Object

Representation ID: 18204

Received: 15/10/2021

Respondent: Mr Stephen Kirby

Calderfields Aldridge Road 19ha 442 Homes
1.Development of this area has long been resisted as being in the valuable area of Green Belt between Walsall and Aldridge. As there is no physical barrier for further development to the East until the Rushall Canal, it will be difficult to set the limit of encroachment onto the Belt simply as the extent of this proposal.

2. It is not clear whether the existing 7 units on Calderfields Farm itself is included in the future development, either in terms of the site area or number of dwellings. In particular is it to be expected that the existing drive and access to the 7 units will remain as it is now, giving a serious restraint to the new development road layout, or will it be cut off by, and accessed onto, the new development road layout.

3. The "Initial Proposal" for 442 houses on a site area of 18.6 ha gives a low density of 24/ha (9.6/acre) However later it is stated that the estimated capacity of the site is 592 houses which on 18.6ha is a density of 31.8/ha (12.9/acre). Both these densities are comparable with those of the adjoining existing developments. However it is then stated that "MIxed Tenure housing is suitable with high densities of at least 35/ha (14.2/acre)with affordable housing provision". This gives a site capacity of 651 houses. Although 35/ha is not a particularly high density, however it is questionable whether the size and layout of such a number , particularly of affordable housing, could possibly produce a layout which is comparable in style or appearance to the adjoining developments.

4.There are a limited number of vehicular access points to the site, it fronting only Buchanan Road and Aldridge Road. Buchanan Road is already approx 490m long, well exceeding the normal limit of cul-de-sac length for Fire Service safety reasons and could not be extended unless it formed a through route to Aldridge Road. An access onto Aldridge Road will require extensive road works.

5.The site naturally falls south-eastward where there are no foul sewers available to serve it. Surface water can be drained into the Arboretum stream, but will exacerbate the existing drainage problems there.