Draft Black Country Plan

Comment

Representation ID: 23127

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: FGD Limited

Agent: Savills

Response to the Draft Black Country Plan Consultation
Land at Mile Flat, Kingswinford

On behalf of our client, FGD Limited, we are writing in response to the Draft Black Country Plan ('BCP')
consultation in relation to their land interests at Mile Flat, Kingswinford ('the Site'). Draft BCP Policy CSP1
Policy CSP1 (Development Strategy) states that the BCP will seek to deliver at least 47,837 dwellings and at least 355ha of employment land between 2020 - 2039. However, paragraphs 3.21 and 3.22 of the BCP state that there is actually an overall need for 76,076 homes and 565ha of employment land over that period. This will leave a shortfall of circa 28,239 homes and 210ha of employment land that will need to be accommodated by the Housing Market Area ('HMA') under the Duty to Cooperate. We understand that although some HMA authorities have suggested various contributions to meet this need, these contributions are still not enough to meet the identified shortfall therefore additional land will be required to meet housing and employment needs within the Black Country.

Our client's land is located within South Staffordshire District ('SSDC') Local Planning Authority (LPA) Area but is adjacent to Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council's (DMBC) LPA area. We are submitting our client's site to you for consideration to assist in meeting the unmet needs of the Black Country. The Site has been submitted separately to SSDC through their Call for Sites process.

Site Context

The Site is located off Mile Flat in Wall Heath, Kingswinford and is approximately 33 hectares (83 acres). The Site is in single ownership (FGD Limited) and is currently in agricultural use. As shown on the attached Site Location Plan, the Site is bound by Swindon Road, a Sub Station and Hinksford Caravan Park to the north, Mile Flat, residential dwellings and commercial properties to the east, agricultural land and Greensforge to the south and the Staffordshire Canal to the west.

It is considered that the site is in an accessible location in close proximity to Wall Heath (0.6 miles) which offers a number of shops and facilities. There are also a number of schools within 1.6km of the site: St John's C of E Primary School to the north and Summerhill School and Mitie Within Summerhill School to the south east. There are also existing bus stops on Swindon Road (immediately adjacent) and Enville Road (c. 50m from the Site) to the north of the Site. Both stops serve Bus 16 which offers a frequent service and connects the Site to Stourbridge, Wombourne, Kingswinford and Wolverhampton.

The Site is currently located within the Green Belt but there are considered to be no known heritage or environmental constraints that would impact on development being delivered on the site. Further technical work can be undertaken at a later stage to demonstrate the deliverability of the site if required.


It is considered that the Site is suitable for residential and / or employment uses, is available for development and could be delivered within the next 5 years if required.