3 Spatial Strategy

Comment

Representation ID: 22333

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr Richard Moore

There are many brownfield sites that remain unused because builders prefer new, easy to develop sites that bring greater profits. The homes built on these greenfield sites are not affordable for most people. More recently many shops and offices are closing whose sites
would provide extra capacity for homes in towns and cities which are in need of revival and redevelopment.
Large developments on the edge of our communities bring extra traffic to roads that are already over busy, and extra pressure on local services such as schools and health centres. This lowers the quality of life for the existing population and brings the same problems for new residents that they may not have anticipated. I do not support any loss of green space, greenbelt land or greenfield land.

Comment

Representation ID: 22414

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Stafford Borough Council

We note that the housing requirement for the Black Country is 76,076 new homes to 2039 with a shortfall of 28,239 new homes, together with employment land provision for 565 hectares resulting in a shortfall of 210 hectares. Furthermore it is acknowledged that a number of neighbouring Districts within the Black Country Housing Market Area are progressing their Local Plans in order to address a proportion of the Black Country’s needs for both housing and employment land.

It is acknowledged that in order to meet the Black Country’s development needs requires the release of land identified within the Green Belt. We have identified that amendments to the Green Belt are not directly related to the boundary with Stafford Borough and that no sites (employment, housing or mixed use) have been allocated on land that would have an impact on Stafford Borough.

Object

Representation ID: 23243

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Member of Parliament

Green Belt sites can only be developed once, and we owe it to all the future generations of this country in an era of environmental vigilance to protect designated Green Belt sites and adopt a policy of Brownfield First development. On behalf of my constituents from Aldridge­ Brownhills I urge the next iteration of this strategy to do exactly that.
A Brownfield First policy approach, coupled with regeneration of our High Streets and Urban Districts, infilling and improved density can produce all the homes we need, without encroaching on the Green Belt.
Across the globe as we emerge from the pandemic global thinking is dictating that we Build Back Better. At the heart of that is to Build Back Better and Greener - something at this stage the Black Country Plan fails to achieve.

Object

Representation ID: 23261

Received: 27/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Darren Rawlings

My objection is against building houses on the Seven Cornfields or any of the green belt, instead the land should be used for either planting trees for the Queen's Green Canopy (QGC) it is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her majesty's Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Or the land could be used for farming, to grow our own produce.
We don't need to take field after field to build houses, adding to the worlds pollution problem. There needs to be more thought on environmental projects and that does not involve building houses, how ever green they are. We have enough houses, but too many people, thats the problem.

Comment

Representation ID: 23301

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Redrow Homes Ltd

Agent: Harris Lamb

It is fully appreciated that the BDP cannot include policies for the allocation of land outside of the Black Country area. However, given that a significant proportion of the housing and employment requirement will be met in other Local Authority areas, it is our view it would be helpful for the Spatial Strategy to include guidance on where the Black Country authorities will support the allocation of sites in emerging Plans.

This will help neighbouring authorities within the site selection process and the development industry in bringing sites for development. It is out view that the BDP should advise that the Black Country Authorities will support the allocation of sites in neighbouring authorities that:

• Are located close to the edge of the Black Country, so that development is provided close to the area where the need arises from.

• Are able to come forward for development promptly once allocated.

• Have good access to services and facilities.

• Are able to deliver all necessary onsite infrastructure

• Can provide onsite services and facilities that are to the benefit residents and the wider community

• Are able to deliver greater biodiversity net gain

• Area able to take advantage of existing landscape features.

Object

Representation ID: 23306

Received: 25/09/2021

Respondent: Mr David Baldock

Building on these green spaces we will lose the wildlife and create more traffic noise and pollution also will make cleaning cars more dangerous than it is already.

Object

Representation ID: 23366

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: West Midlands CPRE

Agent: Gerald Kells

The following key points are central to CPRE’s concerns:

1. The policy on Climate Change is inadequate. There should be a specific goal to reduce emissions with specific targets which should be linked to more sustainable location of development.
2. The level of the housing requirement stated is not justified; the Black Country Authorities should be amassing evidence to justify using more up to date figures.
3. The additional housing allocated to Wolverhampton as a result of the 16 December 2020 policy statement should not be included in the overall requirement but identified for additional brownfield sites.
4. There should be a higher allowance for windfalls, including larger windfalls in the plan.
5. While employment land should generally be protected this may also provide additional land. The BEAR analysis, which focuses on protecting employment land, also needs to take account of future trends.
6. The need for retail and office space in City and Town Centres and other Retail locations should be reviewed post-COVID. It may be that some managed contraction of retail space could create centres which are sustainable in the longer term, linked to new housing in centres.
7. The proposed loss of Green Belt should be reviewed. Many of the allocated sites, particularly the large number in Walsall, are in areas which have a high or very high impact on the Green Belt as well as impacts on the environment and on amenity.
The plan includes a large number of policies and we have not been able to comment on all of them in detail. This does not imply we agree with or disagree with other policies not mentioned.