Object

Solihull Local Plan (Draft Submission) 2020

Representation ID: 14855

Received: 13/12/2020

Respondent: Open Spaces Society

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

Representation Summary:

Lack of clarity and ambition make the plan unsound - need to make path network more practical and popular - negative impact on non-motorised route network - sites for residential development (including BC1, BC3, BC4, BC5, BC6, BL1, and BL3) will have significant affects on existing non-motorised routes, while the population growth will place additional stress on the capacity and quality of the network. - Too much emphasis on making future developments more accessible for motorised users - NPPF/ policy needs to be clearer on how development will bring improvements to public transport and active travel.

Change suggested by respondent:

Strengthen the overall objective by amending section 1 to read:
"1. All new development should be focussed in locations that are well served by
public transport and well provided with active travel routes, and should seek to
improve the availability and use of public transport and active travel."
Make the Council's expectations of development proposals clearer by amending
several parts of section 2:
Amend subsection 2(iv) to read:
"iv. Provide within the development suitable facilities for public transport (where
appropriate) and paths for people on foot or cycle that are safe, convenient,
pleasant, and well connected to the nearby active travel network;"
Amend subsection 2(v) to read:
"v. Provide or contribute to the enhancement of transport infrastructure and
services to achieve the requirements of subsections 2(ii) and 2(iii) above,
including, but not limited to, improving the extent, physical condition, amenity,
and safety of public footpaths, footways, and cycleways;"
Amend subsection 2(vi) to read:
"vi. Be consistent with, and contribute to, the implementation of the 'Solihull
Connected' strategy, the 'Solihull Cycling and Walking Strategy', and the 'Solihull
Rights of Way Improvement Plan' (or successor documents);"
Clarify in section 3 what access to all developments will have to demonstrate:
Amend subsection 3(i) to read:
"i. It is safe, attractive and suitable for all people by all modes in all seasons, and
compliant with recognised published standards for construction, safety, and
accessibility for those with mobility restrictions;"
Amend subsection 3(iii) to read:
"iii. Opportunities have been taken up to improve the quality of the adjacent
active travel infrastructure and to bring it into compliance with recognised
published standards for construction, safety, and accessibility for those with
mobility restrictions, including the review of structures across rights of way to
ensure they are the least-restrictive option and the publication of these
restrictions to aid route planning;"

Full text:

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