1. Transport with reference to Paragraphs 685/690/Concept Master Plan/Knowle Transport Study
a) As a resident, I don't feel the area is currently well served by public transport, as the bus network within KDBH does not encourage me to leave my car at home for my journeys around the settlement particularly between Knowle and Dorridge. I think it would be fairer to say "The area is currently served by a variety of public transport options". I also think it is more appropriate to continue to say " ... it will be VITAL to retain AND improve the public transport offer" as saying 'where possible' is not going to be sufficient to accommodate the needs of 800 additional households.
b) I would also like to comment on the remainder of paragraph 690 relating to the "Opportunities for enhancing existing walking and cycling routes and creating new routes will continue to be explored, particularly where these would provide access to schools, local centres and the railway station"
I agree 100% with this statement, as finding ways to encourage new & residents to leave their cars at home are imperative to the successful integration of new homes to the KDBH community. Unfortunately, I see little concrete evidence in the Concept Master Plan or Knowle Transport Study to believe that this has been given sufficient thought to-date to trust it will become a reality, and hence I am raising my concerns here. I would feel more confident if I saw references, for example, to the provision of bike storage for new properties at KN2 that would not have their own garage or if the concept of 'Quiet Lanes' suggested in the Transport Study featured in the Local Plan itself or if there was specific reference in the Concept Master Plan to where new pedestrian/cycle routes between the new KN2 housing/school and Dorridge Centre may be located, as making it easier/more enjoyable for people to travel between KN2 and Dorridge Station/retail outlets on foot or bike will be critical to the livablity of the area once the developments are complete. Improvements in this area would be a HUGE improvement for existing Dorridge residents. For example, showing how 100s of pupils will be able to get to the new Arden Academy from Dorridge using a safer and healthier environment than their current Station Rd journey would give me more confidence in the soundness of the statements in the Plan. Living close to Dorridge Station in 2020 during Lockdown, I have seen so many more people out on foot/bike, so believe there is interest in non-car options, but with 'normal' traffic levels and the current dependence on Station Rd to move efficiently from south to north, the current options aren't desirable. This Plan should be showing what non-car transport will look like to be considered sound and show an improvement on the current situation. Personally, I would be very excited to see how, in future, I could travel to Knowle High Street without having to travel up Station Road from Dorridge. Avenue Rd, for example, could offer a delightful route for foot and cycle traffic, if the route north from the top of the road continued on quiet streets through KN2 to St John's Close. I don't feel the statements of intention documented in the Plan are reflected in the supporting documentation and for this reason I question its soundness.

2. Also, with regard to this Plan's compliance with the KDBH Neighbourhood Plan, I question the proposed Housing density for parts of KN2 and also the lack of additional GP Services being proposed, as, without them, the quality of life of existing residents cannot be retained. For this reason also I question the soundness and legality of the proposed Solihull Local Plan in this area.

Whilst, overall, I do not object to the sentiments & intentions of the proposals for Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath, I do not feel, having studied the infomation provided here, that all the statements made in this document can be considered sound and legally compliant because I have not found sufficient supporting evidence in the Concept Master Plan, for example, to believe that the vision can be achieved in reality.
I also question whether this Local Plan meets all the development requirements set out in the KDBH Neighbourhood Plan, with regard to housing density and provision of services.