Draft Local Plan - Supplementary Consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 9283

Received: 20/03/2019

Respondent: L&Q Estates and Barratt David Wilson Homes

Agent: Avison Young

See attached letter for full question response.
We remain of the view that an allowance of 2,000 homes is not sound. Evidence underpinning this will have to be explained as part of the plan-making process
We suspect that when properly assessed, the
scale of unmet need forecast across the HMA to 2036 will be significantly higher than specified in the SGS.
This in turn, will necessitate the identification and allocation of
additional sites for housing development.
The Council must also assess its needs over a longer term period (stretching well beyond the normal plan period)

Comment

Representation ID: 9284

Received: 20/03/2019

Respondent: L&Q Estates and Barratt David Wilson Homes

Agent: Avison Young

See attached letter for full question response.
We do not agree with the methodology deployed by the Council. Importantly, the starting point is fundamentally flawed
Further comments on housing land supply, Solihull Local Plan Allocations (2013), Windfall Housing Land Supply (2018-2033), UK Central Hub Area, Site Selection Methodology
we do not consider the Council's delivery estimate to be robust and we will be interrogating its assertions in respect of its other proposed allocations when the Council publishes a detailed housing trajectory

Comment

Representation ID: 9285

Received: 20/03/2019

Respondent: L&Q Estates and Barratt David Wilson Homes

Agent: Avison Young

The infrastructure proposed to support the allocations and expansion of Balsall Common should be contained in an Infrastructure Delivery Plan to supplement the Regulation 19 Submission Plan.
In relation to the proposed Balsall Common By-pass from Hall Meadow Road to the A452 at Meer End Road. It will be important to demonstrate that funding is available or the cost of the scheme required will not impact the viability of development proposals.

Object

Representation ID: 9286

Received: 20/03/2019

Respondent: L&Q Estates and Barratt David Wilson Homes

Agent: Avison Young

To summarise our position, the land at Barratt's Farm performs a more important role in terms of Green Belt function than at Grange Farm.
Site selection step 1- We consider, given our comments above and detailed analysis provided at Appendix 2, that whilst Barratt's Farm has been categorised as a 'yellow' site it should more appropriated have be defined as a 'blue site 6' and that Grange Farm, in contrast should have been categorised as a 'yellow site 5'.
Our review of the SA report in January 2017 indicates that Grange Farm would have less significant effects than Barratt's Farm

Object

Representation ID: 9287

Received: 20/03/2019

Respondent: L&Q Estates and Barratt David Wilson Homes

Agent: Avison Young

To summarise our position, in our view the land at Frog Lane performs a more important role in terms of Green Belt function than at Grange Farm. As such the following observations should have been taken into account when Frog Lane was categorised:
The release of land at Frog Lane will result in development extending southwards and would represent a clear physical extension of development into the countryside.
Our conclusion was that Frog Lane should score 7 in terms of GB impact whereas Grange Farm should score 5 and should thus be preferred.

Object

Representation ID: 9288

Received: 20/03/2019

Respondent: L&Q Estates and Barratt David Wilson Homes

Agent: Avison Young

To summarise our position, in our view the land at Windmill Lane performs a more important role in terms of Green Belt function than at Grange Farm.
The release of land at Windmill Lane plays an important role in preventing development extending into the countryside and resulting in urban sprawl.
The narrow shape of the land within Site 3 extends disproportionately from the southern edge of the settlement and would have a significant negative impact on the local environment in this location.
Windmill Lane plays a more important role in terms of GB function than at Grange Farm

Object

Representation ID: 9289

Received: 20/03/2019

Respondent: L&Q Estates and Barratt David Wilson Homes

Agent: Avison Young

We consider there has been an inappropriate designation of the site as brownfield land. It is therefore considered that any agricultural buildings within this site should therefore not be classed as brownfield.
We note in relation to the Green Belt impacts that the site currently:
Performs a more important role than Grange Farm overall (in GB terms)
It would result in unrestricted sprawl- lack of a strong and defensible boundary
It is unclear why the site is preferred to Grange Farm which is less important in Green Belt terms and often
more compact (less sprawling) form of development.

Object

Representation ID: 9290

Received: 20/03/2019

Respondent: L&Q Estates and Barratt David Wilson Homes

Agent: Avison Young

We consider there has been an inappropriate designation of the site (totalling c.11ha) as brownfield land.
We note in relation to the Green Belt impacts that the site:
Performs a more important role than Grange Farm overall, in relation to the extent the site protrudes from Balsall Common.
It would result in unrestricted sprawl.
It is unclear why the site is preferred to Grange Farm which is less important in Green Belt terms and often more compact (less sprawling) form of development.

Object

Representation ID: 9291

Received: 20/03/2019

Respondent: L&Q Estates and Barratt David Wilson Homes

Agent: Avison Young

We query the designation of the entire site as brownfield land
We note in relation to the Green Belt impacts that the site until HS2 is implemented:
Performs a more important role than Grange Farm overall, in relation to the impact on the Green Belt.
It would result in unrestricted sprawl given the current lack of a strong and defensible boundary to the north of the site.
It is unclear why the site is preferred to Grange Farm which is less important in Green Belt terms
The site is premised on the defensible boundary of the HS2 line.

Comment

Representation ID: 9292

Received: 20/03/2019

Respondent: L&Q Estates and Barratt David Wilson Homes

Agent: Avison Young

A key change to the Green Belt is being predicated on the proposed HS2 route. Whilst there is no doubt this will provide a boundary line, it is not currently built or in construction, so we query the soundness of relying on the strong and defensible boundary being relied upon to form an eastern boundary to Balsall Common.

This presents an issue of certainty and timing