Draft Local Plan - Supplementary Consultation

Hampton in Arden

Question 16 - Infrastructure Requirements at Hampton in Arden.

Hampton in Arden will require protection from excessive development that may impact upon the character and attractiveness of the village; and the services it provides. Where development is provided, the following issues will need to be addressed:

Constraints & Opportunities – The Conservation Area, historical environment and Local Wildlife Site provide constraints to the west, whilst the River Blythe, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and its flood zones are constraints to the east. The former ammunition depot, currently in use for storage is a brownfield site which could be developed alongside the existing allocation (site 24 in the Solihull Local Plan 2013), providing alternative provision is made for open space.

Community Infrastructure Levy – The parish council will directly receive 25% of the levy collected in the area as there is an adopted neighbourhood plan in place. This will provide a significant source of funding that can be used to take forward appropriate projects that the community have identified as priorities. This can include simple relatively low cost actions (e.g. further traffic regulation orders) through to more substantial projects. It will be for the parish council to decide how this 'local' element of the CIL receipts is to be spent and there is potential for partnership working to maximise the use of monies from this source.

Green Belt Enhancements – The revised NPPF makes provision for environmental and/or access improvements to be undertaken to land that is to remain in the Green Belt to compensate for land that is taken up for development. This provides an opportunity for additional accessible open space and views would be welcomed from both site promoters and residents as to how this new requirement of the NPPF can be fulfilled.

Question 17 - Site 6 - Meriden Road

This site sits adjacent to that allocated in the SLP 2013 and they should ideally be developed together in a comprehensive manner. It provides an opportunity to re-use the former ammunitions depot which is a brownfield site (and is included on the Council's BLR). Open space provision serving the development as a whole will be an important consideration.

The parcel of land immediately east of the village is a lower performing parcel in Green Belt terms, partly as a result of the existing use. A large part of this area is included on the Council's BLR.

Question 18 - Site 24 - Oak Farm

This is a new site to be included as a preferred option. It performs well being a brownfield site adjacent to a settlement, although there are only a limited range of facilities available nearby. The boundary for the allocation follows the extent of the site that is considered to be previously developed land. This does mean that there is a gap that will remain in the Green Belt running up to the island. This is considered appropriate as currently all 4 parcels of land fronting on to the island are open (and development free) – the 'entrance' to the built up area of Catherine-de-Barnes is therefore some 60m away from the island.

Although this is in a wider parcel assessed in the Green Belt Assessment as making a high contribution to Green Belt purposes, it is considered that due to the presence of built development and encroachment in this part of the parcel that this smaller area actually performs less well in its own right. Additional justification is that the site is included on the Council's BLR.