I wish to register my response to the draft local plan, specifically with respect to the developments planned within the Dickens Heath area - West of Dickens Heath (off Tythe Barn Lane, Tilehouse Lane & Birchy Leasowes Lane).

My objections are detailed below:-

1. Green Belt
These plans result in the loss of a large area of green belt land. Given the Government's recent announcement about restricting developments on green belt land, shouldn't these proposals be reassessed?

2. Road infrastructure
Currently Tythe Barn Lane is already struggling with the volume of traffic at certain times of the day, especially if there are any adverse weather conditions (such as fog). Traffic volume would be dramatically increased if these proposals were to go ahead in full.
I have been told from the roadshow that the plan is for the development to be within walking distance of the train station; however, there is likely to be a largely proportion of residents who are unable to use the rain for their commute & instead have to drive every day.

Also, this route takes traffic almost directly past Dickens Heath Community Primary School, at a point where the pavements are fairly narrow.

The draft plan mentions highway widening, but that would not be possible along most of that road. These infrastructure changes would be needed prior to the commencement of any building works.

3. Other infrastructure issues
It is my understanding that, especially with current building works that are already underway, medical services are struggling to cope with the number of patients, and that people are already struggling to get an appointment within a reasonable timeframe.

Parking is a major concern within Dickens Heath. Not only for the residences themselves, but also for the shops & businesses in the village centre - the parking there is totally inadequate, and with the vast majority of this proposed development being further than 800m from the village centre (the accepted standard distance for development around a village centre without the need to drive in), there will only be an increase in the number of people driving in to visit the shops (and if parking is not to be found, then they will take their custom elsewhere).

4. School Provision
I understand that Tidbury Green Primary school is likely to move back to a 2 form intake, which will certainly help to cope with the extra children who would be in the area, but will it be enough (especially as there will also be a large number of children from just outside Dickens Heath whose local primary school may not be able to cope with the expected increase)?
Also, what of Secondary capacity? Which schools have the capability to expand to cater for all of these extra children?

5. Sports Clubs
The proposal for 4 football clubs & a rugby club to share a single site in order to free up their grounds for development appear to me to be short-sighted. Take Old Yardleians RFC for example, the replacement provision they have been offered at the new site is less than half of what they have now. They would also be unable to raise funds by hiring out their grounds/clubhouse as they do now (a very valuable source of income for small clubs).

If the replacement facilities were not completed prior to the commencement of building on the existing pitches, there is a very real chance that some of the clubs may be forced to fold, resulting in a loss of local sports provision.

I am further concerned at the parking provision - each of these clubs has Sunday morning training/matches/etc, and I don't believe the proposed parking is adequate for the volume of attendees.
Also, if (as proposed) this site it fully open to the public, there is a very real possibility that Whitlocks End commuters will flood the car park (given that the station car park is generally full by 8am these days), rendering the site inaccessible to those who might need to drive there to make use of it. This may also apply to evening training, depending upon when commuters cars are removed from the car park.

Additionally, the proposed replacement site would result in the loss of Akamba, a popular & thriving local business that draws visitors into the area from elsewhere.

6. Miscellaneous
There is also the loss of stabling & grazing fields along Tilehouse Lane (between Old Yardleians RFC & the junction with Tythe Barn Lane), what provision has been made for these?

There are areas (such as the large field between Akamba & the existing housing, and a small area on Birchy Leasowes) that are within 800m of the village centre and/or would appear to offer the minimum impact on the existing village, it's facilities & infrastructure.

Given the size of Solihull's housing requirements, is there no scope for creating a whole new settlement on a more sustainable site?

Also, given the uncertainty over Brexit (amongst other things) should not the size of the increase in housing over this period be reassessed?