Draft Regulation 18 Sandwell Local Plan
Cultural Facilities and the Visitor Economy
3.64 The Vision for Sandwell involves the delivery of transformational change whilst respecting and promoting the borough's culture and heritage. The protection, promotion and expansion of existing cultural facilities, visitor attractions and associated activities will ensure their role as key economic drivers stimulating and regenerating the local economy is supported and will be enhanced as often as possible.
3.65 As well as contributing directly to the local economy, the visitor economy promotes health and wellbeing as well as generating additional demand and growth in supporting services and facilities, which will also benefit residents and businesses.
Policy SDS5 - Cultural Facilities and the Visitor Economy
Development proposals
- Cultural, tourist and leisure facilities within Sandwell will, wherever possible, be protected, enhanced and expanded (where appropriate) in partnership with key delivery partners and stakeholders.
- Proposals for new development or uses that contribute to the attractiveness of Sandwell as a visitor destination (including for business tourism) will be supported in principle, subject to national guidance and the policy requirements set out elsewhere in this Plan.
- Proposals for new cultural, tourist or leisure facilities or uses, or extensions to existing ones, should:
- be of a high-quality design;
- be highly accessible and sustainable, being located within centres wherever possible;
- not adversely impact on residential amenity or the operation of existing businesses; and
- be designed to be flexible, adaptable, and where possible be capable of alternative or community use.
- Well-designed and accessible ancillary facilities in appropriate locations will be supported. Additional facilities within centres that support the visitor economy and business tourism sectors[29] will be encouraged and promoted.
- An assessment should be undertaken (as part of the design of new developments likely to attract large numbers of people) to demonstrate and document how potential security and crime-related vulnerabilities have been identified, assessed and where necessary, addressed in a manner that is appropriate and proportionate.
- Development that would lead to the loss of an existing cultural / tourism facility in Sandwell will be resisted unless:
- the intention is to replace it with a facility that will provide an improved cultural or tourist offer;
- it can be demonstrated that there would be significant benefits to the local and wider community in removing the use and / or redeveloping the site; or
- An appropriate contribution is made to support and sustain an alternative local cultural, tourist or leisure facility.
The Visitor Economy
- The improvement and further development of visitor attractions will be supported where appropriate, to ensure that accessibility is maximised and to continue to raise the quality of the visitor experience throughout Sandwell. This can be achieved by:
- enhancing / extending current attractions;
- providing inclusive access, particularly within town centres;
- enhancing the visitor experience; and
- delivering necessary infrastructure.
- Links should be made to town centres and those parts of Sandwell and beyond that are well-connected by public transport, considering the needs of business as well as leisure visitors, to encourage more sustainable local use of cultural and tourist attractions.
- The canal network is also a significant visitor attraction within the Black Country, providing waterway links to Birmingham, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and beyond. Facilities adjoining and serving the canal network should be maintained and expanded to help provide a network of linked amenities and visitor hubs.
- Physical and promotional links to visitor attractions close to Sandwell will be enhanced and encouraged, particularly in relation to Birmingham as a global city and a business economy destination.
- Proposals for heritage-related tourism will be supported where they provide positive and sustainable opportunities for social, educational and / or economic activity; heritage assets forming part of a tourist attraction will be protected from development or new or intensified activities that would adversely impact on their significance and setting (Policy SHE2).
Cultural facilities and events
- Libraries across Sandwell together act as one of the borough's main locations for the delivery of cultural events and activities (e.g., music, theatre, dance, poetry, literature). Their role as community venues should be maintained and supported as part of the wider cultural offer of the borough.
- To ensure Sandwell can provide opportunities for growth in cultural activities and participation in them, the retention and protection of venues providing performance spaces, recording facilities and practice amenities will be sought. The provision of new venues and facilities in sustainable and accessible locations will also be welcomed and supported, particularly within town centres.
- In cases where new development could potentially prejudice the successful ongoing operation of an adjacent cultural / performance venue, the agents of change principle will be applied[30].
- The promotion and protection of attractions and events that represent and celebrate the wide cultural and ethnic diversity across Sandwell will be encouraged, including spectator sports and other activities. This will include the protection of valuable cultural and religious buildings and the promotion of cultural, religious and community festivals on a Sandwell-wide basis in a range of suitable locations.
