Support

Representation ID: 21254

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Newlands Developments

Sub-areas and Site Allocations (Section 13)
The strategy for Walsall is set out at Paragraph C.8 in Chapter 13 of the draft Black Country Plan, which is as follows:

“In the future, Walsall will be a more confident place, with renewed investment in key infrastructure and key centres, greater opportunities for work and leisure and an affordable, accessible housing stock.”

We are supportive of this strategy and consider the delivery of the Site will help this to be achieved, particularly as the development will comprise an employment development which will generate direct and indirect jobs in construction and direct local employment opportunities when operational. The development will be sustainable in accordance with the strategy proposed for Walsall.

Walsall to Wolverhampton Core Growth Area
At Paragraph C.26 of Chapter 13, the Draft Plan defines the Walsall to Wolverhampton Core Regeneration Area as being located around the road, rail and waterway corridor, with the Black Country Route linked to M6 Junction 10, the re-opened railway stations at Darlaston and Willenhall, and the Wyrley and Essington Canal which provides a pedestrian, cycle and leisure route from Birchills, through Walsall Strategic Centre, Phoenix 10 and Darlaston to Moxley.

Paragraph C.26 goes on to state:

“Much regeneration has already taken place in this area, and many new homes and jobs are expected to be delivered in the future at key locations such as Phoenix 10, Bentley Lane, Moxley Tip and in Willenhall Town Centre. The Core Regeneration Area will continue to be the focus of public sector investment to regenerate brownfield sites” [Our emphasis].

We strongly support the strategy for the Core Regeneration Area and consider that land south of Bentley Lane can contribute to the aims for this area. As noted in Table 36 (Walsall Sites Allocated for Employment by Black Country Plan Policy EMP1), the Site (BCP Site Ref. WAE404 ‘Lynx / Beatwaste Site, Bentley Lane) has the capacity to deliver up to 11.22 hectares of employment land. In addition, Table 36 anticipates that such development can be delivered within the Plan period (i.e. by 2039).

Notwithstanding the above, we note that the Site is referred to as ‘Lynx / Beatwaste Site, Bentley Lane’ within Table 36. However, the Site Assessment Form refers to the Site as ‘Land to the South of Bentley Lane, Willenhall, Walsall.’ We can confirm that the Site should simply be referred to as ‘Land south of Bentley Lane’, to avoid confusion.