6 Housing

Object

Representation ID: 12071

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr John Holloway

The development of Legs Lane, Northycote Lane and Cat and Kittens Lane will cause irreversible damage to the environment. The loss of green belt land not only effects wildlife but also removes a natural defence to climate change. The biodiversity of the area will be destroyed for future generations. There is no information provided on how this will effect the water table and if this will increase the risk of flooding. The increase in traffic will also have an effect on peoples lives, with poor air quality, more speeding cars, increased congestion and risk to health and safety.

Object

Representation ID: 12073

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mrs LYNNE HOLLOWAY

Cat and Kittens Lane, Northycote Lane and Legs Lane Greenbelt should not be used
for any development.
We should preserve this land as it is and not destroy this beautiful, historic environment important both to wildlife and nature and to the mental wellbeing of both local residents and visitors.
The impact upon the already busy roads with more traffic congestion, air pollution and destruction of wildlife habitat is not acceptable.
We should be mindful of the impact that any development would have on future generations and not rob tomorrow's children of their heritage.
Greenbelt land should stay as that.

Object

Representation ID: 12091

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr John Kempson

Please please please leave the green belt as green belt. There is no need to build on this land, there are plenty of brownfield sites.

Comment

Representation ID: 12092

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mrs Julie Kempson

I strongly object to these proposals for a number of reasons. These are beautiful green belt areas, that house many wildlife species and plants, which the public can enjoy. To build housing in these would be outrageous. There are more than enough brownfield sites around the region that could be utilised without destroying our green belt. Without the green belt, the area would become swallowed up into the conurbation and it would be a less desirable place to live. I love where we live because of the openness and the access to these beautiful green belt sites.

Object

Representation ID: 12097

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr Mark Sheppard

I have concerns associated with Housing Allocation land referenced WAH236, WAH238 and WAH240 (High Heath & Highbridge, Walsall) all of which seem to go against the opportunity of preserving green-belt areas.
The current road network already suffers from chronic congestion with the Finger Post junction, Vicarage Road/Norton Road and Vicarage Road/Coronation Road being of particular concern; adding the additional movements that these developments will generate will put unsustainable pressure on the already over-capacity local road network. In turn, safety may be compromised unless adequate highway, cycling and pedestrian improvements are delivered.

Object

Representation ID: 12101

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr Keith Bell

Whilst I appreciate that additional housing is required in Walsall, I believe this should be achieved wholly through the use of our numerous brownfield sites. It's incomprehensible that the plan would include a potential 442 homes to be built on the 'Calderfields, Aldridge Road' site - in reality, land adjoining the Arboretum. The inclusion of this site is completely unacceptable. The whole ambience of the Arboretum which, surrounded by green space as it is, has provided a relaxing leisure space for the residents of Walsall for years would be permanently ruined if it is overlooked by a huge housing development.

Comment

Representation ID: 12158

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Sandwell Liberal democrats

It would be nice to see a greater level of coordination and cooperation between the boroughs in the Black Country and Birmingham, and the wider West Midlands. The lack of cooperation has lead to sites on the edge of borough and city boundaries being neglected in the past, and this still seems to true of the current plans.

Comment

Representation ID: 12165

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr David Viner

I am strongly against allowing any building of houses on green/green belt land. People living in built up areas need green space, nature needs it and it would be absolute folly to permit more houses to be built when so much brownfield land is available. Clearly, permission for builders to build on such land should be refused. In the case of Corbett Meadows, Stourbridge, an additional reason is the land was gifted to the public, for public good. Such generous people are few and far between. Profit for builders should not prevent brownfield sites being used.

Object

Representation ID: 12178

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr David Miller

Who are the houses for?
Given the 20% drop in birth rate from 2010 to 2019 (ONS), and the current pandemic, a reduction in the proposed number of houses would remove the need to build on any Green Belt land (or land de-classified as Green Belt).

Impact on Climate Change:
As you say in the report, Walsall’s Green Belt is mainly agricultural. Loss of this land will mean an increase in imported food, which will have an impact on Climate Change, with increased CO2 from transport, increased CO2 from the houses, and CO2 no longer being absorbed in the fields.

