13 Shirley - South of Shirley

Showing comments and forms 391 to 420 of 428

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 4380

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: K J Hewitt

Representation Summary:

Object to housing proposals for Shirley as infrastructure of area will not allow this intensity of development and needs more consideration, most of new residents will need to use Blackford Road, which is already seriously affected by traffic from Dickens Heath and retail park and has been closed on a number of occasions for repairs due to damage to sewers, and plans are likely to change so that improvements may not end of being delivered.

Full text:

See Attachment

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 4416

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Margaret Chadderton

Representation Summary:

Unfair that so many houses will be in the Shirley area.
Will only exacerbate existing problems with traffic.
Pressure on schools and medical facilities.
Other areas of Solihull should take their fair share.

Full text:

See Attachment

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 4417

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Mrs C A Preeece

Representation Summary:

Disproportionate number of new homes proposed in Shirley.
Loss of Urbs in Rure character.
Loss of green open space for recreation.
Loss of Green Belt; more development will result in urban sprawl and coalescence.
Loss of wildlife.
Will create significant traffic problems.
Significant investment will be required for additional schools and medical centres.

Full text:

See Attachment

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 4423

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Vivienne & Maurice Hadley

Representation Summary:

Overdevelopment in Shirley.
Loss of Green Belt.
Government have reconfirmed their commitment to Green Belt.
Loss of green space. Important to protect amenity fields.
Add to existing congestion, e.g. Stratford Road.
Remember 'Urbs in Rure' motto.

Full text:

See Attachment

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 4440

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: K G & H E Bushell & Cooke

Representation Summary:

Appreciate there is a need for housing.
Object to this site as:
Loss of open space for recreation and leisure.
Loss of community asset.
Infrastructure could not cope: existing heavy congestion on roads, impact on doctors and schools.
Loss of wildlife.
Loss of trees and hedgerows.
Loss of privacy for residents on Woodlands estate.

Full text:

See Attachment

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 4465

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Ruth & Jonathan Noone

Representation Summary:

Disproportionate number of homes south of Shirley.
Loss of Green Belt.
Added pressure on infrastructure: schools, medical and social support, transport.
Reduction in quality of life.
Loss of amenity land.
Loss of wildlife.
Loss of Urbs in Rure character.
Development won't benefit HS2.

Full text:

See Attachment

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 4472

Received: 14/02/2017

Respondent: Howard Maine

Representation Summary:

Object to development of green belt to provide 2,250 additional houses around South Shirley as will have detrimental impact on transport problems, schools and already stretched hospitals, and exacerbate already frightening volume of traffic on A34 and surrounding local roads.

Full text:

Green Belt

I wish to express my concerns about recent plans to develop green belt fields around the Solihull borough for housing.

With plans to build an extra 2250 houses on four sites with potential an extra 4500+ people will have a detrimental impact on Transport promlems, Doctors, Schools and Hospitals. With regard to hospitals, instead of the goverment spending 65 billion pounds on HS2 and Britains defence sytem, surely they can spend some on the NHS to build more hospitals.

I digress, I have lived in Shirley all my life and been living in Hurdis Road for the past 42 years the volume of traffic has increased to a frightening level. As it runs parallel with the A34 Stratford Road, Hurdis Road and local roads are used as a cut through to the Stratford Road. It is more like living on the main road than a side road and the speed bumps do not have any effect for slowing the traffic down. A lot of traffic do well in excess of 30 mph. On all roads around estates the speed limit should be reduced to 20mph.

Solihull Doctors and Hospital are stretched now, don't know about schools. The impact of an additional 4500+ people to the area will be very detrimental.

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 4500

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Patricia Harfield

Representation Summary:

Retain 'Green Corridor' from Bills Lane to Sans Souci.
Retain trees.
Loss of open space for recreation and children's play.
Loss of wildlife.
Existing infrastructure inadequate; high levels of congestion.

Full text:

see letter

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 4506

Received: 14/02/2017

Respondent: Sunya A Phillips

Representation Summary:

Object to housing in Green Belt in South Shirley as green belt should only be used when other land not available, Haslucks Green Road is far too busy to take extra traffic, there are no footpaths in places and developments on this scale are ridiculous.

Full text:

Building on the GreenBelt

I object to your plans for several reasons.
Green belt land should only be used when brown belt land is not available. Has lucks Green Road is far too busy to take extra traffic.There are no footpaths in many places.New developments on this scale are ridiculous. Please reconsider

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 4584

Received: 11/02/2017

Respondent: David Paddock

Representation Summary:

In addendum to my previous communication, I have been in contact with many local residents in our group of 730 people, and many would be keen to see allocation 13 set aside as a country park with a green corridor linking Dickens Heath and Majors Green.
This could be managed by the local community and could be of benefit to the local community.

Full text:

Objections and Comments on Allocation 13

I am writing to register my objection to the development of Shirley South. Particularly Allocation number 13 which is designated green belt land.

