Object

Representation ID: 43851

Received: 05/10/2021

Respondent: Taylor Wimpey

Agent: Pegasus

3.0 VISION AND SPATIAL STRATEGY
3.1 The Plan identifies key strategic challenges in paragraph 1.43. These include the following:
· Providing good quality housing that meets the need of a growing population – the plan needs to identify sufficient land for housing to meet the needs of people who likely to live in the area for the period of the plan;
· Supporting a resurgent economy, which provides access to employment and opportunities for investment – the plan should provide for a range of employment sites capable of meeting a wide variety of investment needs; and
· Reviewing the role and extent of the Green Belt – evidence suggests there will be significant housing and employment needs and a deficit in the brownfield land supply within the Black Country, which has resulted in the need for an assessment of the Green Belt to help identify potential areas for growth.
3.2 Taylor Wimpey supports the recognition of the need to provide good quality housing and the need to provide sufficient housing land. Taylor Wimpey also supports the apparent recognition that the Plan should meet the needs of not only those who currently live in the Black Country Area, but also of those who wish to reside within the area during the course of the Plan period.
3.3 There is recognition elsewhere within the Plan that there is insufficient brownfield land to accommodate housing needs and therefore Green Belt land will be required to be released to meet this need, both within the Black Country area and also within South Staffordshire District. However, this is not referenced within the Spatial Strategy. This would ensure that the overall approach to Green Belt release is enshrined within the Plan and ensure a consistent theme is established throughout.
3.4 Providing a range of sites in former Green Belt locations will deliver a greater variety in housing, compared to relying solely upon the redevelopment of brownfield land, which is unlikely to satisfy the wider needs of Black Country communities, particularly for aspirational housing.
3.5 The above also is consistent with the overarching vision for the Black Country to deliver a prosperous, stronger and sustainable Black County. It also reflects Strategic Priority 3 which seeks to provide a range and choice of accommodation, house types and tenures for new housing and Strategic Priority 4 which aims to improve and diversify the Black Country housing offer.
3.6 The release of Green Belt land also fundamentally underpins key sustainability objectives of minimising travel and providing new homes in locations which have access to a range of facilities and employment opportunities. By providing a broad range of new housing sites, which is not just focused on the redevelopment of previously developed industrial land, will assist in ensuring that all current residents can find accommodation to meet their needs within the Black Country, rather than residents looking to relocate further afield, leading to increased commuting.