Solihull Local Plan (Draft Submission) 2020

Support

Representation ID: 13976

Received: 14/12/2020

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

- Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) – the transport arm of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is in support of the Solihull Local Plan (Publication Stage) overall. We feel engagement has been undertaken and overall the plan is in alignment with our overall transport policies.
- TfWM do not object to the Solihull local plan and are very supportive of the plans vision and key objectives.
- TfWM would like to work closely with SMBC and developers as site progress through planning system.
- However, we feel there are areas where minor modifications could be made, to strengthen the active travel and sustainable transfer offer, to ensure the plan is sound and fully compliant with our wider policy objectives as a Combined Authority.

Support

Representation ID: 13978

Received: 14/12/2020

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

- Overall, TfWM is very supportive of the document's vision and associated aims.
- No doubt the proposed housing development sites across Solihull and UK Central will create extra pressure on demand on the Key Route Network as well as on existing public transport. TfWM therefore welcomes acknowledgment of Solihull’s transport challenges and in partnership, we will continue to develop solutions to these issues.
- Seek clarity on how such developments, and especially those proposed in the green belt, will be made accessible by sustainable transport modes.
- Propose that transport masterplanning will be imperative to achieving these goals, and should be done at the earliest opportunity.

Object

Representation ID: 13980

Received: 14/12/2020

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Yes

- Solihull faces significant challenges for planning for future homes and jobs across the borough, and whilst TfWM considers that the ideal location for new development is concentrated in areas already well served by public transport, such as high-volume corridors (as emphasised in TfWM’s 10 year Delivery Plan), we appreciate that other sites will also need to be considered.
- For such sites located in the green belt, sustainable transport should play a major role – with the plan demonstrating good accessibility measures and sustainable transport infrastructure in place. This is especially important for employment sites such as Birmingham Business Park, Blythe Valley Business Park and Damson Parkway, where currently these sites do not reflect sustainable commuting patterns.

Object

Representation ID: 13981

Received: 14/12/2020

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Yes

- Solihull faces significant challenges for planning for future homes and jobs across the borough, and whilst TfWM considers that the ideal location for new development is concentrated in areas already well served by public transport, such as high-volume corridors (as emphasised in TfWM’s 10 year Delivery Plan), we appreciate that other sites will also need to be considered.
- For such sites located in the green belt, sustainable transport should play a major role – with the plan demonstrating good accessibility measures and sustainable transport infrastructure in place. This is especially important for employment sites such as Birmingham Business Park, Blythe Valley Business Park and Damson Parkway, where currently these sites do not reflect sustainable commuting patterns.

Support

Representation ID: 13982

Received: 14/12/2020

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

- The local plan refers to HS2 growth and significant employment opportunities through UK Central. Yet delivering on high levels of employment growth, relies heavily on good accessibility to jobs, especially for those residents without access to a car in the region, including groups such as the unemployed, those living in more deprived areas and young people.
- Add reference to Local Transport Plan in chapter as this highlights good regional and community connectivity to key employment growth areas, with greater emphasis on the importance of traditional bus services which assist more vulnerable communities together with good walking and cycling measures to connect communities to key opportunities.
- Above will support principles of inclusive growth.

Support

Representation ID: 13983

Received: 14/12/2020

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

Under Policy P1 UK Central Solihull Hub Area, reference should be made to the WMCA’s HS2 Connectivity Package, which demonstrates the importance of improved transport connections and accessibility by public transport, cycling and walking, from local neighbourhoods to key employment growth opportunities in this area like UK Central. This will go onto support wider WMCA objectives like inclusive growth – through connecting people to vital opportunities.

Object

Representation ID: 13984

Received: 14/12/2020

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Yes

- Transport masterplanning needs to be undertaken in addition to concept masterplans
- This needs to be carried out prior to planning approval, to ensure sites are sustainable, both in terms of environment and infrastructure impacts.
- Should accord with overarching Solihull MBC and WMCA goals (see TfWM Response to Solihull Masterplan Consultation: 16/05/2018).
- This is particularly important as a number of sites are not in existing urban, highly accessible locations.
- New housing sites should be either mixed use or be close to a major source of jobs, education, health facilities and key amenities like shops and services; reducing the need to travel and providing opportunities to work, learn, shop, play and socialise locally.
- Future-proofed digital infrastructure, including superfast fibre broadband, should be provided for all new development
- Transport masterplans (for sites or clusters of sites) should scope out transport network and connectivity with all transport modes; bus corridors & network, rail, walking & cycling links (including LCWIPs), shared spaces, interchanges, stops and shelters, as well as full consideration of transport innovation measures, services and infrastructure.
- TfWM can help with this process.

Support

Representation ID: 13985

Received: 14/12/2020

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

- TfWM welcome principles established in this Chapter, and reference to WM Strategic Transport Plan ‘Movement for Growth’.
- However we encourage reference to emerging Local Transport Plan for 2021, and TfWM’s Delivery Plan.
Acknowledge the potential that growth can being, including opportunities for improved public transport, cycling and walking infrastructure, which benefit new and existing communities.
- Have concerns about predicted traffic increase at many of proposed sites, and will likely result in further congestion and poorer long-term social and environmental outcomes.
- WMCA’s #2041 Climate Change Strategy/Action Plan should be noted in this chapter also, especially as transport is the biggest source of carbon emissions.
- Despite improvements to engine technologies, transport emissions have remained high over the last 30 years, largely due to increased car usage related to economic and population growth.
- Important that transport and planning respond to these challenges.

Object

Representation ID: 14102

Received: 14/12/2020

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Yes

Need to ensure walking and cycling infrastructure is integral to new development.

Object

Representation ID: 14116

Received: 14/12/2020

Respondent: Transport for the West Midlands

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Yes

Transport Innovation:
- West Midlands part of Future Transport Zone, benefitting from UK Digital Strategy investment
- In areas where good public transport is less accessible, we recommend transport innovation measures, including flexible on-demand responsive transport, shared services like car clubs, shared taxi’s, bike hire facilities, escooters and other micromobility measures, and mobility credits and Mobility as a Service (MaaS).
- Also important that flexible, on-demand transport modes fully connect into more traditional public transport routes and that good interchanges are fully considered in planning policy for new development.