Object

Solihull Local Plan (Draft Submission) 2020

Representation ID: 10625

Received: 22/11/2020

Respondent: Mr David Lloyd

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

Representation Summary:

Inappropriate development of local open space which should be appreciated rather than destroyed.

Change suggested by respondent:

I believe that Knowle currently has around 4,000 homes. The current proposals would see this increased by at least a further 1,000 homes. This is an increase of in excess of 25% and considerably more than that anticipated elsewhere in Solihull. It also needs to be considered against the growth in population which the area has seen in the recent past. The local infrastructure is unable to cope with the current volume of use at peak times with the current population. There are a number of road bottlenecks particularly the High Street and Station Road causing considerable traffic congestion. The shopping facilities and related parking provision within Knowle are again sufficient for the current population level but would require considerable enhancement to cope with such an increase in usage. It is difficult to see how this could be accommodated within the current footprint.
There is not a significant pool of employment opportunities within Knowle and most of the residents travel elsewhere for work thus leading to the peak time issues with regard to road congestion. Additionally the capacity at the local railway stations is limited with all available car parking largely full by 8am.
The green belt which surrounds Knowle is a significant local amenity which is used and enjoyed by many residents for activities such as exercise and dog walking. I think many local residents have grown to appreciate these areas during 2020 and they should be safeguarded rather than destroyed. The green belt also serves as a key separation of development and any loss should not be taken lightly. Any reduction in the green belt would be a great loss both to the rural feel of Knowle and to the quality of life of future residents.
We are all encouraged to cut down on consumption of fossil fuels and environmental emissions. It is likely that significant further development of Knowle and surrounding villages will serve to increase such impacts as there would be additional journeys to employment bases. The development of further housing accommodation should be better coordinated with the expected commercial development within the Solihull area.
In conclusion I believe that the green belt and open spaces should be protected in order to prevent urban spread and provide open space for recreational use. Through 2020 such areas have been increasingly used and appreciated by local communities and should be safeguarded for future generations rather than built on. Accordingly I believe that the proposed developments in the Arden Triangle and along Hampton Road are inappropriate and should not be adopted within the final version of the development plan.

Full text:

Inappropriate development of local open space which should be appreciated rather than destroyed.