Object
Solihull Local Plan (Draft Submission) 2020
Representation ID: 11113
Received: 09/12/2020
Respondent: BFNAG
Number of people: 120
Legally compliant? Yes
Sound? No
Duty to co-operate? Not specified
Allocation of BC1 Barratt's Farm is contrary to the vision in the Plan to protect the Meriden Gap and evidence in the Strategic Growth Study (SGS) highlighting it's Principle Contribution to Green Belt Purposes. Justifying it's release on the basis of the Green Belt Assessment and SHELAA is inappropriate. The former is not fit for purpose, requires more detailed assessment and does not determine whether land should be released. The latter assessment is suspect, partly due to changes since 2016, as proposal requires a relief road, land is in use for agriculture, a high pressure oil pipeline is present, and adjoining rail and relief road constitute bad neighbour uses. Alternative options not involving land making a Principle Contribution have not been investigated including SGS South of Birmingham. Contrary to the spatial strategy focusing development where needs arise and reliance on private car is low. Contrary to national guidance emphasising the use of brownfield land and protection of Green Belt. No obvious suggestion of required Green Belt compensation. Fails to take account of development proposed in Meriden Gap within Coventry
Policy BC1 and its associated Concept Masterplan should be removed. Alternatively, timing of the delivery period in paragraph 226 should be delayed to phase iii, and the land safeguarded as per NPPF paragraph 139c and d, to allow the full impact on the Green Belt land in the Meriden Gap to be understood before it is destroyed forever. If future events reduce the housing demand the site will be returned to full Green Belt protection.
See Attachment