Comment

Representation ID: 12221

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr RICHARD FITZGERALD

I live in Shifnal TF11

I object to any further housing development around Shifnal

Shifnal has doubled in size from a Population of 4,000 to 8,000 since 2010 and now is at maximum re traffic congestion given its road layout
1. Shifnal has a central narrow dog leg shaped crossroads
2 Mainline railway running through the town
3 No ring road

No road imporvement in Shifnal in 10 years , but ever more potholes

Shifnal Matters is a local Residents Group set up in 2017 to object to further housing development in Shifnal
https://www.shifnalmatters.co.uk/
@ShifnalPM
1300 Followers on https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/ShifnalPM/

Object

Representation ID: 12227

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Miss Emily Neale

The proposed building in the greenbelt land on Swindon Road (known as the Triangle) will create serious issues for the current infrastructure which is already very busy.

Object

Representation ID: 12239

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr Joseph Neale

The proposed development on greenbelt land in Swindon Road (known as the triangle) will create huge infrastructure concerns for an area that is already seeing issues with volumes of traffic.

Object

Representation ID: 12240

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr Christopher Denson

The housing project announced for adjacent to Walsall Arboretum will destroy valuable habitat for wildlife, have significant affect on local road infrastructure and will be a blight on the views from the Arboretum Park.
As a major tourist and resident highlight, to build on green belt land here is outrageous and should be scrapped for alternative brownfield or unprotected sites.
It would be an act of cultural and environmental vandalism to build on the green belt land. The plans should be redrawn without the use of green belt land. This affects the rights of all Walsall residents, present and future.

Object

Representation ID: 12472

Received: 18/10/2021

Respondent: Mr Andrew Chittenden

There is no need to build in the green belt along Aldridge Road, Streetly

Object

Representation ID: 12478

Received: 18/10/2021

Respondent: Mr Andrew Chittenden

Queries if vacant dwelling stock adequately investigated & accounted for.

Comment

Representation ID: 13229

Received: 08/10/2021

Respondent: Mrs Angela Wadeley

Concerning housing, it is commonly agreed that the need is for affordable, efficient, well insulated, cheap to run, comfortable housing and the plan does not address this aspect

Comment

Representation ID: 13668

Received: 08/10/2021

Respondent: Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust

The Housing Key Diagram on page 88 shows neighbourhood expansion areas in close proximity to our projected routes as mentioned above, these proposed housing areas are centred on OSGR SK000041 and SK059063 in the Walsall Council area and we understand that proper provision for the restored Hatherton Canal and Lichfield Canal respectively will be made.

Object

Representation ID: 14476

Received: 08/11/2021

Respondent: Mrs Angela Hopkinson

WSA6 Objects to proposed allocation for residential of site between Long Horn and Longwood Lane, Walsall.
Implies contrary to Brownfield First. Cites loss of tress and nature conservation issues with species listed as bats, foxes, squirrels, muntjac, pheasant, woodpecker, heron, Canada geese.
Proposal not supported by local residents.
Cites recent designation as a SLINC to support objecton.

Object

Representation ID: 14646

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Ms Jefny Ashcroft

Unless council housing is resumed at scale ('social housing') then housing need cannot be met

Comment

Representation ID: 14887

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Miss Anne Cole

Brownfield sites must always be built on first, I understand that this is not popular with developers as not only are they more expensive to develop, but are not as desirable for potential buyers due to their surroundings. However, it is up to local authorities to ensure that the developers create areas on brownfields where people will want to live, including adding trees and improving their outlook etc. This would not only enable us to keep our greenbelt land, but also improve the areas which are being neglected and allowed to rot.

Comment

Representation ID: 16256

Received: 08/10/2021

Respondent: Mr Clifford Bailey

HOUSING policy, its interpretation and implementation are key to the overall plan. Housing needs reflect population predictions.
If we accept the population predictions (which may be subject to adjustments beyond local control), minor reconsiderations of the proposed policy could offer important benefits to the quality of living within the region.

1. Types of new build could have stronger emphasis on energy efficiency, likelihood of greater working from home, anticipated shifts in travel associated with shifts in employment.
2. There are several recognised areas that are run-down and/or poor quality accommodation. Greater priority could be given to the opportunities for regeneration and renewal in the supply of housing needs. This approach would require minimal additions to infrastructure.
3. There are many brown field sites that can be reclaimed for new housing, and more are likely to become available as current trends in industrial land usage continue. Use of these brown field sites for new housing are anticipated to be in closer proximity to employment sites than peripheral green fields and require less new infrastructure and travel support. Green belt is crucial to the quality of living for everyone: allocation of 19% of new homes to green sites could be accommodated in brown field sites and prevent the current policy from further erosion of green fields which will inevitably encroach on the quality of living in the locality which in turn will impact health, well-being, attractiveness for investment and environmental sustainability.

