Q14. Do you agree that we are planning to build the right number of new homes? If not why not, and how many do you think we should be planning to build?

I agree so long as the balance is right. It was disappointing that in Knowle at the TW development only two 3 no. bedroom properties became available on such a large site. The rest went to forms of social housing. there are people in the local and surrounding areas who may own their own homes but are priced out of buying larger properties. 3 bedroom properties are still family homes and should be open to families who currently own in the area.

I object to the large swathe of South Shirley that is being looked at. It is being overly targeted for development. Any resident of Blackford Rd, Tamworth Lane or Dog Kennel Lane will find their lives dramatically and negatively affected by the increase in traffic, noise, loss of rural feel and loss of value of current property prices. A development only of the TRW site would be the best possible outcome with regards to affect on the current residents lives

We should be planning to build the number that can be built with out allocating green belt. The use of green belt, or as it is put in this document, the RELEASE green belt shouldn't even be a last resort.

Also the figures given for housing requirements going forward would push Solihull well past what traffic is could deal with, it could be argued we are already at that point.

not enough

the number of homes to be built will always include some guesswork. this looks about right

I agree that more housing needs to be built

I believe that the number of new homes planned is excessive and should be capped at 3000 and in particular the larger proposed sites of 500 homes plus

I disagree. I do not know how many new homes are required. However, releasing Green Belt at this time, when the report itself says that the number assumed for windfall sites is "cautious" is wrong. The allocation of 1150 in Green Belt in Balsall Common is also premature when the planning department officials admit they have not looked for any Brown field or heavily developed Green field sites in the village. Several such sites were identified in the Sites for Consideration exhibition on 20/08/16 but these have been ignored.

too many houses are suggested for Knowle you need to put long stay parking near the village so workers can park and walk to their jobs. The Mind Horticultural site should not be allowed to be swallowed up more homes should be put nearer the JLR and HS2 site not in the outlying villages

Possibly
However, releasing Green Belt when the report states that the number assumed for windfall sites is "cautious" is wrong.
In Balsall Common the allocation of 1150 in Green Belt in is premature when the planning department officials admit they have not looked for any Brown field or heavily developed Green field sites in the village. Several such sites were identified in the Sites for Consideration exhibition on 20/08/16 but these have been ignored.

Whilst I appreciate that there is a need to provide more housing across the country, I object to the number that are proposed within the Solihull area. My main objections are based on concerns for the infrastructure to support this amount of development: the roads around the area are currently at saturation point, along with school, hospital and health facilities. This development would also be destroying significant pockets of green belt which support varied wildlife and provide green spaces for the current residents. More traffic fumes will also have a negative impact on the health of current residents.

see attached letter for full text . Generally supportive and the letter comments on each of the 23 questions.

Where I generally agree with most of the points highlighted in the consultation I do not agree with them all and post my concerns and suggestions.

Unless there are clear plans to increase employment and wealth generation in proportion to the number of new houses being built the result will be a decrease in the overall standard of living and quality of the borough. The revised plan includes disproportionally more incremental houses than employment opportunities.

However I question where they are being built and if there are sufficient A and B roads to deal with the increase in traffic, together with sustainable travel.

I feel there are too many homes planned in Solihull when other towns and Birmingham could build more on brown sites.

The proposed housing site west of Dickens Heath does not represent sustainable development as the existing services, facilities and infrastructure within the rural village of Dickens Heath can not accommodate an additional 700 homes. This proposed new housing site should be removed from the schedule contained in the Draft Local Plan. The proposed housing site south of Shirley should also be removed from the schedule contained in the Draft Local Plan due to the loss of open countryside between the rural village of Dickens Heath and Shirley, and Dickens Heath would lose its distinct rural village character.

Agree the need for affordable housing - but to note that the developer has said that only 40% of the Frog Lane development will be 40%... and as ever this always gets eroded. Also... affordable housing needs to be a lot closer to amenities such as shops, services and railway stations - not in a place where car ownership is essential.

see attached letter

I write to express my objection to the number of new houses proposed for Knowle under the Solihull Local Plan.

I accept there is a housing shortage in the UK and that Solihull and Knowle need to make a contribution towards the total Government Plan. However 1050 new houses in Knowle is disproportionate and unreasonable

1050 houses is 17% of the total allocation for Solihull. If you include the houses that have been recently built in Knowle Dorridge and Bentley Heath or are at present under construction or have planning permission to commence then this brings the total number of houses to 1900 which is a 25% growth in the housing stock. This exceeds Government guidelines for ne housing development in a particular locality.

There has been very little change to the infrastructure in Knowle and Dorridge since the late 1950's when i was a schoolboy in the area. Chiltern Railway, and Sainsbury's car park at Dorridge, some road widening at Dorridge. some additional car parking in Knowle and the installation of a few roundabouts pretty much sums it up. The infrastructure is struggling to cope at present with the volumes of traffic and car parking in Knowle and Dorridge and Bentley Heath is inadequate.

I have not seen any plans for improving the roads and parking to cope with the new developments which are likely to increase the population by 2500 -3000 people. I understand in fact that no transport assessment has been carried out

Two sites have been recommended for development at Arden and Hampton Road.

There is much to be commended about the Arden proposal. Improving education is an absolute priority for the UK in order to be able to compete in the world economy. Arden is a very well performing school which needs better facilities and larger capacity. I support the rebuilding of the school and the construction of a new primary school. However I do not accept the building of 750 additional house on this site. The school themselves are asking for 450 to fund their rebuild. I am not sure how they have reached that figure. Originally it was 250 then increased to 350 and now 450.I think 350 houses are the absolute maximum that should be built on that site together with the school rebuilds. Bearing in mind that Taylor Wimpey are at present building 110 homes at Middlefield and this makes the total 460 houses. We should remember of course that the land is at present Green Belt.