Shirley South is to receive approximately 41% of the new housing in the borough. This is disproportionate and unfair. The effect will be to completely change the character of the area from a semi-rural location to an urban sprawl.
Under the government white paper "Fixing our broken housing market" it states that "
Green Belt boundaries should be amended only in exceptional circumstances when local authorities can demonstrate that they have fully examined all other reasonable options for meeting their identified housing requirements".
I believe that there are numerous options yet to be explored and have yet to see the exhausted list of alternatives that have been investigated.

The document also states that new housing allocation should be developed to compliment current and new infrastructure. In this case HS2, this will be running to the North of the borough and not stopping anywhere near to the proposed developments.
The Shirley area is already subject to a huge amount of congestion which affects the whole of the Stratford Road from the M42 junction and all arterial routes, including Dog Kennel Lane, Tanworth Lane, Shakespeare Drive, Blackford Lane (which has structural issues), Haslucks Green Road and Bills Lane. In addition, the main route out of Dickens Heath to the Miller and Carter is like a racetrack. As are some of the local rat runs such as Stretton Road which constranly has drivers coming along the road at ridiculous speeds, in an area with two schools and a large elderly community.
The addition of thousands on new homes will compound congestion and traffic flow to a catastrophic level and also increase rat run traffic.

I drove down Marshall Lake Road today into the centre of Solihull and it took 35 minutes to travel just over a mile, the new traffic lights have made the situation worst the routes into the town centre are already creaking.

In terms of other public transport, the local rail stations are not fit for purpose, being very small and not large enough to serve the additional requirements of these large scale developments. There is inadequate parking at Whitlocks End, Shirley, Earlswood and Solihull Stations.

In addition to the problem of infrastructure, the area is not set up to facilitate a large number of potential new families. It is already veirtually impossible to get your child into the secondary school of your choice. What will happen to the catchment area of schools in the borough. In my particular area, residents have been bounced back from Alderbrook and Tudor Grange over the years by the Monkspath and Hillfield developments and latterly Dickens Heath. If this development were to go ahead, there would need to be provision for either school extensions or new schools. This again would require more space to be taken up.

Solihull hospital has been downgraded over the years and no longer has a paediatric department, the closest hospital being Heartlands. The trip to Heartlands is an absolute nightmare in traffic and can take over an hour.

In terms of Allocation 13. This is an area that has over the years has become a is a very popular recreation and amenity area, popular with families, dog walkers, ramblers etc.

The area has a number of eco systems that range from grass land to marsh and heath land and even evergreen forest. There is a network of drainage ditches and well-established farm ponds and also a sink area which is effectively bog land. The area is very wet and for the most part of the winter is very boggy and forms a flood plain due to the very high water table and the constituent soil composition.
This results in heavy flooding across most of this low lying area. Many of the houses that back onto the fields in Langcomb Road experience flooding in their back gardens on a regular basis. A phenomenon that has reduced to an extent following the intensive planting of Christmas trees in the field adjacent to the gardens.
The network of ditches and ponds provides a varied eco system and I have seen frogs, toads and newts, along with Muntjac Deer, Cuckoo, Woodpecker and birds of prey. In addition in the meadowland and the marshy areas there are numerous wild flowers, I am not qualified to identify them but I feel you should carry out an in-depth wildlife and ecosystem survey at the correct time of year before a decision is made

In addition part of the area was granted to the stewardship of the Laker Centre on the completion of the Woodlands Estate. I am led to believe that the Layca Committee purchased the fencing around this area and also contribute to its upkeep. I would argue that the whole of area 13, by custom and practice over the last 40 years is by default a very important amenity area. On only has to look at the well-worn footpaths. This is indeed the lung of Shirley, the place to which people from many surrounding areas come to breath. Also, I am led to believe that any developments that affect a local communities quality of life should be offset. I feel that Allocation 13 should become a recognised conservation and public amenity area serving Shirley South. Shirley Park is woefully small and dog owners now are restricted to a tiny fenced in dog area.

I am also concerned about the nature of housing in this area. It is a well-known fact that houses in the South of the Borough command extremely high prices. I do not believe that the houses build will be affordable by the young people. They will be 3, 4, 5 bed houses with a small contingent of affordable houses that will probably be bought up by wealth buy to let landlords and exacerbate the issues with high rents etc.

The government have stated that housing should concentrate on high density smaller, affordable homes, such as terrace, mews and flats. The footprint of these is much smaller than large detached houses.

Slightly further south of allocation 13 the loss of a number of sports fields will deprive the local community of the opportunity of recreational activities and again reduce open space, this gives further argument to Allocation 13 being designated a conservation and amenity area.
In addition, the government states that the housing contracts should go to smaller companies using innovative methods, and promote self build and housing associations. Is this in the plan.

Alternatives to developing green belt sites are numerous and I am not convinced that all possibilities have been exhausted, both in smarter use of land and also locations

Thinking outside the box, flat areas of car park such as NEC and airport could be converted to multistory and the land save could be developed right on the door step of HS2 and also to compliment the recent resort World Complex.