Object

Representation ID: 16959

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Kerrie Richards

I want to raise the following objection to the Local Plan
I have lived and worked within the Black Country and surrounding area all my life and wish to object to the Black Country Local Plan methodology and process as follows:
7. The housing target numbers are outdated. The empty homes haven’t been taken into consideration, neither has the impact of Brexit or Covid which are key considerations at this current me.

Comment

Representation ID: 18032

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr D S Golden

Houseing Building should go on brownfield sites not green belt land if theres a suitable office bloks convert them into apartments with parking more suitable housing for disabled people convert old buildings if not run down do not knowck them down but Dudley people should have first chois and not people coming from outher countrys like Polland Indea and outher countrys that look after hour own people flist who need the housing look after hour own country & Dudley people Look after Black Country people Dudley

Object

Representation ID: 18274

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Miss Emma - Jane Haden

Policies on protection of green belt - NPP 2018 states that "Green belt boundaries should only be altered where exceptional circumstances are fully evidenced and justified". Core policy 1 identifies that the protection of the green belt is fundamental and should only be used in exceptional circumstances. What are the exceptional circumstances that would / are leading the proposed land to be downgraded? This would mean that every single other option has been exhausted. Including the use of all [underlined and in bold] brown field sites, those that are available now and those that will potentially become available over the next 20 years. Have all these options been fully utilised? Has the council addressed the empty homes issue? Recent figures have been released regarding empty properties in the borough and Express and Star reported that more than 10,000 homes are empty in Staffordshire (March 2018) the use of empty properties would reduce the need to build more homes. South Staffordshire Council also identify Wolverhampton and Walsall as areas being in need of additional housing [text in bold from Wolverhampton] Not Dudley. Dudley is identified as having over its necessary amount. (sstaff.gov.uk Policy Constraints and Issues appendix 5 [text in bold from Policy]). Therefore, there is no valid reason to down grade any land on any of the mentioned sites so why make land developable if it is not in an identified housing need area? Unless it is to "piggy back" infrastructure of neighbouring councils. To downgrade and develop noted sites would be inappropriate. There are no exceptional circumstances [text in bold from no] to justify this.

I understand that there is a need for land to be used for additional affordable housing where there is an unmet housing need but I reiterate: the use of all brownfield sites first and use information provide by south Staffordshire to identify appropriate locations where the need for housing is unmet [text in bold from the use]. Some of the sites mentioned are in high value areas or are promoting executive house so it will not be affordable housing.

Object

Representation ID: 18488

Received: 02/10/2021

Respondent: Mrs Helen Hughes

I object to the entirety of the housing segment of the Black Country Plan. My reasoning -
* you have considered every possible centimetre of 'Available' space in the Black Country with your 'Call for sites.
Is no green space safe?! Chapter 6.5 discusses the identification of new greenbelt 'Sites suitable and available for development'. No! No green spaces should be considered for development.

* Instead of over population existing communities and eroding residents well-being with the destruction of our wildlife corridors that you quote as being 'important', it is by belief that you should focus on finding large brownfield sites and build whole new communities, complete with new supporting infrastructure (schools, doctors surgeries, etc)

Comment

Representation ID: 19043

Received: 25/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Richard Carter

Homelessness is an issue which, at a basic level, can be reduced or overcome by the application of a widely discussed, but often ignored, solution. It is known that a large number of large properties, such as hotels, public house and disused military establishments lie empty and are left to become vandalised and derelict. To augment the limited number of "Housing First" that are being built, these properties should be requisitioned and turned into permanent, or staged, accommodation for the homeless; not just hostels. Employment can be increased by taking on hospitality, management and support staff.

Additionally, especially where military establishments are concerned, the homeless themselves can be encouraged to work in certain functions especially if they have prior training and experience, e.g. consider the number of ex-service personnel who are homeless but have hospitality or engineering backgrounds.

