The Challenges and Objectives set out in the emerging Local Plan are supported, but changes are recommended. However, the objectives relating to housing delivery 'Challenge B' should be broadened to include a specific objective that seeks to promote the redevelopment of brownfield sites in sustainable locations. This will help to deliver much needed housing on sites that are often already well served by infrastructure and so can be delivered in the short term. The early redevelopment of brownfield sites would be encouraged by applying a lower affordable housing threshold to these sites in the first five years of the Local Plan. This would assist those developers who have bought brownfield sites under the existing affordable housing threshold of 40% to bring those sites forward in the context of the policy requirement that was in place when the sites were acquired. This incentive, along with the application of the Vacant Building Credit, as set out in Policy P4, will help and encourage the delivery of brownfield sites in the early stages of the Local Plan. This will provide the additional time required to deliver infrastructure to the larger greenfield sites that are proposed to be allocated by the Emerging Local Plan and ensure a more even housing delivery rate throughout the plan period. Such an approach would meet the overall objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework along with the other challenges outlined in the emerging Local Plan.

In respect of 'Challenge D', the objectives that seek to secure sustainable economic growth are in general supported. However, the second objective to 'Challenge D' offers support for the 'key economic assets' of the Borough. These assets thrive in Solihull because of the associated and related industries and services that feed into and support the key economic assets. Therefore, the smaller businesses and services sectors that support the key assets should also be offered support and encouraged to grow. It would, therefore, be preferable to see this objective reworded to include reference to 'supporting businesses and services'. This ties in much better with the Borough Vision as it encourages wider investment in the Borough from smaller companies related to, involved with, or supportive of the key economic assets.