Proposed Housing Allocation 11 Former TRW Site Shirley
I write concerning the above matter and in response to Mr Palmers letter dated 29th January 2019.

I have grave concerns about the proposed development of the TRW site and feel the residents of Blackford Road are being ignored. I would like to make the following comments for your consideration.

Density

The density of the proposed development has increased significantly since the November 2016 consultation, when It was stated the some 400 homes were envisaged. However this has now increased to 572. The density was discussed by councillors at the planning meeting in January 2019, the majority of them raised concerns. Why has this been ignored and not taken into consideration?

It is my understanding the developer wants to increase the number of houses from 42.5 to 46 per hectare, which as you are no doubt aware is way above the national average. Notwithstanding the increase in the number of proposed new homes, there is the additional cramming in of a retirement complex, nursing home and car dealerships.

Design

The planning committee raised concerns about certain design design elements. Material colours, car ports etc. My concern with the design is that it's not in keeping with the local area and will have an adverse visual impact. Also that a big problem is being created for the future.

Flooding and surface water drainage

When it rains (anything more than a shower) our garden floods. It also becomes waterlogged. The whole of this area is hard clay and the water table is very high. Throughout the year the void under our house has sitting water, this is made worse during periods of heavy rain and during the winter months. In fact a number of properties in Blackford Road have wells in their gardens. I guess there is also a clue in the name of our road BlackFORD Road?

The proposed development at the 'bottom of our garden' would have a catastrophic impact on our property. The proposed removal of trees would undoubtedly have a huge impact water levels (the trees consume extremely large amounts of water, therefore helping to reduce flood water) both in our garden and under our house.

You may not be aware, but the Village Hotel car park already regularly floods despite having the benefit of being connected to drainage.

Adverse effect on our residential amenities.

If allowed to go ahead we would have a total loss of privacy because of the removal of a large number of mature trees, also the removal of the high bund/mound between our home and the Village hotel. The loss of our existing view would have an adverse effect on us. We would be totally overlooked and overshadowed by homes facing directly towards the rear of our home and garden. There would be a dramatic increase in noise and disturbance from the new homes. At present we hear little or no noise from the Village Hotel and its car park due to the large bund/mound, the landscaping and mature trees.



Environmental concerns

The land at 'the bottom of our garden' is home to many different species of wildlife. There are bats (which can be seen flying around our garden during the evening), Woodpecker, Cuckoo, Squirrels, Owls and Foxes. I have also seen Muntjac Deer. What will happen to this wildlife and of course all of the birds?

The loss of trees would have a huge environmental impact. It would undoubtedly increase the risk of flooding our home and garden and would certainly have an impact on the quality of the air we breath. The increased volume of traffic combined with virtually no trees would increase the already high levels of pollution in the area.

Trying to cram in homes at the 'bottom of our garden' makes no sense whatsoever. Also, with the proposed extension of 40+ bedrooms at the Village Hotel, combined with their many functions and events parking would become even more difficult, noise and light pollution would increase, this would have a direct impact on our home and add to our loss of privacy.

Road safety and traffic congestion

Stratford Road, Blackford Road and Dog Kennel Lane already have a significant and increasing problem with traffic congestion.

There are already long queues of traffic on Blackford Road and Dog Kennel Lane on a daily basis. Typically during morning and evening rush hour the traffic queues or crawls past our house in both directions. From the roundabout at Dog Kennel Lane (along Blackford Road) for 300-400 metres and more. The problem at the Stratford Road end of Blackford Road is worse, the queues are often 600-700 metres long. There is a steady and busy flow of vehicles outside of peak times. Building new homes would dramatically increase the already chronic traffic problems and make it even more difficult for residents to get on and off their drives safely (which is already an issue).

Blackford Road does not have the capacity to take anymore traffic. There is also an ongoing problem with subsidence, which would only be made worse by increased volumes of traffic.

Blackford Road is used many times every day by the emergency services. They already have to weave their way through queueing traffic, increased levels of traffic will compound the problem with potentially life changing consequences.

Many of the vehicles currently using the existing Dog Kennel Lane site arrive in the morning and leave at night, with very little traffic at the weekend. The proposal to build hundreds of new homes would generate far more traffic twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Many homes now have at least two cars. The proposed development has insufficient parking, the problem would therefore in reality be much worse.

Other

If the trees were to be removed and our gardens and homes flooded, this would potentially blight our homes and make them both uninsurable and unsaleable. Who would we sue? The developer or Solihull Council?

The images below show our rear garden and the privacy we currently enjoy, I hope these are helpful.