When providing these homes, there is a definite need to ensure that in-house services are always available so that those who have mental health and/ or criminal backgrounds can be catered for. Equally, these homes should be treated as such. Residents shouldn't be forced into taking part in unwelcome activities which only serve to make them want to return to homeless living.
https://theconversation.com/why-some-homeless-people-prefer-sleeping-rough-to-hostels-or-hotels-139414
[REDACTED-GDPR]
At a general level, there is a need to review the quality and suitability of existing housing stock, some of which will not be able to be improved by installing insulation, and to provide high quality, low cost housing. Many people have resorted to accepting substandard housing conditions because there is little else available in their price range and landlords, even those associate with
local authorities, are not obliged to maintain a minimum standard of accommodation. Examples of issues that are accepted include: rising damp in part caused by underlying structural issues or
leaks, single glazing or poor quality double glazing, draughts and cold caused by poorly converted and insulated outbuildings and open fireplaces, poor quality central heating and hot water provision, rickety and sloping staircases and degraded internal fixtures and fittings.

To overcome these issues, it should be a legal requirement for landlords, at their own expense, to maintain properties at least to an enhanced minimum standard; keeping in mind that any minimum requirement soon becomes the normal standard (take NMW as an example). With regard to this, although it is currently illegal for landlords to continue renting properties with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of F or G after 1April, 2020 (In 2019, the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) estimated that around 290,000 rental properties did not meet the E
rating standard), because an EPC only provides a perceive level of energy efficiency rather than an actual level, many more properties that actually need improvements will be missed. Additionally,
if there is a strong desire to reduce, or eliminate, poverty, the minimum EPC rating should be much higher (see also The Cost of Energy below). If doing so restricts the number of private landlords, then that may be an additional bonus because many existing landlords see rental as an easy form of income; with the consequence that they need to be constantly "reminded" to carry out structural repairs and, equally, many not aware of, or chose to ignore, their legal responsibilities and, besides, who is policing them?

The following is an example of what does actually occur. A mid-terrace, Victorian rental property is issued an EPC rating of D. This is because it has double glazing fitted throughout; 6 to 8 inches of loft insulation; a reasonably new combi-boiler and energy efficient light-bulbs are used throughout. However, although this situation is commented upon, there is no roof or wall insulation in the kitchen or bathroom and the property does not have cavity walls (so no insulation); the temperature of the external end of the bathroom rarely goes above 12C when the external temperature is +6C or below, the combi-boiler is inefficient (in terms of gas and water use) partially because the heating and hot water pipes are not insulated and are run in wall and floor cavities that are subject to severe draughts and the double glazing is ineffectual (the seals, particularly in the corners, are incomplete and the quality of the glazed units is doubtful).

[See attachment for images]

The pictures to the right and below illustrate the effect of poor wall insulation and ineffective double glazing. They were taken at 07:40 following a day of snow. At the time when the photographs were taken, the external temperature was approximately minus 1C. However, the overnight temperature had fallen to below minus 4C. The snow-melt on the window sill in the first picture extends 10cm (4 inches) from the window frame and much of the snow-melt in the second picture occurred while it was still snowing. At its maximum it extends 50cm {20 inches) from the wall. It should also be noted that the clear patch of ground at the bottom of the second picture is directly outside a pair of double glazed patio doors; which make up most of the house wall at that point.


It is strongly suggested that the EPC rating system is reviewed so that it is more likely to reflect the actual energy efficiency of the property and that previous home improvement grant schemes are revisited. Rather than attempting to improve the insulation levels of many of the existing, aging properties (insulating the kitchen and bathroom in the example property would require major structural changes and would result in an almost unusable galley kitchen), it focus on providing grants for those properties that can be easily improved and initiating a replacement policy for those that cannot.

Additionally, grant schemes need to be extended ensure the energy efficiency of all properties irrespective of ownership. Currently, there the focus is on improving levels of insulation and installing
double glazing or secondary glazing (and, latterly, with replacing gas and oil boilers with electric systems). This is of little use in situations where insulation levels are sufficient but other issues, which can be easily resolved, are resulting in energy inefficiency and poor living conditions. Equally, such schemes are not normally available to private landlords. Consequently, many of the properties that are in dire need of improvement are neglected.

