We reside at 81 Neville Road, Shirley, Solihull B90 2QX directly adjacent to the proposed allocation BL3 and wish to raise concerns about the Draft Submission Plan and particularly to this site being used as part of Solihull Local Plan.

We would first like to make clear that the Plan is voluminous and with a current plan and draft plan to consider, it has been impossible as a lay person to assess if the draft local plan is compliant with the four tests of soundness and relevant legislation and to assess if the Council’s plan is intra vires. It is also difficult to assess the impact to our property due to the poor quality plans in relation to site BL3. We cannot pinpoint the proposed access in relation to our house, which is directly opposite the site and opposite proposed access road to Neville Road from Bills Lane.

We have provided some specific points on the draft plan, but also some general concerns. We do not feel we have sufficient information, or were given sufficient time to consider and digest the information on the website to comment fully. We would therefore like to be made aware of any future documents or meetings and given the opportunity to make verbal representations on this site if it is approved for inclusion in the plan/development proposals are allowed to be made.

High Scoring Green Belt

Having considered the 2016 Green Belt Assessment, this plot scores highlight and is important area for the community. Firstly, we do not consider the land should be taken out of Green Belt, or that it allows for sufficient green belt to separate the adjoining settlements/Bromsgrove district. it is an important delineation of the adjoining areas, and brown sites should be prioritised to honour the committed housing needs of Solihull. For example those sites located closes to the HS2 station are of course the most logical. Development of this site is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) paragraph 80 "Green Belt serves five purposes: • To check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas; • To prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another; • To assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment; • To preserve the setting and special character of historic towns; and • To assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land.’ Careful consideration should also be given to changes in Green Belt devaluing the area and appeal.

"38. Challenge E: Protecting key gaps between urban areas and settlements": location of site BL3 important it does not sprawl and ensure the we preserve the setting. We are young professionals and have chosen to live in this area for its setting. If development occurs on a scale that disrupts our enjoyment and health and wellbeing the green space brings us, we will be moving from this area. The risk is that other high earning young professionals will do the same if the appeal and special character of the borough changes.

Lack of ecological assessment: By virtue of the area currently being mostly woodland, it is home to numerous wildlife, there is no comment in the plan on any wildlife assessments undertaken. The land is important for the current community, and retaining the small site as a nature reserve will not satisfy the need to the current community let alone one significantly larger as a result of any successful development. Looking at the evidential documents we cannot see an Ecological assessment has been done on site BL3. Presumably this would be necessary considering the woodland and lakes, the area is home to diverse wildlife.


Challenge J. Improving health and well being: With the impact of Covid-19, our green spaces are more important than ever, more people are working at home and need access to quality air and spaces to walk and exercise. A proportion of site BL3 consists of bridle paths and green space that service, Shirley, Dickens Heath and surround residents, who throughout the day walk dogs or excise through this hub of green space. Development of this area will have a significant impact of the local community and their health and well-being. Site 13 that has been allocated as a nature reserve will not be sufficient. It will also ultimately negatively impact the environment as residents travel by car outside of the area to find green space to walk. Climate change - already heavily built up urban area, removing trees in this area, some of which are of significant age, will decrease air quality and add more traffic to already busy road.


Other relevant challenges set out in the plan: Conserving the qualities of the Mature Suburbs, rural settlements and characteristics of the wider rural area that make those places attractive areas to live; • Delivering the necessary infrastructure to promote sustainability of settlements:

Prior to lockdown, there were regular incidents of being unable to board trains to get to work in Birmingham City Centre due to overcrowding. Disruptions were rife, resulting in trains being cancelled and ultimately having to drive to the city centre. We do not have adequate infrastructure for the current local population, let alone increasing this significantly. It seems appropriate as set out in numerous occasions in the plan, that the housing need is met in line with when better transport links are delivered as part of HS2 ensuring sufficient infrastructure is in place for a larger population. (Challenge H)The plan at BL3 seems premature, in line with the infrastructure in place to service the current and additional proposed residents.

Other concerns:
1) Increase in traffic Pollution – 300 additional homes to be built with proposed access in and out of development unclear on illustrations, but proposed to be two access points on Bills Lane. Paragraph 621. Shifting the focus of vehicular traffic movements away from the congested Dickens Heath Road to Bills Lane/Haslucks Green Road. We have been unable to see any traffic assessments or evidence to substantiate the inference in this paragraph that the focus of vehicular traffic is on Dickens Heath Road as opposed to Bills Lane. Bills Lane and Haslucks Green Road are significantly busier, and existing and important links to Solihull and Shirley Town Centre, but also the Stratford Road. We would strongly suggest the road is not appropriate for the two access points. This should be an evidenced based decision and would suggest this is not safe for public access, neither do we believe traffic is busier on Dickens Heath Road and have seen no evidence to support this.
We have also been advised by an individual in the Community that they have seen more detailed plans showing a roundtable at the entrance to Neville Road opposite the site. We have contacted the Policy and Delivery Team by telephone and been advised that they are not aware of any additional documents. We would strongly oppose this, and submit this is not a transparent consultation if other relevant documents exist that do not form part of the plan.
2) Negative affect on neighbour amenity:
•Increased noise via traffic once built
•Being overlooked by the development of the site
•Loss of privacy for existing homeowners
•Increased pressure on local services such as General Practioners appointments and school application places
3) Objection based on the visual impact of the development as all but some of the surrounding houses are pre millennium build.
4) We consider this an overdevelopment of the site. Also, the development is not within keeping of surround established houses since the development notes high density housing. Surrounding houses are being severely impacted by the development are mostly single dwelling houses. Therefore the development is not in keeping with the scale of the rest of the neighbourhood.
We would reiterate that significant information and evidence appears to be missing. We would like to be notified of any further consultations or opportunity to submit thoughts an examination in public. We would also like to receive confirmation in writing regarding our comments on paragraph 621 and if any traffic assessments have been done, and particularly a response in writing regarding the comments made to us about introduction of a roundabout opposite our house.