Object
Draft Local Plan - Supplementary Consultation
Representation ID: 8850
Received: 15/03/2019
Respondent: Rainier Developments Ltd - Land South of Park Lane
Agent: Barton Willmore Planning
Given the findings of the Employment Land Review (2017), we consider that the Council have not produced the necessary evidence regarding employment needs to answer this question. There is scope for an uplift in the housing requirement as a result of the HS2-related growth, as well as the potential to capitalise on the clear need for wider than local employment growth identified through evidence such as the 2015 West Midlands Strategic Employment Site Study (WMSESS), which identifies the M42 corridor as the area of highest demand for strategic industrial and commercial uses (Area A). The forthcoming new WMSESS is likely to be published before the draft Plan is adopted. In addition to Birmingham's unmet housing needs, the potential for higher housing numbers as a result of these points is something we consider could be an exceptional circumstance to justify an uplift beyond the standard method minimum (which we currently calculate to be 777 dwellings per annum). Based on what we know regarding the issues with the Council's Employment Land Review, more employment land is required. A further increase in housing need (for instance in helping to meet Birmingham's unmet housing need) would require a further increase in employment land to ensure
growth is balanced.
The Council's approach to employment is inadequate as currently proposed, and further housing growth over and above this will require a further increase in employment land to ensure growth is balanced. Land at Park Lane Balsall Common is well placed to meet this employment land need. The site presents an opportunity to capitalise on HS2-related development and provide a sustainably located, well enclosed employment site which can serve the needs of the Balsall Common as it grows through the Plan period. The site will be used as a compound during the construction of HS2 and therefore cannot come forward until completion of this part of the route and/or it is released earlier as it is no longer needed by HS2. Employment land would therefore be delivered post-2025/6.
Barton Willmore LLP is instructed by Rainier Developments Ltd (the 'Client') to submit representations to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council's Draft Local Plan Regulation 18 Supplementary consultation (the 'draft Plan') in relation to their land interests at land south of Park Lane, Balsall Common (hereafter referred to as the 'site'). Prior to our Client's involvement promoting this site, it was
previously promoted for residential development and assessed by the Council in their Site Assessment Document as Site 305. We enclose a new Call for Sites submission alongside these representations which proposes employment development on the site.