More low-rise apartment buildings; a basement level and 4 accommodation levels, owned and managed by not-for-profit management companies (for leasehold apartment buildings and for those designated as being for "rental" only) should be constructed. Such an approach makes far better use of available land, speeds up the process of providing accommodation, is likely to be more cost effective and ensures that the integrity of the accommodation is maintained.

For example, in addition to being able to accommodate a minimum of 8 families in 2 or 3 bedroom apartments, or up to 16 individuals or couples in 1 bedroom apartments, in an area occupied by 5 Victorian terrace houses, the residual garden space, when combined with space derived from removing roads, can be turned into green space community areas comprising waste management facilities, trees, grass, children's play areas and BBQ/communal meeting facilities.

The plan below illustrates what can be achieved.
[See attachment for Images]
The area covered by this plan is approximately the area covered by 2 rows of 15 Victorian houses, standing back to back (and including their gardens), a road and another row of 15 houses without the gardens. In its current form, this arrangement provides 128 homes (in place of 75 homes), with either 2 double bedrooms or 1 double bedroom and 2 single bedrooms, that are all disabled
person ready and that provide far greater comfort for the families concerned.

All apartments would benefit from (preferably) district heating; individual apartment storage and communal sports equipment storage (bicycles etc) in the basement; laundry facilities in the basement; pre-wiring for satellite and or cable television; a minimum of 10Mb internet access; remote electricity metering; communal waste disposal points; underground car parking and communal parkland.
The numbered items on the plan are:
1. Access to the underground car park and, where required, shop loading bays. Access to the car park would be via access points in the basement of each building.
2. Wooden gazebos with BBQ facilities.
3. Childrens' play areas.
4. Communal waste disposal points.
In order to match the character of the local environment, front and rear elevations would be representative of any time period. This image from Property
Investments UK provides an example of the external appearance that could be used for shops, offices and low rise apartment buildings. People are attracted by history, charm and elegance; the Black Country Living Museum is a prime example. There is no reason why Bilston, or any other West Midlands town, couldn't ultimately benefit from increased tourism - especially once the canals in the region have been cleared of rubbish! All it needs is a bit of imagination and forethought.
In support of the Fully-factored Urban Regeneration principle (see below), the modular design (see below) can be adapted to provide:
• One bedroom apartments alongside flexible 3 to 5 bedroom apartments (3 double bedrooms, 2 double bedrooms and 2 single bedrooms, 1 double bedroom and 4 single bedrooms).
• Any combination of shops, offices and apartments.
[See attachment for Images]
As previously mentioned, all rentals should become "all inclusive", i.e. rent should include (as a minimum):
• The accommodation - which includes the provision of fitted wardrobes, storage facilities and a reasonable sized fridge-freezer.
• Maintenance of the building's fabric and accommodation fixtures and fittings, e.g. taps and blockage clearance.
• Maintenance of all outside areas.
• Redecorating the accommodation prior to a new tenant taking over the property: costs for fair wear and tear decor deterioration remedial action would be accepted, all other costs would be taken from the tenant's deposit.
• Provision of hot water and heating; preferably by using district heating.
• Provision of cold water - a small, per person additional charge would be acceptable where water meters are installed, e.g. £10 to £15 pound per person, per month.
• Sewage disposal.
• Household waste disposal.
• Optionally, electricity - although electricity contracts would normally be arranged by the tenant.
• Broadband access - "free" broadband would be lower speed, e.g. 10Mb. Tenants would pay extra for higher speed broadband. There should be no need to have a telephone "landline" number allocated.
All new housing developments should be subject to the following requirements:
• They must be part of a clearly defined Urban or Local Development strategy that includes:
• Provision of District Heating: sources of District Heating must be made available in the first instance.
• Restructuring existing buildings and roads to bring out-of-town shopping centres back into town centres, to provide more centralised sports and leisure facilities, to maximise the use of public transport services, to remove derelict and substandard buildings and to maximise the use of brown field sites.
• Increasing the amount of land available for leisure purposes, pasture and woodland.
• Includes nature as a key component to all developments, e.g. surround developments with nature rather than generating pockets of nature.
• Provision of additional services, e.g. sewage treatment, healthcare centres, additional schools and leisure facilities (indoor and outdoor).
• Safeguards against flooding etc., e.g. adequate drainage.
• Increase provision of long distance foot and cycle paths.
• They can only be developed on existing brown field or previously developed land or scrub land.
• They must meet, or preferably exceed, an improved minimum standard for energy efficiency. For example, the following must be included in the design:
• High levels of wall, roof and under-floor insulation.
• Triple glazing.
• Photovoltaic roofing, i.e. tiles and not necessarily solar panels.
• Air Source Heat Pumps installed at roof height (to maximise the capture of escaping heat) possibly disguised as chimneys (particularly if a historic look to a property is to be maintained).
• The use of District Heating throughout (gas fired systems must be phased out): Hot water feeds must be run to, or within 2m of, the point of use.
• All final taps must use microbore pipe.
a An "always on" radiator (this can be in the form of a towel ladder) must be provided in all bathrooms (reduces condensation build-up and damp plus the bathroom can then double up as a drying room).
