Object

Representation ID: 15132

Received: 13/12/2020

Respondent: Woods Farm (Christmas Trees)

Agent: Twelve Twenty One Planning Services

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

Policies Map:
This policy is not supported and objected to in very strong terms in the context of the proposed boundary to the Green Belt around site BL3.

Green Belt boundaries should endure for more than one plan period and should provide sufficient flexibility to enable the Council to meet its housing requirements in the short term should sites be delayed or not brought forward for some reason. In this regard, the Council hasn’t attempted to identify “reserve sites” that serve no long term Green Belt function and which could be brought forward for development should that be necessary to meet housing or other needs.

It is proposed that land adjoining site BL3 at Whitlocks End Farm should be excluded from the Green Belt in the same manner and in accordance with the submitted Vision Document (attached).

This Vision Document demonstrates the development that accords with the Council’s objectives of maintaining a 300 metre separation between South Shirley and Dickens Heath and also follows existing hedgerows which form strong and natural boundaries. It also maintains the separation to Majors Green to the west established by the existing railway embankment.

The Vision Document also demonstrates how the proposed allocation BL3 can be implemented yet allows for a natural extension to accommodate further development, particularly to the east, as a natural rounding off of development up to the proposed new public open space.

Redrawing the Green Belt boundary to comply with this Vision Document will not only facilitate further development, if required, of up to 750 dwellings in total but it will also provide a natural edge to Shirley which accords with the five purposes of Green Belts as set out in Paragraph 134 of the NPPF.