Support
Solihull Local Plan (Draft Submission) 2020
Representation ID: 14308
Received: 14/12/2020
Respondent: Oakmoor (Sharmans Cross Road) Ltd
Agent: Cerda Planning Ltd
Spirit of the policy is supported but as drafted it lacks the flexibility.
In Criterion 3 there is no definition of 'of value to the local community'. This could be used to unduly object to a scheme which results in the loss of a community facility which has little or no value simply because a third-party claims that it is of value to them.
In the exceptions at i – v it is unclear whether all criteria should be met or just one. It is submitted that it should be just one of the five criteria, with the conjunction 'or' after each sub criteria.
Criteria 4 as drafted requires the loss of any existing facility to be replaced by another physical facility. If evidence demonstrates no existing need for that facility, there should be no requirement to provide an alternative one.
It will not always be possible or appropriate to provide alternative provision. It may be more appropriate to make a contribution to an existing or planned new facility.
Policy should be redrafted to allow the flexibility set out above and provide a definition of what is meant by ‘of value to the local community’. It is submitted that a lack of use for a prescribed period of time should set the basis for a definition of 'of value to the local community '.
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