6. Do you believe that Site 3 Windmill Lane, Balsall Common, should be included as allocated site, if not why not? Do you have any comments on the draft concept masterplan for the site?

No. We wish to object to the Council's proposal to allocate Site 3, in Balsall Common, as part of the Local Plan. Although there are many reasons why the site is unsustainable, we are particularly concerned about the ecological impact the development of this site would have. The Green Infrastructure map Habitat Distinctiveness 2016 shows that this is an area of High Habitat distinctiveness, where development should be avoided (see p4 of the Ecological Assessment). However, these have not been fully respected when cross referenced to p23 of the master plans, particularly with regards to the 30m buffer around woodland.

Although there is no doubt as to the high impact the site would have on biodiversity (Draft Concept Plans, p24), Solihull Council's proposed solution would appear to be focussed around offsetting rather than preserving these precious habitats. There are other smaller sites that have a higher sustainability scoring and a lesser ecological value than Site 3.