I strongly object to the fact that 19 out of 21 of the proposed housing development sites across Solihull Borough are greenbelt sites. I particularly object to the development of land at Barrett's Farm in Balsall Common.
The land at Barrett's Farm prevents neighbouring villages merging into one another and it safeguards the countryside from encroachment. The land is incredibly water locked in places and the ponds across this land are vital to land drainage and protect against surface water flooding. The plants, trees and grassland are great absorbers of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere which helps combat climate change and is important when you consider the proximity of Balsall Common to the motorway network and the increased air traffic and route changes at Birmingham airport. Interestingly, HS2 is not marked on Christchurch Properties proposals for the development of this land. This land is also essential in providing a buffer from HS2.
There is also a great deal of biodiversity in the ponds, hedgerows and fields covering this area which provides a safe haven for birds (such as herons and kingfishers), animals (such as polecats, shrews, voles, bats) amphibians (such as frogs, toads and newts). This diverse local nature reserve with its permitted access, public footpaths and access to the Kenilworth/ Berkswell Greenway therefore gives people a chance to tap into the natural capital on their doorsteps. It therefore has social and environmental benefits for the health and wellbeing of local residents and the wider community and is one of Balsall Common's greatest assets.
The government attaches great importance to Green Belts. The fundamental aim of Green Belt policy, in the National Planning Policy Framework, is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open; the essential characteristics of Green Belts are their openness and their permanence.
The Governments principles states that Green Belt serves five purposes:
* to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas
* to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another
* to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment
* to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns
* to assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
The government policy states "Green Belt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances". Demand for housing is not in itself an exceptional circumstance that should pave the way for Green Belt development. Housing needs can be met while sustaining our Green Belts for future generations by using suitable brownfield land - previously developed land. This not only protects the Green Belt but encourages the revitalisation of these brownfield sites. Solihull Council's draft proposal does not provide any evidence that these local brownfield sites have been assessed and if so why they were found unsuitable.
Solihull Council have cited the transport links from Balsall Common as a reason for the proposed development at Barrett's Farm. The proximity of the site to the motorway network and the rail and bus links have been cited as advantages of the location. However, Christchurch developments have misrepresented the facts and Solihull Council are now misguided. The 800 proposed new homes on this land are likely to provide homes for middleclass families who commute to work via car and roads. Building a bypass to this site merely promotes the dependence on car and road travel. Increasing the number of cars joining the motorway network at Birmingham airport. This will have adverse consequences on congestion to an already grid locked area which is likely to worsen with the arrival of the HS2 hub to Birmingham International in years to come. The council should be making every attempt to divert traffic from this area and instead examine the motorway network and look at new points to access the current motorway network.
The current rail service from Berkswell Station offers a local service, twice an hour in each direction which is only used by a very small minority of residents. Advantages of a housing development in close proximity to this station are misguided as the majority of local residents do not use the service. The current 87 bus service linking Solihull to Coventry is also ineffectual. This service runs hourly during peak times and is rarely used by local resident. Nor is the weekly bus service to Kenilworth which runs twice on a Thursday.
Solihull Council should not be mis lead by property developers and should undertake their own assessment of current transport needs and local provision. Transport clearly needs to be addressed across the Borough before any housing developments can be planned and a long term transport plan made. Rather than building more roads and bypasses and encouraging road use, thus adding to carbon immissions and the ever increasing problems of climate change Solihull Council should be forward thinking and proactive. Local communities such as Kenilworth and Balsall Common should be linked. Transport links should be made from Warwick University to Birmingham international/NEC/HS2 hub/The Resort Centre to promote local businesses and economic growth.
New housing should be created closer to areas of industry and work. The HS2 hub, Birmingham International Airport, The NEC, Jaguar Landrover and The Resort Centre are to be the big employers of the future. New housing across the Borough therefore needs to be considered more carefully and sited closer to local industries and the employers of the future. If cycle ways and trams then connected these new communities built on brownfield land to areas of industry and work road travel will then be reduced dramatically. Congestion to local roads and the motorway network would be reduced dramatically, as would carbon immisions and as such Solihull Council would address the thus ever increasing problems of climate change.
I would therefore strongly oppose the development of greenbelt land at Barrett's Farm in Balsall Common, and kindly request that Solihull Council reconsider their plans for housing and work more closely with local communities to address the housing crisis and source suitable Brownfield development sites for new housing. I would also like to recommend that Solihull Council undertake a thorough assessment of local residents views and needs particularly with regards transport needs, local transport provision and viable options for alternative modes of transport as part of their draft proposal.

Kind Regards,