Local Development Plan Site 245
LDP - Proposed Housing Allocation Site 18

I write with reference to the above planning site for housing development in Solihull. I write to object to these plans on the following grounds:-

In 2013, SMBC formally agreed in its policy that the freehold of these grounds would not be sold and that they would only be used for sporting activities, in line with the covenants in place. I consider this policy suggests that the inclusion of this development in the LDP is wholly inappropriate.

I feel strongly that Oakmoor (Sharman's Cross) Ltd have deliberately neglected their responsibilities regarding this land and have made no efforts to use it for it's intended purpose as a sporting/community resource, even though their lease for the land clearly states it must only be used as a sports ground. I moved into Winterbourne Road some 25 years ago and certainly, with 4 young children, the local facilities available (including the rugby pitch) were very much part of my decision to move. My children have all been members of Solihull Arden Tennis Club and visited the rugby club regularly to watch matches. The sounds of cheers and roars from the grounds were always a pleasure to hear and I would welcome the return of fixtures on this ground. Oakmoor cannot be excused for the way it has treated this parcel of land. Changing room facilities were left to rot; a very much needed community resource in the way of a pre-school group was forced closed and again the building left to deteriorate.

I also consider that the above development is totally out of character with the surrounding houses on Winterbourne Road and Sharman's Cross Road. These are traditional houses and roads with reasonable density. The density of housing proposed on site above would be 4-5 times greater than its surroundings. Add onto this the additional cars the development would need to cater for, together with the possible loss of 75 car parking spaces at Arden Tennis Club, which are regularly used, parking in the vicinity will become a serious problem. Sharman's Cross Road is already a very busy road and further access from a housing estate can only add to this problem. Flooding along Sharman's Cross Road already causes regular problems in the area. Access from Sharman's Cross Road onto Streetsbrook Road or access onto the island at Danford Lane already causes huge traffic tailbacks at prime times throughout the day. Children attending local schools already battle with dense traffic on their journey to and from school, not to mention the additional school places /medical resources that will possibly be required.

As closure to this email, I strongly urge SMBC to remove site 245 from its LDP. I also think SMBC should be looking at ways to provide more affordable housing for first time buyers - this certainly would not be the case at the proposed site. Two of my children have had to leave the area in order to buy a property within their budget.