Object

Representation ID: 15057

Received: 14/12/2020

Respondent: Barratt David Wilson - Arden Green

Agent: Barton Willmore Planning

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Proposed Alternative Site, CFS 545:
o Should qualify as Priority 5 in Step 1 (yellow) as in accessible location (see Atkins 2016 Accessibility score) within a lower performing Green Belt area (4).
o Should therefore advance past Step 1
o N.B. Accessibility of Site 545 is same as Sites 126, 176, 122 and 130 (components of Site 4/BL1), which have been taken forward to Step 2.
o Site selection process is therefore flawed.
o Factors in favour of Step 2:
 Site would be part of Growth Option G; given Council are proposing developments in the Tidbury Green/Whitlocks End area.
 Hard constraints do not prevent development, as TPO trees will be unaffected.
 Site has existing defensible Green Belt boundaries to the north, west and east, and would be defined by strong boundaries; a railway and flood zone to the west, buildings to the north, and road to the east.
 Site can deliver a significant area of amenity open space to the south (over and above that required by policy), which can be retained in perpetuity to ensure a long-term maintenance of a gap between Whitlocks End and Tidbury Green.
 Site also close to amenities in Wythall (Bromsgrove DC)
 Can be demonstrated that historic landfill can be dealt with and does not adversely affect site’s suitability – would increase SHELAA score
 No development proposed within Flood Zone 3 of wider site boundary – would increase SHELAA score
 Site within Landscape Character Area ‘2’, but other sites are already proposed within this landscape area. LCA (p.25) confirms it is not possible to establish a baseline sensitivity to change without details of proposed development (see Appendix 2 – Landscape and Visual Appraisal for Site).
 SA does not identify any significant harmful impacts.
 Accessibility overall score is medium/high, with lower scores for GP and food store. These are within 1.8km along a formal route, and is considered a reasonable distance to walk or cycle. See enclosed DTA assessment, which demonstrates accessibility to site.