CHAPTER 9 - A REGIONAL CENTRE FOR EDUCATION, HEALTH AND CULTURE
INTRODUCTION
9.1 The Core Strategy identifies that the provision of good community facilities, such as education, health and cultural aspects are essential to maintain and improve the quality of life of the people living and working in Middlesbrough. Community facilities can also assist in the delivery of the regeneration agenda for Middlesbrough and the surrounding area.
STRATEGIC CONTEXT
LDF Core Strategy
9.2 The policies in this section detail how those of the LDF Core Strategy will be taken forward. Relevant policies include:
Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS)
9.3 The RSS supports the growth and increasing role of the University of Teesside and Middlesbrough College. It also supports the development of business and financial services and new city-scale leisure, cultural and retail development in Stockton and Middlesbrough.
Middlesbrough Community Strategy
9.4 As part of the Community Strategy, access to high quality health care, good education and the promotion of regeneration through culture, arts and learning, are main priorities for the Council.
SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL
9.5 The sustainability appraisal recognises that this section of the Core Strategy will have a major beneficial effect upon social sustainability objectives, in particular those concerning health. It is important that for proposals involving educational, health and cultural facilities, consideration is given to the availability and quality of public transport. Where possible, such developments should be located to take into account accessibility issues and incorporate measures for improving public transport access within them.
ST LUKE'S HOSPITAL
9.6 The St Luke’s/James Cook University Hospital site has long been accepted as a location in which health services will be concentrated to serve the South Tees area, and extensive hospital redevelopment has occurred in the south of the site. The northern part of the site, which includes buildings set in extensive landscaped grounds, was formerly identified for redevelopment in the Middlesbrough Local Plan. This site, the St Luke's Hospital, is now expected to be required for hospital uses. Proposals are likely to involve the demolition of the existing buildings and the construction of a new facility.
9.7 The location is an important one, adjoining one of the main radial road and bus routes, Marton Road. It is important to ensure that development has adequate access to this busy road, does not generate excessive traffic, and is able to make full use of public transport on Marton Road and the public transport potential of the railway corridor to the east. There is scope for the possible development of a new rail halt on the adjacent Esk Valley railway and for a direct link onto the proposed East Middlesbrough Transport Corridor. It is important that this potential is incorporated into the design of any redevelopment and is at the least not prejudiced by development.
9.8 The existing green open space is an important feature of the site and is visually important both as a setting for development, including adjoining housing, the setting of the Marton Road transport corridor, and as open space associated with the Ormesby Beck Green Wedge.
POLICY REG32 ST LUKE’S HOSPITAL
Planning permission will be granted to redevelop the St Luke's Hospital site for health uses, provided that:
a |
the layout of the proposed development preserves:
|
b |
uses on the site are arranged to ensure that they are mutually compatible; |
c |
suitable highway access is provided to the site from Marton Road; |
d |
convenient access to public transport on Marton Road, and an option for access to public transport on the Esk Valley railway line are incorporated; and |
e |
any buildings or structures of historic merit are retained where feasible. |
A masterplan will need to be approved by the Council before planning permission is granted for any constituent part of the development area.
CARGO FLEET MEDICAL CENTRE
9.9 A need for a new medical centre to serve the Thorntree area has been identified. It should provide a modern, high quality integrated health facility. The site chosen is that of the tennis courts/playing field (part) of the former St Anthony's school, now the Middlesbrough Learning and Teaching Centre, off Cargo Fleet Lane. As development will result in the loss of playing fields, the Council will require a replacement facility or a contribution to improve facilities elsewhere. It is important that development does not prevent access to the land behind the site, which will become landlocked by the proposed development. Access arrangements will therefore need to incorporate measures enabling the land to the rear of the site to be served off Cargo Fleet Lane.
POLICY REG33 CARGO FLEET MEDICAL CENTRE
Planning permission will be granted for a medical centre on land off Cargo Fleet Lane, as shown on the proposals map, provided that:
a |
an adequate access can be provided off Cargo Fleet Lane to service the facility; |
b |
access arrangements allow for land to the rear of the site to be accessed and serviced; and |
c |
a suitable package of mitigating measures is included with the proposal to compensate for the loss of playing fields and tennis courts. |
A masterplan will need to be approved by the Council before planning permission is granted.