Justification
3.66 The Black Country has a unique past, having been at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution, which left a rich and varied industrial and cultural legacy as well as an extensive and historically significant canal network. The area's bygone industrial activity and its geological richness is also reflected in a distinctive natural and built topography, consisting of small villages and settlements that retain their individual characteristics. There are other areas where attractions and facilities are clustered due to their industrial heritage or cultural value.
3.67 In addition, the Black Country contains one of the world's few urban geoparks, identified by UNESCO as a single, unified geographical area where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are located (Policy SNE4).
3.68 These assets are attracting an increasing number of visitors to the sub-region and the visitor economy is a key growth sector. Business tourism is also a growing sector, particularly in terms of high-quality hotel and conferencing facilities and the proximity to Birmingham, a global business destination.
3.69 The range and diversity of cultural and tourist assets in the Black Country include a historic built environment, museums and art galleries, markets, music venues and theatres, which are often part of town and city centres; parks and open spaces; and high-level sporting venues.
3.70 In Sandwell, attractions include, but are not limited to, the following venues and locations:
- Sandwell Valley Country Park – this includes Sandwell Park Visitor Centre (formerly Sandwell Park Farm) and Forge Mill Farm, RSPB Sandwell Valley Reserve and wider facilities for leisure and recreation;
- Sandwell Aquatics Centre;
- The Hawthorns stadium – home of West Bromwich Albion FC;
- Smethwick Jamia Masjid;
- Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick;
- Shri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple of UK;
- Wednesbury Museum;
- Bromwich Hall - West Bromwich Manor House Museum;
- Galton Valley Pumping Station;
- Lightwoods House;
- Oak House;
- Bishop Asbury Cottage;
- Traditional street and covered markets across the borough;
- Sites related to the Black Country Global Geopark, e.g., the Rowley Hills.
3.71 Across the wider Black Country, attractions of significance also include:
- Black Country Living Museum;
- Dudley Castle and Zoo;
- Walsall Arboretum;
- Walsall Art Gallery and Museum;
- Wolverhampton Civic Suite and Assembly Halls;
- Wolverhampton Theatre.
3.72 The sensitive development of heritage and cultural facilities appealing to the very diverse range of local communities will also contribute to social inclusion, health and wellbeing and improvements in quality of life for all sectors of the local population. Culture is also recognised by national government as making a significant contribution to 'place making' and delivering sustainable communities.
3.73 The nature and often the scale of cultural festivals and entertainment events may mean that they will be best delivered at an open-air location. In Sandwell, such sites are likely to include (but are not limited to) key outdoor venues such as Sandwell Valley. Suitable locations for outdoor events will have appropriate levels of infrastructure, car parking and accessibility to local travel networks and use of them for events and activities should be in accordance with the other policies of this plan and wider legislation and guidance.
3.74 Public venues used for entertainments and leisure purposes will also produce waste, especially relating to food and its packaging. Entertainment and environmental considerations are not always compatible, with a significant amount of waste being generated by festivals and large events. Consideration will be given to requiring the developers, operators and organisers of large-scale public events on open spaces Sandwell to design in systems to manage waste and litter at outdoor sites, should such systems not already be in place.
3.75 Canals form a significant part of the heritage of both Sandwell and the Black Country and form an integral part of both its cultural history and its attraction for tourists. Sandwell's canals also play a vital role in delivering both blue and green infrastructure throughout the borough, as they link into the canal network across Birmingham and the other Black Country authorities. They are also a potential focus for biodiversity and regeneration projects.
3.76 Locations in or adjacent to Sandwell include:
- Galton Valley Canal Heritage Area, Smethwick;
- Bumble Hole and Warrens Hall Park on the Sandwell / Dudley border at Netherton / Tividale
[29] This will include the provision of hotels and other accommodation with strong links to key destinations and associated facilities.
[30] Paragraph 187 of the NPPF (2023) states that both planning policies and decisions should ensure that new development can be integrated effectively with existing businesses and community facilities (e.g., places of worship, pubs, music venues and sports clubs). Unreasonable restrictions should not be placed on existing businesses because of development permitted after they were established.