Draft Local Plan Review

No

Representation ID: 2035

Received: 16/02/2017

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

Welcome challenges noted in the Plan.
Not all transport challenges been noted, in particular connectivity issues which could constrain growth.
1) West Midlands motorway network - subject to heavy congestion, traffic delays and poor journey reliability.
2) Increasing capacity and overcrowding issue on rail.
3) Planning for demographic changes. E.g. over 65s increasing car dependency.
4) Challenge H should include transport barriers to specific developments e.g. Birmingham Airport.

Yes

Representation ID: 3068

Received: 16/02/2017

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

Welcome Vision overall.
Reference to the wider West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) and meeting the aspirations of key businesses would therefore be welcomed, to help maintain Solihull's important regional and sub-regional role.

Yes

Representation ID: 3069

Received: 16/02/2017

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

TfWM favour development that is located along high frequency public transport corridors and hubs, existing town centres and the UK Central hub area/HS2 (growth options A - E) rather than existing or new rural villages/settlements or new locations (growth options F-G) as sustainable transport is often limited.
Need to emphasise future rapid transit routes in relation to locating new development (see Sections 2.12-2.14 of Movement for Growth strategy).
Above policies should be explicit in Local Plan and aligned to vision.

Yes

Representation ID: 3070

Received: 16/02/2017

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

Policy P1 supported by TfWM and is in alignment with the WMCA's SEP.
Vital that Solihull MBC and TfWM work together to focus on securing the necessary
TfWM (part of the West Midlands Combined Authority) infrastructure, connectivity and infrastructure improvements to create the optimum environment for investment, new jobs and homes.

Yes

Representation ID: 3071

Received: 16/02/2017

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

Fully support Policy P2.
More emphasis needed on connecting residential areas to local town centres, especially as 41% of all local trips are within 2 miles.
Fully support importance of growth at Solihull Town Centre, but concerns about relocating train station:
Could apply highway redesign and innovative measures to give the illusion that their stations are closer.
Existing station also serves residential areas.
Underused space around station could be reconfigured for interchange.
Existing station well placed for growth at Homer Road/Lode Lane triangle.
However, relocation of the station could provide excellent multi-modal interchange facilities, and improve connectivity.

Yes

Representation ID: 3072

Received: 16/02/2017

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

TfWM understands the need to meet the Borough's assessed housing needs
and provide more housing, as the population projections state around 22,900 more people will live in Solihull over the next 20 years.

No

Representation ID: 3073

Received: 16/02/2017

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

A number of new allocated housing sites have been proposed including 5,250 new dwellings in the Green Belt. Locations such as Balsall Common, Dickens Heath, Hampton in Arden and Knowle currently have limited public transport and there is a concern that housing development, at these locations, will only add to the current high levels of congestion.
Also, with the wider impacts of HS2 and the regions natural growth, this could further exasperate congestion.

No

Representation ID: 3074

Received: 16/02/2017

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

Despite reference being made to the infrastructure requirements, to make that development an attractive and sustainable location, it is hard to understand how this will be the case for those more rural locations.
Despite stating in Policy P7 'bus services will be provided for and offering at least a 30 minute daytime, evening and weekend frequency within 400m of the residential development over 100 dwellings', we feel services to these locations will not
be profitable and will result in TfWM subsidising these services in long run. Therefore TfWM does not support significant development taking place at rural locations.

No

Representation ID: 3075

Received: 16/02/2017

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

Policy P7 - criteria not achievable for large developments in rural locations.
Policy P8 - Support range of measures to promote sustainable and active travel.
Further consideration should be added on the following:
Park and Ride Opportunities;
Parking Policy;
Cycling and Walking;
Smart technology;
Key Route Network;
Bus services;
Bypass Improvement Lines.
Policy P8A - Request amendment to second bullet point:
"Birmingham City Centre to UK Central Hub and Solihull SPRINT".
Suggest SPRINT routes included in an Appendix.

Yes

Representation ID: 3076

Received: 16/02/2017

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

Support principles in this chapter.
Policy P18 - Agree that transport is significant challenge to health, it is also opportunity for improvement e.g. walking and cycling.
WMCA have launched 'Thrive West Midlands': An Action Plan to drive better mental health and wellbeing together with establishing a Wellbeing Board. This would create the governance framework for the implementation of the Mental Health Commission work and we welcome reference to this.