This would alleviate pressure on south to north traffic flow. In addition, this would be the use of brownfield sites.
In addition to this, the proposed JLR site on Damson Lane, is purely a financial gain for the company to reduce freight costs. Why not build houses in that area instead. That would mean that the houses were in the right area. That is north of the town centre on the main arterial route of the A45, which has been developed to handle a large amount of traffic. The cost of JLR distribution is not the taxpayers concern. Or alternatively, why not build on the Land Rover Sports field as a trade off with the company, very few employees actually use the sports field.

There is also the possibility of buying larger houses in Solihull which have huge gardens and developing small estates with mews or flats as opposed to the exclusive developments that are cropping up along Blossomfield Road

Along with these ideas I have come up with a number of alternative areas which are more suitably located and are smaller pocket developments as per the governments' requirements. They are for the most part also in more affordable areas of the borough, see below

Land Pockets between
A452 / A45 / M42
A452 / Coleshill Heath Road / M42
Bickenhill Lane / B4438 / Westerly direction
B4438 / M42 / A45
Hampton Lane / A41 / M42

Finally, I am led to believe that the borough is to take an additional 2000 houses from the Birmingham Allocation. This is regardless of the fact that there are many brownfield sites and public open spaces that should be used before greenbelt as per the previously mentioned government document. I would urge you to push back to Birmingham City Council on this matter.

As an example I walked along Fazeley Street last week, I saw a number of brownfield sites being used as cheap car parking and also overgrown areas with rubble etc and a large grassy area devoid of natural life Public space). Can you please ensure that Birmingham City Council fully research and address all of their brownfield sites before Solihull rolls over and gives away our green belt.

Please bear my points in mind when making your decision.

Received 17th feb


With reference to email above in addendum to my previous communication, I have been in contact with many local residents in our group of 730 people, and many would be keen to see allocation 13 set aside as a country park with a green corridor linking dickens heath and majors green. This could be managed by the local community and could be of benefit to the local community.

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 4838

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Kler Group - Gentleshaw Lane

Agent: Cerda Planning Ltd

Representation Summary:

Whilst in a sustainable location there will be impact on Green Belt and coalescence between Shirley and Dickens Heath.

Full text:

see attached documents

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 4893

Received: 17/03/2017

Respondent: Persons with an interest Site 9

Agent: Cerda Planning Ltd

Representation Summary:

Whilst in a sustainable location there will be impact on Green Belt and coalescence between Shirley and Dickens Heath and Cheswick Green.

Full text:

see attached documents

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 5145

Received: 16/02/2017

Respondent: Jane & Alan Horton

Representation Summary:

Site 13 Objection.

Development will join Dickens Heath, Majors Green, Tidbury Green and Shirley.
Will be one giant housing estate.
Traffic volume on Haslucks Green Road is major hazard.

Full text:

I wish to register myself and my wife's complete opposition to the latest housing plan for the Solihull area.
We live on Haslucks Green Road in Majors Green and the amount of traffic that passes our home from Dickens Heath and the extended Whitlocks End station car park is a major hazard
To even contemplate huge numbers of additional housing in this area effectively joining Majors Green , Dickens Heath, Tilbury Green and Shirley beggars belief.
What happened to the protection of the green belt.?
This area is becoming one giant housing estate.
Two very angry residents.

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 5369

Received: 16/02/2017

Respondent: Mr & Mrs Abbotts

Representation Summary:

Object to housing Site 13 as will increase traffic on already overcrowded roads around Whitlocks End station which are dangerous for children and pedestrians, result in loss of green belt and wildlife habitats, increase pressure on already oversubscribed schools and medical practices leading to degradation of services, and loss of pitches will impact sports facilities for schools and clubs.

Full text:


Proposed New Housing Plan to build 1,300 new homes in Dickens Heath
1.Increase traffic on the roads already overcrowded and dangerous for children and pedestrians crossing the roads around Whitlocks End Station and Haslucks Green Road it is already very dangerous and will only be made much worse.

2.losing the green belt land which is along the canal which is home to lots of different wildlife, once we lose this land it will never be replaced.

3.Schools and medical centres these amenities are already oversubscribed and this development will further increase demand leading to degradation of services for local residents.

4. Loss of football pitches will impact on sport facilities for children that schools and clubs that use these pitches.

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 5378

Received: 16/02/2017

Respondent: Paula Price

Representation Summary:

Object to housing Site 13 as road network inadequate to cope with existing traffic and Haslucks Green Road suffers from speeding traffic and frequent accidents and additional housing will increase volume of traffic significantly putting safety of local residents at risk, Whitlocks End park and ride already full and public transport inadequate, area has taken significant growth in Dickens Heath and Shirley, increased pollution and health risks, loss of sports pitches used by active clubs and parkland/recreational areas and unclear these will be replaced adequately.

