Object

Solihull Local Plan (Draft Submission) 2020

Representation ID: 14202

Received: 14/12/2020

Respondent: IM Properties - Employment Land

Agent: Turley

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

Representation Summary:

IM are pleased to see that the Plan continues to provide policy support for the ongoing development of Blythe Valley. In particular, Policy P1A and its supporting text outline what is expected of future development

In relation to the existing BVP site:
• Policy should provide maximum flexibility to reflect market demand. The broad range of the types of uses that could be brought forward in the policy should not seen as an exhaustive list. It should be made clear within the policy wording that a wide range of employment activities will be supported including offices, industrial and warehousing, but also including research and development and other ‘non-traditional’ employment uses.
• The residential part of the site is now subject to reserved matters approvals. It may therefore be appropriate to remove reference to “the residential element of Blythe Valley Park” from this policy
• Reference is made at Paragraph 110 to “an area of land of some 7 ha remaining to be developed”. This figure is incorrect, and should instead read 3 hectares. Amendments should be made to the Plan in this regard to ensure that it is sound, and any references within the Council’s evidence base updated accordingly. IM are already formulating plans to develop out the remaining land at BVP during 2021, at which point there will be no developable employment land along the A34 corridor
• Paragraphs 111 and 112 of the supporting text make reference to various expectations that the Council have of any development at BVP. Given the extent of development that has now been brought forward, we consider that this supporting text should be updated to better reflect the current position with the site

Change suggested by respondent:

In relation to the existing BVP site:
• Policy should provide maximum flexibility to reflect market demand. The broad range of the types of uses that could be brought forward in the policy should not seen as an exhaustive list. It should be made clear within the policy wording that a wide range of employment activities will be supported including offices, industrial and warehousing, but also including research and development and other ‘non-traditional’ employment uses.
• The residential part of the site is now subject to reserved matters approvals. It may therefore be appropriate to remove reference to “the residential element of Blythe Valley Park” from this policy
• Reference is made at Paragraph 110 to “an area of land of some 7 ha remaining to be developed”. This figure is incorrect, and should instead read 3 hectares. Amendments should be made to the Plan in this regard to ensure that it is sound, and any references within the Council’s evidence base updated accordingly. IM are already formulating plans to develop out the remaining land at BVP during 2021, at which point there will be no developable employment land along the A34 corridor
• Paragraphs 111 and 112 of the supporting text make reference to various expectations that the Council have of any development at BVP. Given the extent of development that has now been brought forward, we consider that this supporting text should be updated to better reflect the current position with the site

Full text:

See attached - employment Land Reps

Attachments: