REL: LDP - Proposed Housing Allocation Site 18 ( former Solihull Rugby Club pitches, Sharmans Cross road)

I do not believe that Site 18 should be included as an allocated site, I strongly object to it being included in the draft plan for the many reasons listed below.

1. This sports field is protected by a covenant for its use for sporting purposes only, and this protection was been confirmed in 2013 by an all-party council policy which agreed to maintain the sports ground only covenant and not sell the freehold. I therefore do not understand how it can possibly be included in the plan, and demand that the policy is respected and the site removed.

2. Solihull is desperately short of sporting pitches, with several in this locality being lost to development over recent years (Sharmans Cross Girls School, SC Boys School, former Lucas sports ground off Prospect lane to name a few). Local sports teams that my sons have played for have been forced to play their home games outside the local area, causing extra travel.

3. The field is also important to support local wildlife and the neighbouring Pow Grove ancient woodland, providing a buffer zone from local housing. Without this I believe that much of the wildlife will disappear.

4. Traffic volumes will increase with the additional load caused by an extra 100 or so houses. This will cause a significant increase in congestion and pollution.
Sharmans Cross road is already jammed at rush hours and school closing times, queuing at both ends of the road frequently overlap at these times making access for residents difficult.

5. The housing density proposed is markedly different to surrounding areas, at roughly 5 times the density it is entirely inappropriate and will change the character of the neighbourhood.

6. There will be a significant impact on 'on-street' parking in the area. Solihull Arden Club is likely to lose some 80 parking spaces, and the cramped parking on new developments means that at peak times the already chaotic parking and traffic mix in Sharmans Cross road will further deteriorate.

7. Sharmans Cross road floods in times of heavy rain. This development will increase local 'run-off' and add to the drainage problem


As a general comment, I believe the LDP is grossly misleading by wrongly indicating that a previous planning application was solely refused due to insufficient affordable housing, and bizarrely concludes that this indicates in principle it was therefore acceptable.
Quite the opposite conclusion should be drawn - the site was (and still is) entirely inappropriate for many reasons.
Please remove this site from the LDP, and ensure that it is excluded permanently.