Solihull Local Plan (Draft Submission) 2020

Object

Representation ID: 14103

Received: 03/02/2021

Respondent: Nurton Developments

Agent: Chave Planning

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

Policy P10 refers to a requirement to secure a net gain in biodiversity of ‘at least’ 10% (paragraph 8) and says that evidence should be provided using the Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Biodiversity Impact Calculator or DEFRA equivalent (paragraph 13). These requirements are not in accordance with the emerging Environment Bill and therefore they would not be sound or legally compliant once the bill passes into law, which is anticipated in spring 2021.

It is clear that the Biodiversity Metric to be used will be that published by the Secretary State and not any local metric, this will be set at 10%, not ‘at least’ 10%. Therefore, the use of the Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Biodiversity Impact Calculator is not supported by the emerging Environment Act and the requirement to achieve ‘at least’ 10% biodiversity gain goes beyond the provisions of the emerging Environment Act.

Support

Representation ID: 14106

Received: 03/02/2021

Respondent: Nurton Developments

Agent: Chave Planning

Norton Developments (Hockley Heath) Ltd are promoters of the land proposed for allocation under Policy HH1 and have engaged with the preparation of the Local Plan on behalf of the landowners since January 2016.
The Vision document has been subject to community consultation in 2017. Feedback from this consultation was reported back to the LPA, this is reflected in policy HH1. This includes that speed reduction measures and pedestrian safety improvements are implemented along School Road, trees and hedgerows are retained and flood risk management measures are employed.
The evidence base highlights that the site is well contained by physical and permanent features that would provide strong and defensible Green Belt boundaries.
The site would deliver c90 dwellings in a location adjacent to and well related to the built up area of Hockley Heath, within convenient walking distance of a range of village facilities, the site would offer opportunities for walking and use of public transport and thus would minimise car travel.
Due to the scale of the site it would play an important contribution in meeting housing needs in the short to medium term. A development of c90 dwellings is likely to deliver 40-50 dwellings per annum with development being commenced within 2 years of the adoption of the Local Plan.