Full text:


Response to Solihull Draft Local Plan!
We moved to Majors Green in January 2017 from the busy residential area of Sheldon to hopefully experience a more idyllic lifestyle with views of the countryside. Our property does in fact look over open fields a natural wildlife habitat and where Site A is proposed. The properties are priced accordingly because of this privilege and the development will no doubt have an impact on local property prices. There has already been a lot of building development in the Dickens Heath area and Shirley Park Gate so this proposal as come as quite a shock to all the local residents what happened to the 'leafy suburbs of Solihull' I have detailed the issues with traffic in my objection below which is my main concern but there is also the risk of increased pollution from this extent of housing and the health implications this can bring on. There are three local football clubs which stand to be affected by the proposed building what will happen to them? There are regular matches played there by younger leagues are we not being encouraged to keep children more active. More and more parkland and recreational areas are being taken away. Although new sporting facilities have been mentioned in the proposal will this be open field areas or in the form of a purpose built building to which we already have Tudor Grange Sports Centre, Virgin Active and David Lloyd!
My initial impressions on moving to the Majors Green area was how the Roads did not seem adequate to cope with the volume of traffic going through the area with the already overcrowded and very built up Dickens Heath plus the traffic from the surrounding Shirley areas. Our property is situated on a particularly bad bend of Haslucks Green Road our neighbours have told us of the many accidents that have occurred over the years and since moving here we been unfortunate to witness a number of RTAs which have resulted in the erection of Bollards, sharp bend warning signs and the recent introduction of an anti skid surface. Making the Road look like a black spot danger zone! All of which are yet to make a difference to the number of accidents still happening from Haslucks Green Road to the proposed new housing area. We can often hear the speeding traffic and sometimes wait with baited breathe expecting to hear a crash the roads are dark and narrow and the speeding signs are not adhered to! This will only be heightened with the increased volume of traffic should the proposal go ahead 600 + 700 = 1300 x an average of 2 cars per household = 2600 extra cars adding to the daily traffic plus visitors to the area. The car park is already full daily at Whitlocks End station and the public transport is inadequate in Dickens Heath to get commuters to Solihull the residents will have to use their vehicles or go on foot which brings it own risks with the darkened roads and narrow footpaths, only last year a car mounted the pavement and knocked a lady over breaking both her legs it is only a matter of time before tragically somebody is killed. By allowing this proposal to go ahead you are putting the safety of all the local residents in more jeopardy!

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 5381

Received: 16/02/2017

Respondent: Sonia Woodbridge Oliver

Representation Summary:

Object to amount of new housing proposed for South Shirley as area already suffers from growing congestion and concerned that pressures of thousands and new homes on local services, such as schools and medical services not taken into consideration, will result in loss of sports pitches and removal of recreational amenities and have impact on existing residents future.

Full text:

Proposed housing developments in Shirley and Solihull

I wanted to lodge my huge concerns over the proposed new housing developments in Shirley and Solihull. As a Shirley resident, who primarily moved to the area four years ago to be nearer local countryside I am astonished by the amount of new housing planned. We already have growing congestion around the Bills Lane and Tile House Lane areas but have the pressure that these thousands of homes will put on local services been taken into consideration? For example, Solihull hospital has had so many of its facilities cut or completely removed. What about school places? Let alone the amount of sports pitches that will be built on and the subsequent recreation amenities removed. I find the prospect of such large scale changes quite stressful and really worry about the impact it will have on mine and my family's future in this area. We already feel that the existing infrastructure in the area cannot cope with the current demands made upon it.

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 5384

Received: 16/02/2017

Respondent: Richard & Ruth Wise

Representation Summary:

Object to amount of housing proposed in South Shirley which involves massive overdevelopment that is disproportionate and will result in loss of breathing space and qualities that make Solihull a desirable place to live.

Full text:

Re: Solihull Local Plan Review - Draft Local Plan

We love Solihull !
One of the reasons Solihull is a desirable place to live is that unlike the overdeveloped sprawl of other areas it has some breathing space - Urbs In Rure!
The proposed housing developments contained in the Draft Plan are a massive over development of the Borough and challenge the very reason that makes it a good place to live.
Future generations will thank the Council if this element of the plan is scaled back, particularly in Shirley which bears a disproportionate burden of 41% of the proposed
units on allocated new housing sites.
Solihull could be a beacon by holding up a hand and resisting over development and saying that breathing space is important in our overcrowded island.

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 5502

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Viv Smith

Representation Summary:

Object as disproportionate amount of housing in Blythe ward and will place excessive burden on small area, will reduce key gaps between urban area and Dickens Heath, and access to the countryside and recreational opportunities.

Full text:

Please find attached

Kind regards

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 5531

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Mrs Sarah Smith

Representation Summary:

Object to amount of development focussed on South Shirley as traffic congestion already extremely bad at peak times with traffic from Dickens Heath, will be compounded by extra housing on Site 13, Tanworth Lane junction and A34/M42 already suffering gridlock, will create extra pollution increasing health problems such as asthma, poorly located and inconvenient for train travel without using car to get to stations, where parking already oversubscribed, likely to be significant flooding risk as fields boggy and drainage overflows on roads, and will result in loss of recreational/amenity/wildlife area providing intrinsic benefits to local people which must be protected.

