Object

Representation ID: 11148

Received: 14/12/2020

Respondent: IM Properties - Land west of Stratford Road

Agent: Marrons Planning

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

The Sustainability Appraisal has not fairly considered reasonable alternatives in respect of levels of housing and employment growth. Higher levels of growth perform equally as well as the Plan’s preferred approach- Option 2. The Sustainability Appraisal demonstrates that a higher level of growth could be accommodated sustainably.

Only two spatial options (at either Balsall Common or land south of the A4) were put forward by the Council to assess the level of growth associated with Option 4 which could skew the conclusions of the Sustainability Appraisal.

The two spatial options were selected from the GBHMA Strategic Growth Study not the Council’s own SHELAA evidence. The Sustainability Appraisal should have assessed options at levels of growth above 16,000 dwellings utilising its own evidence base.

Local employment needs are being addressed through existing commitments and the allocation of Employment Site 20. No appraisal has been undertaken of any reasonable alternatives in relation to employment.