Watchdog slams brewery site plan

and provide lasting benefits for the community, the body said.

The scheme, one of the major developments in the Birmingham-Sandwell
pathfinder Urban Living area, proposes the redevelopment of the former
brewery in Smethwick into a 1,000-home residential area. The plans
submitted by developer Persimmon gained outline planning consent last
December.

But a review of the scheme by Cabe's design review panel claims the
proposals offer a "weak suburban model", which fails to capitalise on
the potential afforded by pathfinder developments. The panel says the
proposed scheme has insufficient open space, fails to connect with
existing communities and is dominated by a road system that prioritises
the demands of car users over pedestrians.

Cabe deputy chief executive Joanna Averley described the development
plans as a missed opportunity. She said: "Is this the best we can do? We
can all take mediocrity if we want to, but does that achieve what we are
looking for?"

Averley said there is a lot of positive work coming out of pathfinder
areas in other parts of the country, but that the proposals for the Cape
Hill Brewery site fail to meet the urban layout and design criteria that
Cabe is looking for.

But Angus Kennedy, chair of Urban Living, said the Cabe review panel had
based its judgements on early versions of the Cape Hill scheme. "The
panel looked at an earlier version of the proposals," he said. "Some
issues that Cabe have identified have already been taken on board."

He said he is confident that the Cape Hill Brewery development will
bring significant improvements to the area. "I hope that by the time
final planning approval is agreed, we will have a landmark scheme that
marks a step-change for the area," he said.

The issues raised by Cabe will now be considered by all the partners, he
added.