Object
Solihull Local Plan (Draft Submission) 2020
Representation ID: 14531
Received: 14/12/2020
Respondent: Rainier Developments Ltd - Land South of Park Lane
Agent: Marrons Planning
Legally compliant? Yes
Sound? No
Duty to co-operate? Yes
Policy P3 fails to make sufficient provision of employment land to meet the needs of the area, including unmet needs of neighbouring areas, is overreliant on two large allocations whose delivery and land availability is uncertain, fails to match the spatial strategy of the Plan and has no regard to supply and demand in the HEDNA.
Policy is not consistent with national planning policy. It fails to provide a choice for businesses who wish to invest and expand, and fails to align with the locations for growth in housing leading to a less sustainable pattern of
development.
Plan fails to provide a strategic policy that sets out the overall scale of development for employment. The minimum employment land requirement should be 15,680 jobs. There are limited opportunities for businesses in Balsall Common, existing supply is lower than stated but no reference is made to the shortfall of land for employment.
There is no evidence within the Plan of any contribution being made to meet the needs of neighbouring areas, such as the Black Country Authorities. Dealing with unmet needs through a review is contrary to the NPPF. Land should be safeguarded for future development needs to ensure that Green Belt boundaries endure.
Existing supply of 6.4ha of employment land is wholly inadequate.
The proposed allocations are complex with significant infrastructure requirements (Site UK1), there is no Concept Masterplan (Site UK2) and no trajectory for delivery of either. Neither site has any relationship with Spatial Strategy or housing growth
The employment requirement should be set out within a strategic policy within the Plan, and increased to reflect past performance, evidence of supply and demand, the Local Industrial Strategy for the West Midlands Combined Authority and the unmet needs of the Black Country Authorities.
Evidence should be provided as to the availability and deliverability of the proposed allocations and the trajectory for their delivery or the sites should be removed.
Additional employment sites should be allocated to address the additional employment land requirement to ensure a continuous supply including an employment allocation at Balsall Common.
The table of allocated sites should be amended to include land south of Kenilworth Road/Park Lane, Balsall Common as an employment allocation
See attached