbridge Town Inset Plan Area Site Allocations

3.37 Stourbridge Town Inset Plan Area contains three 'Opportunity Sites' which have been identified where redevelopment and regeneration would provide benefits to Stourbridge Town Centre. These represent mixed use sites, which may include residential development. The Opportunity Sites do not preclude or diminish the importance of investment or change elsewhere in the centre. They simply reflect the Council's wish to prioritise use of its resources to kick start and progress projects which will have a significant impact and act as a catalyst for wider change.

3.38 In addition to the opportunity sites, there are several sites which have been identified within Policy DLP10 as part of the overall housing land supply as summarised below.

Table 3.1: Summary of Stourbridge Allocations

3.39 A policy is provided for each Opportunity Site which identifies the acceptable uses.

Stourbridge Town Centre Opportunity Site: North of Birmingham Street

3.40 This Opportunity Site is located to the north of Birmingham Street and south of the Penfields Estate. The area is currently comprised of a number of occupied commercial properties, surface level car parking and green space.

3.41 The site is outside of the Town Centre Core Area and is accessed off Birmingham Street, a busy A road which connects Lye and Stourbridge Ring Road. The River Stour runs through the site and offers an opportunity to create better connectivity to the river and create an active frontage to both Birmingham Street and the river. The site could deliver a mix of complementary uses including new residential developments and expansion of the commercial services while conserving and enhancing where possible the existing nature conservation at the site.

3.42 While the site is located outside of the Stourbridge Town Centre Conservation Area, consideration needs to be given to the impact of proposals on the site's designation as an Area of High Historic Landscape Value (AHHLV). In addition, given the part of the site's designation as a SLINC and the River Stour location within the site, proposals will need to ensure they conserve and enhance the nature conservation importance and ecological surveys will need to be submitted with any planning applications.

Stourbridge Town Centre Opportunity Site: Mill Race Lane

3.43 Mill Race Lane Opportunity Site is located to the north east of Stourbridge Ring Road. The site can be accessed from Stourbridge Ring Road and the A491 (High Street). There is pedestrian access to the town centre using an underpass running under the ring road. There is potential to further enhance the active travel around Stourbridge through pedestrian links through the site, connecting the residential development to the north of the site to Stourbridge Town Centre.

3.44 The site currently contains a number of large industrial units which are occupied by a range of uses. This includes a number of employment uses as well as some retail units which complement the surrounding industrial uses (e.g. Screwfix). The site also contains a number of leisure uses particularly in the southeast of the site. This includes food establishments, a nightclub, and children's indoor play centre. Given the range of uses the site is currently active during the day to the employment and food venues, while also playing a role in the night-time economy of Stourbridge due to the active nightclub on the site. There is potential to expand the leisure offerings on the site, particularly around the current leisure uses subject to proposals meeting the requirements of policies DLP21 and DLP 22.

3.45 While the site is outside of the Stourbridge Town Centre Conservation Area, consideration needs to be given to the impact of proposals on the site's designation as an Area of High Historic Landscape Value (AHHLV) and as an Archaeological Priority Area (APA). In addition, part of the site is a designated SLINC and the River Stour location within the site, relevant proposals will need to ensure they conserve and enhance the nature conservation importance and ecological surveys may be required.

Stourbridge Town Centre Opportunity Site: Ryemarket

3.46 The Opportunity Site is located within Stourbridge Upper High Street between the High Street and Market Street. The Ryemarket is a purpose-built shopping centre dating from the 1970's. The site fronts an area of public realm towards the High Street, with entrances also from Market Street and Talbot Street.

3.47 The Ryemarket comprises of a purpose-built covered shopping centre with retail at the ground floor, and a multi-storey car park above. An area of public realm sits between the Ryemarket and the High Street, which leads to the main frontage of the Shopping Centre with a number of retail units and cafes fronting the public realm area. There are opportunities to enhance the public realm surrounding the Ryemarket.

3.48 Part of the site fronting Market Street falls within Stourbridge High Street Conservation Area and there a number of listed buildings adjacent to the site, this includes the Grade 1 Listed St Thomas' Church sited opposite. Any proposals on the site should ensure they preserve and enhance the character and/or appearance of the Conservation Area and any upper floor developments should ensure that they do not impact on the setting, significance and views of St Thomas' Church and neighbouring heritage assets.

Evidence

• Responses to the BCP Draft Plan consultation (2021)
• Black Country Centre Study (2020) and Update (2021)
• Black Country Historic Landscape Characterisation (2010)
• Black Country Historic Landscape Characterisation Study (2019)
• Borough-Wide Urban Historic Landscape Characterisation Study (2016/2023)
• Historic Environment Supplementary Planning Document (2017)
• Stourbridge Area Action Plan Spatial Development Framework Urban Design Evidence Base (2011)
• Stourbridge Branch Canal (Canal Street) Conservation Area Appraisal (2007)
• Historic Landscape Characterisation for Stourbridge
• Historic Environment Record (HER)
• National Design Guide
• Historic England Good Practice Advice Notes (GPAs) and Historic England Advice Notes (HEANs)
• Residential Design Guidance SPD (2023)

Delivery

• Historic Landscape Characterisation documents
• Adopted Conservation Area Character Appraisals
• Development Management process including Design and Access Statements and Statements of Heritage Significance
• Supplementary Planning Documents
• A regularly updated and maintained Historic Environment Record (HER).

Monitoring indicators

Table 3.2: Stourbridge Monitoring Indicators