Question 4 - Site 1 - Barratts Farm

Showing comments and forms 91 to 94 of 94

Comment

Draft Local Plan - Supplementary Consultation

Representation ID: 10320

Received: 02/05/2019

Respondent: Environment Agency

Representation Summary:

An ordinary watercourse flows through the site, however our 'Flood Map for Planning' only shows the flood risk from watercourses with a catchment area greater than 3km2, mapping of the risk from the watercourse has not been undertaken and as such this is the only reason the site is shown to lie in low risk Flood Zone 1. The assessment of flood risk and easement from the ordinary watercourse should be agreed with the LLFA, however we strongly recommend that hydraulic modelling of the watercourse is undertaken as part of a Level 2 SFRA to inform of the developable area and capacity of this potential allocation. Regardless of flood risk, we recommend an unobstructed green corridor is maintained along the banks of the watercourse for the purposes of protecting and maintaining green and blue infrastructure.

Full text:

Thank you for referring the above consultation which we received on 30 January 2019. We apologise we have been unable to respond prior to now, and hope that you are still able to take our comments into account as the plan develops.
We have reviewed the above consultation document which is dated January 2019 and note the inclusion of additional sites for consideration for allocation.
We welcome the inclusion of Flood Risk as a potential 'Hard' issue in the site selection criteria as identified on page 18 and 19. We further recommend that Water Quality is added to the footnote in this section, with particular referenced to River Blythe's SSSI status. Further to this page 29 looks at what is required for the Blythe in the future and protection and enhancement of water quality should be included. Please see attached letter for our advice with regards to your site allocations, which incorporates comments previously provided, and adds additional comments in relation to your new sites. These comments should be used in preference to those previously provided as they have been updated

Attachments:

Comment

Draft Local Plan - Supplementary Consultation

Representation ID: 10453

Received: 15/03/2019

Respondent: Dave Acford

Number of people: 2

Representation Summary:

Concerned about access into the Barrett's Farm development. There has long been a proposal for a through road from Hall Meadow Road and that would seem to be the best and safest option for the access to this site. Other proposals to provide access via Meeting House Lane would not be safe or viable. There is no opportunity for pavements and it is already very narrow. Added to this, Meeting House Lane is also very beautiful and it would be a shame for the village to lose it's character.

Full text:

I am e-mailing to give you my opinion on the draft plan as I am a resident of Balsall Common.
I have looked at the plan and I have attended the consultation days put on by Solihull council.

I appreciate that there is a shortage of housing, especially affordable housing, and that Balsall Common and Berkswell need to have it's share of new builds; however I am very concerned about the numbers proposed in this area and the impact they will have on the local community and the environment.

Much of the proposed building will be on green field sites which will be detrimental to local wildlife and to how the local community are able to access that land, which improves their health and well-being.

I understand that three brown field sites were put forward as alternatives for some of the green belt, but the council has just chosen to build on those as well.

I am concerned that the current facilities in Balsall Common will not be able to meet the needs of so many new people into the village, particularly the health centre and the village centre.

I am aware that you are planning to build a primary school, which will be essential.

I am worried about what the plan will be for access, particularly into the Barrett's Farm development. There has long been a proposal for a through road from Hall Meadow Road and that would seem to be the best and safest option for the access to this site. Other proposals to provide access via Meeting House Lane would simply not be safe or viable. There is no opportunity for pavements either side, and it is also very narrow already, particularly at the chicane by the tennis club, where there is often already frequent road rage in regards to whose right of way it is. Added to this, Meeting House Lane is also very beautiful and it would be a shame for the village to lose it's character.

Finally, I am concerned about the disruption to the village, bearing in mind the difficulties that HS2 is going to cause for a long time to come. I would hope that this would be borne in mind when discussions take place as to when the building should start. I would also hope that the building plan would be seen as a whole and not in different sections so that there is structure so that the village can cope, and the building can take place safely and with sensitivity to the locals who already live here.

Object

Draft Local Plan - Supplementary Consultation

Representation ID: 10504

Received: 15/03/2019

Respondent: CPRE Warwickshire Branch

Representation Summary:

Object to inclusion of Barratts Farm.
Plays key role in Meriden Gap, would reduce separation with Coventry and Burton Green.
HS2 if built will effectively remove the Green Belt between Balsall Common and Burton Green.
Area should perform more highly in Green Belt Assessment.

Full text:

see attached letter of response

Attachments:

Object

Draft Local Plan - Supplementary Consultation

Representation ID: 10561

Received: 18/02/2019

Respondent: Mrs Christina O'Sullivan

Representation Summary:

Phasing Barrett's Farm and using the bypass for construction vehicles is a must as you have suggested.

I do however believe you have not shown us any plans on how you will accommodate another 1725 houses

Full text:

I agree a bypass for Balsall Common is well overdue, as quoted in your plan 80% of the traffic goes straight through Balsall Common on the A452. The stress on that road being used for HS2 and housing construction traffic will cause grid lock in Balsall Common. We already experience this on many occasions if the M6, M40 or the M42 are closed, all traffic gets re routed via the A452.
Your focus on the HS2 construction traffic is applauded which I focused on in my HS2 petition on December 1st 2014 at 2.57pm. The destruction to our lanes and lives would be overwhelming and totally destructive so the Haul Route is a welcomed addition to the management of the construction for HS2 and the housing invasion.
Whilst reviewing your plans for Barretts Farm in particular, I realised although you have taken into account that 1600 more dwellings means we cannot accommodate pupils in our existing schools, which already have waiting lists, with the inclusion of a new primary school, I was dismayed that you had not included a new shopping centre. I welcome your intention to set up a "Village Centre Master Plan" to improve our existing village centre. We have already proposed plans for shared space and changes to the library car park which SMBC have been included in consultation and we have pavements that are dangerous and trees half cut down which although we have informed SMBC nothing has been done.
Station Parking improvements are a must which you have included. This will accommodate the overflow of vehicles we already have that park on Station Road and Hall Meadow. If you add to that the lorry movement of 400 lorries a day down Meadow Hall for 3 years this is essential.
Phasing Barrett's Farm and using the bypass for construction vehicles is a must as you have suggested.
I do however believe you have not shown us any plans on how you will accommodate another 1725 houses, which will at an estimate of all the houses being 3 beds will mean another 5175 residents, needing to use the surgery. At the last census in 2011 which does not include recent house builds in our area such as Elysian Gardens there were 9050 residents in Berkswell and Balsall Common. So you are going to add more than half our population again without building another surgery.
You cannot get an appointment at the surgery now without a long wait and I cannot see how 8 doctors will be able to accommodate this. I believe this is a serious omission to your plans.