The existing Arden proposal recommends the closure of the Solihull Mind site which at present occupies a 3.5 acre field at Middlefield. .Mental Health is an area of healthcare which has been neglected in the UK as highlighted by the recent speech by the Prime Minister and it is a very important that this site should be retained for its current use.

With regard to Hampton Road the infrastructure problems are very significant particularly the increased volumes of traffic that will be needing to turn onto the Warwick Road through Knowle. I understand however that Knowle FC are not unhappy to sell their land and be rehoused so I would accept this development as reasonable if infrastructure issues can be resolved.

In summary my view is that 1050 houses is an excessive percentage growth in the housing stock ( bearing in mind the recent number of new houses built) and the existing infrastructure will not sustain it. It removes a large swathe of Green Belt Land and the Solihull Mind site. I accept however that Knowle has to make a contribution to the Housing shortage and believe that 350 houses at Arden and 300 at Hampton Road plus the school redevelopments would be fair and reasonable in the circumstances.

No evidence is presented that the HMA shortfall which forms part of the total housing need has been properly examined and audited by the Council. Solihull should not accept making up the shortfall unless the measures taken to bring into use brown-field sites for new housing have been tested and challenged. For example, we need to see evidence that the relevant council has taken all steps to find the person(s) responsible for the land, if contaminated, to try to get the person(s) responsible to voluntarily remediate the land, and at the end of the day to take legal action to force the person(s) responsible to remediate the land, so that it becomes suitable for new housing.

see attached letter

Why oh why has it been decided by Solihull Council to build yet more houses than first mooted, indeed, right up to Holly Lane.
Have you no idea what these fields mean to children and adults alike who presently walk and play there, pick black currants there in Autumn, exercise their dogs, and have picnics with little children, not to mention the Mighty Oaks in all their splendour?
The fields are used regularly by the Heart of England School for long distant running and football.
Please do not build on our countryside.
We write in the hope that you may stop the proposed new development above.

Living in the above road, and no longer working, we see the mayhem caused by heavy traffic at school times. Indeed, those parents having to drive their children to school seem to abandon their cars just anywhere for the lack of space. It is fortunate there has not yet been an accident.

Assuming most of the homes to be built will each have 1plus child who will walk to school - their route to school is by pavement which could spill over onto the road where DANGER LIES.

Please think again for the children's sake.

If not for the above alone .. think what you are destroying - Greenbelt Land enjoyed by all - picnicking in summer - footballing in the Autumn and Spring - open spaces for dog walkers etc.

There must be other places for you to use that will not destroy the above and so that our children can run free in safety

see attached letter and scanned annotated hard copy local plan pages

see attached letter

see attached letter

Re - Planning application plot 16 - east of Solihull between Lugtrout Lane and Hampton lane.
We appreciate that adequate Housing is required to meet the needs of our local community and understand why the proposed site would accommodate this need. As a resident at Pinfold Road, we wanted to share our views regarding the proposed development site.
The land behind our property is currently a wooded area backing onto farmland. This does contain large trees which acts as an area of privacy for our property and also security which is a concern due to a number of recent burglaries to properties on our cul-de-sac. The wooded area also has a population of birds, foxes and badgers and it would be nice to ensure that some of their habitat is protected. We would appreciate consideration for this small amount of land at the back of properties on Pinfold Road to remain and request that this information is taken into account during this planning stage.
Another concern that we have is the degree of traffic that we experience trying to get in and out of Pinfold road to join Yew Tree lane. We find this particularly difficult around times of shift changes for Jaguar Land Rover workers. With such a large amount of increased housing proposed at this site, we are concerned that this would significantly increase the current traffic situation.
We would if possible like to be kept up-to-date during the planning stages and welcome consultation with planners alongside other residents in this area.

See attached letter

Please take this email as our strong objection to the new housing estate you propose to build on fields adjoining Woodlands Estate and the surrounding area.

We understand your need to build new houses but Shirley will have no green areas left, we will only be left with Shirley Park. Those fields are used by ourselves and many other dog walkers and is a beautiful area.

You have plans in place for 2550 new homes in south Shirley which seems a huge amount. The traffic is already at a standstill in the mornings trying to get towards the M42 on the Stratford road. Adding so many more houses will just cause even more chaos to the area.

This concentration of a development in such a small area will have major implications in terms of our local infrastructure, schools, health services and wider facilities.

Thank you for consulting Lichfield District Council on the Local Plan Review. The comments below focus on the primary areas of concern Lichfield District Council have. In future Lichfield District Council would welcome Duty to Cooperate meetings to address such matters.

The commitment to meeting your Objectively Assessed Housing Needs (OAHN) in full is welcoming. However, Lichfield District Council are concerned that there is a lack of commitment to addressing the Greater Birmingham Housing Market Area (GBHMA) shortfall. The draft Plan indicates testing a 2, 000 dwelling contribution towards the shortfall. This is considered pre-emptive because an appropriate assessment across the GBHMA is required to ascertain the most suitable means of delivering this shortfall. As such setting a ceiling is not considered appropriate and fails to meet the commitments associated with cross boundary cooperation as set out within the NPPF. As a minimum it is recommended that the emerging Solihull Local Plan acknowledges and commits to meeting the findings of the work currently being undertaken across the GBHMA.

see attached letter from agent