• All heating must be thermostatically controlled and always available irrespective of season (considers the elderly etc.).
Must be able to fully support the use of all outlets at the same time without loss of pressure.
The following pages show what can be achieved in terms of quality of accommodation versus rental costs. A comparison is made between renting a property in Finland and an equivalently priced property in England (including additional storage overheads) and highlights the facilities that are, or are not, included in the rent. Although the final monthly costs appear to be similar, it needs to be considered that:
• The Finnish apartment is only 5.5 miles (approx) from the centre of Finland's capital city. As is the case in the UK, rental costs and property prices are significantly lower in outlying towns and cities. However, it should be noted that it is possible to rent and equivalent apartment in Tampere (the equivalent of say Birmingham) for between 100€ and 200€
(£88 to £177 approx) less that the example shown. Additionally, equivalent local municipality accommodation is available in Helsinki for approximately €690 (£612) per month.
• It would cost at least £1,395 per month to rent an equivalent mid-terrace property in (say) Tooting-which is approximately 6 miles from the centre of London.
• The standard of rental accommodation and the facilities provided in Finland are much higher than those found in England.
[See attachment for Image]
Finland: 62.5 sq m/672.75 sq ft, 2"floor apartment in a 4 story apartment, located 5.5 miles
(approx) from Helsinki City centre, comprising:
• Unglazed balcony.
• Efficient triple glazing (inward opening to ease cleaning).
• District Heating (including hot water).
• Cold/ drinking water provision.
• Fixture and fitting maintenance.
• Sewage disposal.
• Household waste disposal comprising separate bins for:
• Cardboard/ cartons,
• Paper,
• General/ mix waste,
• Glass,
• Metal,
• Bio,
• Plastic
• Periodic skips for unwanted furniture and household items,
• Clothing recycling point within 500 yards.
• Professionally redecorated and fair wear and tear damage rectified prior to occupancy.
• Internal temperature monitoring (target: 21C).
• Fully equipped children's play area (swings, slide, sandpit, toys, picnic table and benches).
• Communal washing lines.
• External and ground maintenance (grass cutting, rubbish clearance and leaf, snow and grit clearance).
• Launderette comprising 2 x industrial washing machines, 1 x industrial tumble dryer, hand washing facilities, 1 x warm drying room, 1 x cool drying room
• External bicycle racks.
• Carpet beating racks.
• 2 sq m / 21.5 sq ft (approx), floor to ceiling basement storage compartment.
• Communal bicycle, sports equipment and pushchair/pram storage room.
• 10Mb internet access.
• Small walk-in wet room comprising shower, toilet, sink, handheld bidet shower, bathroom cabinet, shaving
point, always on radiator (linked to the hot water feed) and washing machine connections.
• 1 x large double bedroom complete with fitted wardrobes.
• 1 x medium double bedroom complete with fitted wardrobes.
• 2.5 sq m / 27 sq ft (approx), floor to ceiling shelved cupboard space.
• 6.25 sq m / 67.25 sq ft (approx), floor to ceiling walk-in closet/store.
• Galley kitchen comprising ample cupboard space, electric hob and over, extractor fan, large fridge-freezer, industrial double sink and drainer, dishwasher space (dishwasher optional but supplied free of charge).
• Large "L" shaped living room/ dining room.
• Access to communal sauna (10€/ £8.90 per month extra).
Monthly costs:
• Rent: 1025€ / £940 (approx).
• Electricity: 30€ / £28 (approx)
Total monthly cost: 1,055€/ £968 (approx). Other factors:
• Household contents insurance.
[See attachment for Images]
England: 82 sq m / 882.5 sq ft (approx), Victorian mid-terrace house comprising:
• Draughty double glazing (incomplete and worn seals).
• Gas fired combi-boiler (heating and hot water).
• Cold/ drinking water provision.
• Sewage disposal.
• Household waste disposal comprising separate bins for
• mix cardboard, cartons, paper, glass, metal and plastic,
• general/ mix waste,
• clothing recycling point within 500 yards.
• Fixtures and fittings maintained.
• Private rear garden with small garden shed, shared rear access, small front garden
• Draughty bathroom comprising bath with over bath shower, toilet and sink (ladder towel rail recently fitted and linked to the heating system).
• 1 x large double bedroom complete with fitted wardrobes.
• 1 x large double bedroom.
• 1.2 sq m / 13 sq ft (approx) under-stairs cupboard.
• Galley kitchen comprising cupboard space (additional wall cupboard fitted by tenant), extractor fan, standard sink and drainer, boiler cupboard and tumble dryer space.
• Small living room with electricity and gas meters and open, unusable fireplace.
• Small dining room with open, unusable fireplace and doors to the garden.
Monthly costs:
• Rent: £575 (increasing to £600 in August 2021).
• Electricity: £38 (approx).
• Gas: £30 to £122 depending on the season.
• Broadband (30Mb): £25 (eventually rising to £33, plus £10 activation fee).
• Council tax: Band A= £106 (excludes UC discount).
• Water rates: £20.
• Household storage & insurance: £43.76 per (long term rental, insufficient storage space in the house).
Total monthly cost: £837.46 to £929.46 (approx). Other factors:
• Household contents insurance.
• Tenants purchase their own fridge-freezer.
• Tenants purchase their own hob and oven (tenants have taken responsibility for the existing integral gas hob and electric oven).
• Annual cost of gas hob safety check.
• Decor is "as left" by the previous tenant.
• Damp patches internally on external and partition walls.
There is an image on Page 22 of "Images of England: Bilston, Tettenhall and Wednesfield (Mills and Williams, Tempus, 1998) which is captioned:
"Coseley Road and Prosser Street. These buildings were subject to No. 3 Clearance Order
1934 and were subsequently demolished. In the 1930s Bilston carried out inspections on a large number of properties to determine whether they were fit for habitation, being mostly free from damp, satisfactorily lighted and ventilated, in good repair with a satisfactory water supply, washing accommodation and sanitary arrangements. Any buildings which were deemed to be unfit and which could not reasonably be repaired became the subject
of clearance orders and were demolished."

