Solihull Local Plan (Draft Submission) 2020

Object

Representation ID: 11009

Received: 11/12/2020

Respondent: Balsall Parish Council

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The proposed layout for Site BC2 fails to take account of the Balsall Parish NDP, which has passed examination although the referendum has been delayed. Policy BE.2 Local Character and Design a) and b) calls for the density of new development in immediate proximity to existing housing to reflect the density of existing housing.
The Concept Masterplan for Site BC2 shows medium density housing adjacent to low density existing housing on Balsall Street East contrary to the Balsall NDP.

Object

Representation ID: 11010

Received: 11/12/2020

Respondent: Balsall Parish Council

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Concept Masterplan BC2 Frog Lane does not conform with Policy P10 requirements for greenspace improvements. Based on 110 units this development will require 0.9 hectares of public open space (POS). A doorstep space will need to be provided on site and a local play space/neighbourhood play area in the locality. The land to the east is a school playing field and not public open space. The POS required for this allocation is not shown on the Concept Masterplan. The Parish Council is concerned it may not materialise, and that POS provision in Balsall Common is below the submission plan target and the Borough average, exacerbated by inadequate provision for the SLP2013 sites.
The nearest proper play provision is 2 miles away along the A452 trunk road in Lavender Hall Park.

Object

Representation ID: 11011

Received: 11/12/2020

Respondent: Balsall Parish Council

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Whilst the Concept Masterplan and Site Policy BC5 Trevallion Stud are generally supported, the provision of access points along its north western boundary will compromise the rural nature of Wootton Green Lane. Policy BE.2 of the Balsall Parish NDP defines the need to
retain the rural character and diversity of older routes,
especially retaining or replacing hedges. Traffic will be likely to use Wootton Green Lane which has no pavements and is part of the Heart of England Way, creating an inappropriate hazard.

Object

Representation ID: 11012

Received: 11/12/2020

Respondent: Balsall Parish Council

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Para 527 Balsall Common Relief Road
The creation of this relief road should be in one phase. Rat runs are already used through the settlement to avoid the A452 and should the new road not be implemented in one go this problem will be exacerbated.
Creating the relief road in more than one phase will mean very little of the existing traffic will use it. Without the complete relief road to divert traffic from the centre of Balsall Common, the Masterplanning of the village centre will be impeded (para 528).

Object

Representation ID: 11013

Received: 11/12/2020

Respondent: Balsall Parish Council

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The Parish Council welcomes the commitment within paragraph 528 to create a village centre masterplan, recognising the level of expansion Balsll Common faces.
However, residents want real change on the ground and not just a plan. Without real change the centre will not cope with the increased use of cars to access it in an area where residents make 70% of their daily trips by car versus a borough average of 50%. The plan needs to make reference to funding of the improved centre.

Object

Representation ID: 11014

Received: 11/12/2020

Respondent: Balsall Parish Council

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Primary School Provision
The Parish Council welcomes the commitment to a new primary school in Balsall Common to support the
number of homes proposed for the settlement. However, it is concerned that any additional housing over and above the levels shown for the allocated sites and likely windfall housing will generate more primary school places than the new school can provide, and that the proposed phasing of the housing allocations in the first
5-years will exceed the current available primary school places.
A full case on this subject is made by Berkswell Parish Council.

Object

Representation ID: 11015

Received: 11/12/2020

Respondent: Balsall Parish Council

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Site Policy BC3 and Concept Masterplan. The area of low-density housing to be accessed from the existing housing area on Kenilworth Road extends too far into the existing wooded area defined by the Ecological Assessment: Windmill Lane and Kenilworth Road. The Assessment recommends the protection of a 30m buffer around woodland and includes this in the area of development constraint, but this is not reflected in the Concept Masterplan.