Object

Draft Black Country Plan

Representation ID: 12515

Received: 04/10/2021

Respondent: Mohammed Mazar

Representation Summary:

Former Reedswood Golf Course
• Given its natural green space and public open space sensitivity, the entire Former Reedswood Golf Course public open space should be removed from the 'Core Regeneration Area' designation as shown on page 499 (within Figure 19: Walsall Spatial Strategy Plan) of the emerging BCP (Review) (2021).
• This green space site should be removed from the new housing site allocation as identified on page 510 (Proposed Housing Site Ref: WAH244) of the emerging BCP (Review) (2021). This site is not suitable for new housing development as it forms a very sensitive 'Greenfield' site. The site does not form previously-developed land (urban brownfield land) as claimed by Walsall Council.
• This green space site should be designated as a ‘Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC)’ on the main Policies Map of the emerging BCP (Review).
• This green space site should be designated as an area for its ‘Green Space Tranquillity’ on the main Policies Map of the emerging BCP (Review). It provides a unique and heavily rural landscape within the surrounding urbanised area. These types of landscapes are very rare within the surrounding area and therefore require special planning policy protection.
• The entire green space site should be covered and protected by a ‘blanket Tree Preservation Order (TPO)’ (a blanket TPO) designation within the emerging BCP (Review) (2021).
• The site should be included within Reedswood Town Park boundary and designated as protected Parkland public open space on the main Policies Map of the emerging BCP (Review) (2021).
• The Former Reedswood Golf Course site should be specifically designated as a key “wildlife corridor” on the main Policies Map of the emerging BCP (Review) given that it forms part of the wider ‘landscape-scale’ green infrastructure network connecting through Reedswood Town Park to other wildlife habitats.