Solihull Local Plan (Draft Submission) 2020

Object

Representation ID: 14070

Received: 09/12/2020

Respondent: MACC Group

Agent: Claremont Planning Consultancy

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

P15 - As currently drafted it is not consistent with the provisions of national policy. Paragraph 125 of the Framework requires Plans to set a clear design vision and expectations so that applicants have as much certainty as possible about what is likely to be cceptable.
It goes on to state that policies should reflect local aspirations and be grounded in an understanding of each area’s defining characteristics.

The policy requires proposals to by ‘sympathetic to the surrounding natural, built and historic environment’, and it is concerned that this requirement could be used to curtail proposals of a modern design that are seeking to positively enhance and improve the built environment in more run down parts of the Borough. This should be recognised in the wording of the policy.

When considering matter such as scale, massing and density, matters of design should be balanced with other factors such as securing the viable reuse of brownfield sites and delivering housing, which are significant issues for the Borough. This is addressed in Paragraph 127 of the Framework, which identifies that as part of design considerations, policies and decisions should ‘optimise the potential of the site to accommodate and sustain an appropriate amount and mix of development’. Scale and massing should not be restricted due to the scale of development surrounding the site, if it can be demonstrated that increasing height and density can be achieved in a high quality manner, leading to an appropriate residential environment, and maximising housing delivery in a sustainable location.

The policy proposes a requirement for usable private outdoor amenity space as well as public and private open spaces to be provided. It is considered that this requirement is not feasible on all sites, for example town centre sites that primarily comprise flatted developments. Rather than simply requiring such provision, when considering schemes, the Council should consider the availability and quality of open
space nearby. There is no requirement in the Framework for all developments to provide private outdoor amenity space, instead Paragraph 96 emphasises the importance of access to a network of high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity. Furthermore, development is required to enable and support healthy lifestyles, with access to green infrastructure, local shops, healthier food and layouts that encourage walking and cycling. The policy should therefore recognise that private outdoor amenity space provision is not always feasible, and where that is the case seek contributions towards nearby areas of public open space and green infrastructure.

The proposed content of clause 6 of the policy is however strongly supported, as in order to meet housing needs in the borough it is imperative that proposals make efficient use of land and seek to optimise densities in appropriate locations.

Support

Representation ID: 14083

Received: 09/12/2020

Respondent: MACC Group

Agent: Claremont Planning Consultancy

Our client supports the Council’s recognition that the numbers of old age residents within the Borough of Solihull is increasing as this is a key challenge that must be addressed by the emerging Local Plan Review.

Object

Representation ID: 14084

Received: 09/12/2020

Respondent: MACC Group

Agent: Claremont Planning Consultancy

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

The policy, as currently drafted, fails to acknowledge the importance of housing in delivering improved health outcomes, despite the recognition of this in Paragraph
454 in the Supporting Text. This is particularly the case in relation to housing for older people, with the text suggesting that developments that address such issues and mitigate health impacts for an ageing population will be supported. It is imperative that this is acknowledged within the policy itself, in order to give weight to this
statement and emphasise support for such proposals that deliver specialist housing and care accommodation.