Full text:

Dear Sir/Madam

Please can you confirm receipt of this email, as significant research and analysis has been undertaken in writing this response and would be grateful to know that this has been taken into account. See response to consultation below.

Kind regards
Sarah Smith

Start of response

14. 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?
An extra 15,000 houses in an area that currently only has 86,000 houses seems an extraordinarily high number. The population of Solihull is around 207,000 people, compared to a national population of 64.1 million people. The Government's target is to build 1,000,000 new homes by 2020 (i.e. over its 5 year tenure). For the sake of argument, Solihull should be looking to build 0.32% of these houses based on its population, which is 3,229 houses over a 5 year period, which is only 9,687 over a 15 year period. Therefore, there is no justification to aim to build over 15,000 more houses at the expense of the quality of the surrounding area.

15. Do you believe we are planning to build new homes in the right locations? If not why not, and which locations do you believe shouldn't be included? Are there any other locations that you think should be included?
No. There are too many developments, too focussed on the area south of Shirley where roads are already too busy and there is no space to widen roads or provide new infrastructure. Traffic congestion on Dog Kennel Lane, Tanworth Lane and the surrounding area is already extremely bad at rush hours, and it is increasingly difficult to turn out of Tanworth Lane near the doctor's surgery due to the large volume of traffic coming from the new development in Dickens Heath. Proposed allocations 12 and 13 will exacerbate these problems significantly by putting an extra 1,450 houses on them - potentially an extra 2,900 cars, not to mention the extra 400 houses and 800 cars on the TRW site (plus any additional commuters if there is to be additional employment on that site). Even if new roads are built to access the Stratford Road, there are already traffic jams on the Stratford Road trying to get onto the M42, so putting extra traffic onto the Stratford Road is not going to resolve traffic problems, but will make them worse.
More of these sites should be focussed around the HS2 site if that is one of the main draws for new housing in Solihull. In particular, there are a number of sites marked as lower quality green belt land nearer the HS2 development that aren't being earmarked for development such as parcels of land RP18 and RP19 just north of Hampton in Arden on the Green Belt Assessment report 2016 (both plots of land only have a grading of 4, compared to RP69 and RP65 both graded as 6 but the latter have been earmarked for building allocations 12 and 13 even though they serve a better green belt purpose).
There are also a number of poorer quality greenbelt areas around Dorridge which would be more suitable for development. These areas would be closer to HS2, and are also closer to a better quality train-line than that in Shirley or Dickens Heath. Housing in Dorridge would provide commuters with access to around 72 trains per day to Birmingham (compared to only 45 on the Shirley line), and would also provide easy access to commute to London via either the existing Chiltern service, Birmingham International or the new HS2. In particular RP34 only has a grading of 3, and other sites are graded 4 or 5 (RP33, RP41, RP39, RP40, RP48, RP47, RP45). It would be preferable if you considered these sites to proposed allocations 12 or 13.
The added benefit of building around Dorridge is that Arden School is (I believe) being rebuilt on a new site, so this would be an ideal opportunity to rebuild a new, larger, fit for purpose school to cater for significantly higher numbers instead of trying to extend existing schools on their existing grounds.
There is a triangle of land near to proposed housing allocation 4, bounded by Houndsfield Lane, Tilehouse Lane and the railway line. This does not appear to have been included in plans, even though RP72 only has a green belt grading of 4 and there is already a proposed development near there, and it is significantly more convenient to access Whitlocks End railway station than proposed allocations 12 and 13. It may be that some housing could be put on here, or it may be that there's a plan to extend station car parking here.
There is also a number of green belt sites in the north of the borough within already built up areas around Kingshurst, Fordbridge etc. These are all poorly performing green belt areas, and the green belt strategic review has even highlighted some that do not perform their green belt functions at all. It would be preferable if these areas could be used. As they are amidst built up areas anyway, it would be possible to build at a higher density here, without the development being out of character for the area. (RPs 01, 02, 03, 79, 06, 08).
An area where a lot of space that has already been removed from the green belt which could be more efficiently used and should be considered before any new green belt building, is the huge car parking areas around the NEC, airport and station. Were some of these to be turned into multi-storey car parks, then a number could be released to build housing on, and these would provide significant brown-field sites and save removing further land from the green belt. These would also provide good access to the proposed new employment site north east of Land Rover.
In addition the density of housing being proposed seems to be very low. Both proposed allocations 12 and 13 seem to only be around 20 dwellings per hectare. To reduce the impact on the green belt, build higher density developments in fewer areas (particularly if one of the drivers for new housing is single person households). This was highlighted in the Government's Planning Policy Guidance note 3 suggesting a net density of 30-50 dwellings. If your intended figure of 36 dwellings per hectare is net (which I assume it must be), then it would be in keeping with the same to reduce the space used and build higher density developments, rather than only 20 dwellings per hectare. Look at alternatives for putting parking under houses to use less space. Consider terraces rather than semi-detached, or consider low rise flats. Higher density developments can be significantly more environmentally efficient than lower density developments, and can also allow residents of the new and existing developments to enjoy green belt countryside that hasn't been destroyed.
With regard specifically to proposed allocation 13 (south of Shirley), if this site were to be used (but I would prefer it if it wasn't), it would be preferable to build higher density further away from Stretton Road to provide a full field's gap (not just the narrow strip of bridleway and amenity land) between the estates to still allow for a significant band of open space. This land provides enormous intrinsic benefit to local residents and it would be a huge blow to the area for it to be built upon. It is possible to walk for over an hour on a circular route without having to go on more than a few metres of road. This provides good health and stress-relieving benefits for local people. This would be lost by developing this area. The fresh air would be replaced by polluted air from thousands of extra cars sitting in traffic jams, and would be detrimental to all impacted.
In addition, this area of grassland is important for drainage in the area. Building more tarmac and impermeable surfaces on this area is likely to have knock-on impacts for existing and future residents.
It is also an area that provides a large open space for wildlife and significant numbers of trees.

