Draft Local Plan Review

No

Representation ID: 4135

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Richard Cobb Planning

Reasonable case for the housing numbers but concerned that it falls short of what should be provided in terms of meeting the Objectively Assessed Housing Need requirement for the Birmingham HMA. There is a reliance on too many large sites and volume housebuilders do not perform at the pace necessary to deliver the housing target requirements. More small and medium sites should be made available for local building companies who can deliver faster.

No

Representation ID: 5542

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Richard Cobb Planning

The broad approach taken to developing Solihull Town Centre is probably right but the loss of parking facilities in Solihull Town Centre is worrying. The Local Plan should look at a scheme for Park and Ride in the life of the Plan and to look for sites in the Green Belt around the periphery. Sites at Ravenshaw, Widney manor, Damson Parkway and South Shirley come to mind.
Apart from residential development, more hotels and employment sites are also needed in the centre.

No

Representation ID: 5543

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Richard Cobb Planning

The Plan seeks to protect existing business and employment premises but then allocates existing employment premises for housing without replacing them elsewhere. That idea should be forgotten.

No

Representation ID: 5544

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Richard Cobb Planning

Housing numbers fall short of what should be provided.

No

Representation ID: 5545

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Richard Cobb Planning

Disproportionate amount of housing proposed in Blythe Ward.
Significant development in Balsall Common with no additional employment provision, a dysfunctional village centre with no space to accommodate more parking.
Failure to explore other potential communities which should share the burden of development. Most notable are Dorridge and Hockley Heath which seem capable of taking their share.

No

Representation ID: 5546

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Richard Cobb Planning

No strategic reason to allocate land at Frog Lane for development. Better to replace this with a selection of smaller sites at the northern end of the village that could deliver the same additional housing numbers at a faster rate. That would help to round the village and spread the burden of new development in the village.

No

Representation ID: 5547

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Richard Cobb Planning

Continued approach to see Dickens Heath perform the role of a soft sponge for soaking up more and more housing to avoid having to find sites elsewhere. The expansion breaches the fundamental principle of preventing the merging of settlements. Majors Green should remain well separated from Dickens Heath and housing development along Tythe Barn Lane out to Tilehouse Lane would be a fatal erosion of that Green Belt gap. Dickens Heath centre is also in need of a fresh examination if it is to cope with any more housing.

No

Representation ID: 5548

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Richard Cobb Planning

The site will destroy the character and setting of Knowle. It will massively impact on the visual aspect of Knowle from the east. The allocation should not extend to the Warwick Road or beyond the Middlefield development. The remaining balance of numbers can be found by adopting a dispersal approach using smaller or medium sized sites.

No

Representation ID: 5549

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Richard Cobb Planning

Loss of one of the few remaining modern employment sites so close to Shirley. Retaining and/or redeveloping it as an employment site would offer continued opportunities for employment for those occupying the new houses proposed off Dog Kennel Lane and the South of Shirley site, rather than removing those employment opportunities altogether.

Yes

Representation ID: 5550

Received: 17/02/2017

Respondent: Richard Cobb Planning

The release of site 12 should extend over to link to the rather ad hoc and long established development at the head of Creynolds Lane and include a feeder road leading over to Dickens Heath.