Object
Solihull Local Plan (Draft Submission) 2020
Representation ID: 14616
Received: 14/12/2020
Respondent: IM Land - North of Main Road, Meriden
Agent: Stansgate Planning LLP
Legally compliant? Not specified
Sound? No
Duty to co-operate? Not specified
The strategy lacks focus and is a random combination of locations based on multiple growth options rather than a coherent strategy; many sites are large or complex
and need new infrastructure or relocation of existing uses that makes them slow to deliver; smaller sites in sustainable villages can redress an over reliance on large or complex sites and will deliver the housing requirement. There is greater potential in the villages within the Borough than currently recognised, particularly in respect of Meriden, which is in a highly
accessible location with a good level of services including a primary school that can easily
be extended to accommodate increased capacity.
The spatial strategy in the DSLP appears to be a combination of every option set out in the Scoping consultation rather than a focus on any specific elements such as high frequency public transport corridors and the expansion of sustainable settlements. As a result, the strategy lacks focus and has become a collection of approaches driven largely now by where land is available. A range of types of sites and locations are needed to allow the best chance of the housing requirement being met. The proposed allocations do provide a range from the urban area, edge of urban area, UKC and village sites, but many are large scale and will need new infrastructure to allow site delivery or have existing uses such as business or sports that need relocating. Smaller scale greenfield sites should be identified to ensure the delivery of housing in the short term to avoid any
shortfall in housing land supply. Only 2,135 of the total allocation of 7,700 are sites that can be easily delivered, which equates to just 27%. There is greater potential in the villages for unconstrained sites than currently acknowledged by the Local Plan Strategy. For example, land north of Main Road Meriden
Additional smaller sites in sustainable villages should be allocated to redress an over reliance on large or complex sites and will deliver the housing requirement;
• It should recognise there is greater potential in sustainable villages, particularly in Meriden which is a highly accessible location with a good level of services including a primary school that can easily be extended to increase capacity;
• Growth Option A - High Frequency Transport Corridors should recognise the opportunity offered by the high frequency X1 bus service through Meriden which provides the opportunity to for additional growth in the settlement;
• Growth Option F - Limited Expansion of Villages should recognize that Meriden has greater capacity for new development, particularly to the east where it is unconstrained and where Green Belt is moderately performing. Site 556 overall is highly sustainable and accessible;
See attached Land North of Main Road, Meriden