16. Do you believe we have identified the infrastructure35 required to support these developments? If not why not? Are there any additional facilities you believe are required, if so what are they?

Schools local to proposed allocations 11, 12 and 13 already have two or three form entries at primary school level where they used to be single form entry. It is difficult to envisage how much additional capacity these schools can really withstand before it has a detrimental impact on their ability to provide the outstanding education that they are renowned for.
This would exacerbate congestion of the significant numbers of cars dropping or collecting pupils from Lighthall School, and Woodlands School (and all of the other schools in the borough) and the knock on impact on local residents who live around these schools.
At school start and finish times there are already severe issues with driving round the estate surrounding Stretton Road, parking, school delivery lorries. I have personally nearly been killed on my bicycle trying to get to the station by parents turning their cars in our road without looking, and also run off the road by a school food delivery lorry on the roundabout on Shakespeare Drive.
Roads around proposed allocations 11, 12 and 13 are already overcrowded, and they are not convenient for train travel without using a car to get to the station, or an extended walk. Parking already became a problem at Shirley station with the growth of Dickens Heath. Several years ago it became impossible to find a parking space at Shirley station unless you arrived before 7.30am. This led to the expansion of Whitlocks End station parking and the extension of the line to Whitlocks End instead of Shirley, but with the scale of housing being proposed, again I can't see how the train infrastructure on this line could stand the scale of the proposed housing. Perhaps extra buses may be proposed but they won't be able to get through the gridlocked traffic, and it will then take up to an additional hour from Shirley to get into Birmingham by bus.
Tanworth Lane, Stretton Road, Stratford Road, Dog Kennel Lane are all already severely congested due to Dickens Heath traffic, leading to extra pollution in the area. To extend further would cause even more congestion and pollution. It is unfair to existing residents to prevent them from being able to get to places due to additional congestion. It is already the case that it can take longer to drive from Withybrook Road to the TRW site than it does to walk on the occasions my husband needs to take his car to work. It can take 20 minutes to drive that mile, purely due to the Dickens Heath traffic. By adding further housing developments in this area, this will become impossible. The residents of Shirley won't be able to get onto the M42 in the morning, or return home in the evening as the Stratford Road and adjoining roads will be gridlocked.
Regarding pollution, in the 25 years we've lived here and run a local Scout troop, we've seen the number of children with asthma increase dramatically, which appears to be due to pollution from the Stratford Road, and the Council should feel responsible for the impact of their decisions on local residents.
We have seen nothing in the plan about nursery provision. This needs to be addressed as it is difficult to find nursery places in the area. On a personal level, we have enrolled our daughter at Active Angels nursery for when I return to work, and a very significant factor in choosing this nursery was that it backed on to open fields, so she wouldn't be inhaling the fumes of the Stratford Road every day. However, if proposed allocation 13 is built, not only in due course will there be lots of houses and cars, but in the meantime, she'll be attending nursery on a building site with heavy lorries and heavy plant in operation rather than the fields and open spaces that was a major factor in choosing this site. We're now uncertain whether the nursery will even exist in the future. We've also missed our opportunity to book into our other nursery choices now, because it is necessary to obtain places so far in advance.
For the number of houses you're proposing, it will be required to have additional secondary schools. It is not feasible to extend existing ones as you will not be able to get any more cars there or back in the mornings and afternoons. The new schools will need space and access roads. Several primary schools as a minimum must be considered in these plans.
Good quality, well lit cycle paths separate from traffic (but not slower to use than the road) should be drawn into any of these planned developments and linking to major sites. With the increase in traffic on the roads, Solihull's roads will become even more dangerous for cyclists (and pedestrians). The poor design of Dickens Heath leading to significant levels of on-street parking has made it dangerous to cycle through here as drivers are impatient to wait to pass. Similar problems could easily happen with any of these new sites if not well designed.
I think it is likely that there is a significant flooding risk by building allocations 12 and 13. Certainly the fields around allocation 13 are always boggy and muddy in winter. The drains at the top of Hathaway Road at the junction with Shakespeare Drive overflow in any heavy rain. I would envisage this getting significantly worse if allocation 13 is built on, and this large area of grass/marshland is removed. The drainage system of the whole area would need to be significantly improved.
End of response

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 5552

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Richard Cobb Planning

Representation Summary:

Relocate Light Hall school to site 13 to include some playing fields and a formal park as well as some housing. Similar to the approach proposed for Arden Academy in Knowle. Use the existing school site for residential development.