Although those houses in Coseley Road and Prosser Street were far worse, given the conditions that some people are living in today; no hot water and/or heating, damp walls, insanitary bathrooms, draughty interiors, decaying woodwork, leaking roofs, broken single glazing and crumbling brickwork etc., has the UK progressed much in 84 years?

Object

Representation ID: 19050

Received: 08/10/2021

Respondent: Mrs Rebecca Raybould

Objects to greenbelt use for housing, states this should be better directed towards brownfield sites and vacant commercial buildings in centres such as Stourbridge.
Cites sustainability, regeneration, vibrancy, support for businesses, reduced emissions, more green spaces, as supporting reasons. Hopes green belt development is reduced or eliminated.

Comment

Representation ID: 19382

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: L&Q Estates

Agent: Pegasus Group

Paragraph 6.1 - In relation to the introduction. "text does not refer to the need to provide a range of housing sites in differing locations in order to meet all housing needs. This factor is a key part of providing a balanced range of housing and should be referred to explicitly in the text."

Object

Representation ID: 21471

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr Stephen Moore

Black Country Plan (Draft)
Housing Policy (P87)

Para 6.2 states: (that the housing policy is) "helping to deliver Strategic Priorities...…."
Housing Strat Priorities (P21) includes NO cross-reference to the housing policy. Suggesting a gap in the plan.
This could perhaps be filled by adding to the plan, perhaps in HOU2 (P96)
"Each authority will aim to provide at least one housing development that is "car-free" (ie for households that do not own or use, nor intend to own or use a private car)

Comment

Representation ID: 21506

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr Richard Pearce

Green spaces within built up areas should not have houses built upon them.
Green spaces at the edge of urban areas should be built upon to provide the extra housing needed.