Object

Solihull Local Plan (Draft Submission) 2020

Representation ID: 15221

Received: 14/12/2020

Respondent: Taylor Wimpey

Agent: Lichfields

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Representation Summary:

Policies Map (in relation to Green Belt boundary for Site BL2)
Considered proposed boundary does not accord with NPPF Para. 35 & 139.
1) Appointed consultants to site promoters, EDP, have carried out an assessment (see attached) and conclude that the site does have well-defined and defensible boundaries for a new Green Belt boundary, contrary to statement Para. 609 in the DSP.
Considered that a well-vegetated field boundary, which could be enhanced with additional planting, would provide a much more appropriate and definable physical
boundary on the ground than a proposed new internal road and in doing so would maintain the existing field structure within the landscape.
To re-align to only a newly built man-made feature is unsuitable, and affords less opportunity to integrate the proposed development into the landscape setting, which may potentially impact the character of the
countryside beyond and the perception of openness in the countryside and would make for an inefficient road layout and less permeable masterplan.
2) Parcel east of BL2 (south of Stratford Rd up to boundary with buildings west of Creynolds Lane) should be re-instated as part of Site BL2, as per the 2019 consultation.
Unclear why land has been removed between 2019 and 2020 consultations; is within a lower performing Green Belt parcel, no flood risk, unconstrained by ecological features and does not contain any heritage assets.
Release of land would have added benefit of additional land available for residential development.

Change suggested by respondent:

Suggested amendments to the policies map:
• Amend the site and Green Belt boundary of Policy BL2 to align with the Masterplan prepared by Randall Thorp which is based on a robust, justified and appropriate strategy. This can be found on page 56 of the SMBC
Concept Masterplan document or at Appendix 2 of this note for ease of reference.
• Remove the land to the south of Stratford Road and west of Creynolds Lane from the Green Belt and include it within the site allocation BL2 to ensure the site allocation is based on a robust, justified and appropriate
strategy.

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