Solihull Local Plan (Draft Submission) 2020

At the end of para 528 add the following " Within the settlement there is a particular deficiency of foodstores capable of meeting the weekly /fortnightly shopping needs of the local population. There is evidence of substantial leakage of expenditure on convenience goods by Balsall Common residents, mostly to large foodstores in Coventry, resulting in unsustainable travel patterns. This deficiency will be exacerbated in future years as a result of planned population growth. There is therefore, a need to attract a new foodstore to Balsall Common capable of meeting bulk food shopping needs. In recognition of the constraints to the location of such a store in the village centre, that new provision may have to be located out of centre, subject to the requirements of Policy P2 in terms of retail impact and the sequential test."

The policies for Balsall Common fail to identify a need for new convenience retail floorspace in the form of a new supermarket in the settlement to meet weekly/fortnightly bulk food shopping needs to reduce expenditure leakage and unnecessary travel.