Full text:

Please find attached my own general comments on the Draft Local Plan

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 5722

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Mrs Pamela Forrest

Representation Summary:

Increased housing would not sustain the attractiveness of the area or existing properties;
Increased traffic would not assist tackling climate change;
Increased traffic would reduce accessibility;
Increased population would add pressure on local services;
Loss of Green Belt;
Increased flooding;
New housing in Shirley area will not benefit HS2;

Full text:

see letter -

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 5848

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: P Benton & T Neary

Agent: Tyler Parkes Partnership Ltd

Representation Summary:

Review of evidence:
Loss of Green Belt in significant location (GBA score 6 out of 12).
Adverse impact on sensitive landscape character.
Impact on infrastructure.
Impact on community facilities.
Impact on existing communities and cohesion.
SHLAA Site Ref. 41, includes much larger area than land proposed. Category 2 for development. Less than 10% of site within a LWS. Less than 50% affected by heritage assets. Grade 4 agricultural land.
States that development would undermine existing Christmas tree orchard business.
Recognises that developing entire site would result in coalescence of Shirley with Dickens Heath.

Full text:

Please find attached representations to the Draft Solihull Local Plan Review for land at and to the rear of 146- 152 Tilehouse Lane, Whitlock's End, B90 1PW.

The submission comprises the
* letter of representations (10463 HRW LPR APP);
* a site plan (ref.no. 10463-01A) with the site edged red;
* an Illustrative layout (10463(10)M-101 prepared by Tyler-Parkes Partnership
* a Transport Statement prepared by ADL Traffic Engineering Ltd
* An updated Extended Phase I Habitat Survey prepared by Cotswold Wildlife Surveys
* Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy prepared by BWB

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 6050

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Solihull Ratepayers Association

Representation Summary:

2550 homes is excessive in the area.
Seek to retain and Enhance existing open space and a green
Corridor to the Bridleway, Canal, Bills Lane and the wider Countryside for health and well-being benefit of existing and future residents.
Should be no secondary vehicular access to Woodlands and Badgers Estate.
Affordable housing for local needs in Dickens Heath.

Full text:

petition submitted by Solihull Ratepayers - 34 pages containing 361 signatures

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 6084

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Tidbury Green Golf Club

Agent: Tyler Parkes Partnership Ltd

Representation Summary:

Review of evidence:
Loss of Green Belt in significant location (GBA score 6 out of 12).
Adverse impact on sensitive landscape character.
Impact on infrastructure.
Impact on community facilities.
Impact on existing communities and cohesion.
SHLAA Site Ref. 41, includes much larger area than land proposed. Category 2 for development. Less than 10% of site within a LWS. Less than 50% affected by heritage assets. Grade 4 agricultural land.
States that development would undermine existing Christmas tree orchard business.
Recognises that developing entire site would result in coalescence of Shirley with Dickens Heath.

Full text:

Please find attached representations to the Draft Solihull Local Plan Review for the site at Tidbury Green Golf Club, Tidbury Green.

The submission comprises
* The letter of representations (10171 LPA3 LPR APP)
* An existing site plan (ref.no. 10509(EX)01) with the site edged red.
* Schedule of accommodation (10509(SC)01)
* Illustrative Site Layout (10509(MP)01)
* Ecological Appraisal prepared by Crossman Associates
* Environmental Noise Report prepared by Sharps Redmore
* Flood Risk Assessment prepared by THDA
* Tree Survey prepared by Abbey Forestry
* Transport Statement and Travel Plan prepared by ADL Traffic Engineering
* Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment prepared by Landscape Matters
* Site Investigation Report prepared by Georisk UK

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 6119

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Mrs A Curtis

Agent: Tyler Parkes Partnership Ltd

Representation Summary:

Review of evidence:
Loss of Green Belt in significant location (GBA score 6 out of 12).
Adverse impact on sensitive landscape character.
Impact on infrastructure.
Impact on community facilities.
Impact on existing communities and cohesion.
SHLAA Site Ref. 41, includes much larger area than land proposed. Category 2 for development. Less than 10% of site within a LWS. Less than 50% affected by heritage assets. Grade 4 agricultural land.
States that development would undermine existing Christmas tree orchard business.
Recognises that developing entire site would result in coalescence of Shirley with Dickens Heath.

Full text:

Please find attached representations to the Draft Solihull Local Plan Review for land at the rear of Bakehouse Lane and Wheeler Close, Chadwick End

The submission comprises the letter of representations (6439.LPA1.HMG LPR APP) and a site plan (ref.no. 6439 site plan) with the site edged red.

