Comment

Representation ID: 23057

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: St Philips

Agent: Savills

Policy DEL1 – Infrastructure Provision

Policy DEL1 states that all new developments should be supported by the necessary on and off-site infrastructure. It is currently unclear what level of infrastructure is required to support Strategic Allocation WSA9 and whether this is required on-site or as an off-site contribution. The Viability and Deliverability Study (May 2021) states that no health or education input has been received for Walsall. Point 3 of the policy states that further detail will be provided by the Councils to confirm what level of infrastructure should be provided. We consider that this is required in order to ascertain what level of contribution is required for Strategic Site WSA9.
Our client’s land to the east of Chester Road is included as part of ‘Walsall Cluster 9’ within the ‘Key Large Sites Viability and Deliverability Study’ (May 2021). Density assumptions made within this plan correspond with the densities proposed in Policy HOU2, which we have responded to separately. Page 36 of the report states that Walsall Cluster 9 will deliver 644 units. However, the proposed allocation is for 415 units. We consider that a scheme of 644+ units is more likely to be able to support increased infrastructure requirements if required. St Phillips have worked collaboratively with Taylor Wimpey (adjacent landowner to the south) to produce a combined masterplan to show the potential for community infrastructure delivery across a wider strategic development site, including the land to the west of Site WSA9 (Concept plan attached with this submission). This site has the potential to deliver circa 800 dwellings, land for a new school, local centre/health facility and significant public open space including a country park. This wider proposal may also be of a scale that could support a new/improved bus service on Chester Road which would enhance the sustainability credentials of the existing settlement. The scale of the combined proposals gives rise to a more comprehensive opportunity than the constrained and fragmented proposition contained in the draft plan at present and would allow for the inclusion of significant community infrastructure.