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 6150

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Landowners Wootton Green Land Balsall Common

Agent: Tyler Parkes Partnership Ltd

Representation Summary:

Review of evidence:
Loss of Green Belt in significant location (GBA score 6 out of 12).
Adverse impact on sensitive landscape character.
Impact on infrastructure.
Impact on community facilities.
Impact on existing communities and cohesion.
SHLAA Site Ref. 41, includes much larger area than land proposed. Category 2 for development. Less than 10% of site within a LWS. Less than 50% affected by heritage assets. Grade 4 agricultural land.
States that development would undermine existing Christmas tree orchard business.
Recognises that developing entire site would result in coalescence of Shirley with Dickens Heath.

Full text:

Please find attached representations to the Draft Solihull Local Plan Review on behalf of the landowners at the sites at Wootton Green Lane, Balsall Common.

The submission comprises
* the letter of representations (10607 LPA2 JD LPR APP);
* Site plan (10607(OS)01) with the site edged red;
* Illustrative layout (10607(MP)01);
* Transport Assessment prepared by ADL Traffic Engineering; and
* Landscape character assessment response prepared by Landscape Matters

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 6180

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: the Client

Agent: Tyler Parkes Partnership Ltd

Representation Summary:

Review of evidence:
Loss of Green Belt in significant location (GBA score 6 out of 12).
Adverse impact on sensitive landscape character.
Impact on infrastructure.
Impact on community facilities.
Impact on existing communities and cohesion.
SHLAA Site Ref. 41, includes much larger area than land proposed. Category 2 for development. Less than 10% of site within a LWS. Less than 50% affected by heritage assets. Grade 4 agricultural land.
States that development would undermine existing Christmas tree orchard business.
Recognises that developing entire site would result in coalescence of Shirley with Dickens Heath.

Full text:

Please find attached representations to the Draft Solihull Local Plan Review for the land south of Hampton Lane, and west of Ravenshaw Lane/ South of Hampton Lane, Solihull.

The submission comprises the letter of representations (9263 SHL LPR APP) and a site plan (ref.no. 9263 Site Plan) with the site edged red.

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 6217

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Cosmic Fireworks Directors Retirement Fund

Agent: Tyler Parkes Partnership Ltd

Representation Summary:

Review of evidence:
Loss of Green Belt in significant location (GBA score 6 out of 12).
Adverse impact on sensitive landscape character.
Impact on infrastructure.
Impact on community facilities.
Impact on existing communities and cohesion.
SHLAA Site Ref. 41, includes much larger area than land proposed. Category 2 for development. Less than 10% of site within a LWS. Less than 50% affected by heritage assets. Grade 4 agricultural land.
States that development would undermine existing Christmas tree orchard business.
Recognises that developing entire site would result in coalescence of Shirley with Dickens Heath.

Full text:

Please find attached representations to the Draft Solihull Local Plan Review for the land at Barston Lane/ Oak Lane, Barston B92 0JR

The submission comprises the letter of representations (10445 LA3 GC LPR APP) and a site plan (ref.no. 10445-01A) with the site edged red.

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 6261

Received: 13/02/2017

Respondent: Elizabeth Rand

Representation Summary:

Object to amount of land proposed for development in Shirley, as too much on green belt, the area south of Stratford Road is already congested and will not be able to cope with the amount of traffic, there are insufficient transport connections such as railway links, and loss of green areas will reduce Shirley's image from the lovely 'town in the country' it always was.

Full text:

Too much green belt land is being built on in Shirley.
The area south of the Stratford Road is already congested and will not be able to cope with the amount of traffic. There are insufficient transport connections such as railway links to these areas. By reducing the green belt areas, Shirley's image is reduced from the lovely 'town in the country' it always was.
More high density housing could be built in the north of the borough. I also disagree with the East of Solihull development of 650 units on green belt again.

No

Draft Local Plan Review

Representation ID: 6292

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Mrs Linda Homer

Representation Summary:

Object to housing site 13 as reduces gaps between settlements contrary to the objectives of Challenge E, increasing urban sprawl and merging communities with consequent loss of identity, will impact on an area of biodiversity and habitat of value, an important area for local wildlife and valuable amenity space in Shirley that brings health and wellbeing benefits to the local residents and the area, inadequate infrastructure which cannot be mitigated, increase in pollution, and there would be significant effects on the water table in the area, both in terms of run-off and drainage.

Full text:

Under "Challenge K - Protecting and enhancing our natural assets" I was disappointed to see that there isn't equal weighting given to the natural environment that borders Shirley. Allocation 13 is an area of biodiversity and habitat of value, an important area for local wildlife in Shirley. We have lost too many of these areas already.
Challenge E - Protecting key gaps between urban areas and settlements.
Building houses on Allocation 13 is contrary to the objectives of this challenge. I live in Shirley South adjacent to the Green Belt and can testify to the biodiversity that still exists in this area and the benefits it brings to the local residents and the area.