Draft Black Country Plan

Object

Representation ID: 23405

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: West Midlands CPRE

Agent: Gerald Kells

DUH 208 Dudley Kingswinford
This site is agricultural land beyond the north of the east- wards expansion of Wall Heath. The area immediately to the north is designated not only as Green Belt but as high historic landscape value. Development of this area of land would affect the setting of the Grade II listed Holbeche House (clearly an issue in relation to Policy ENV5). This property is an important historic site as the house where some of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot conspirators were arrested. While there is a bus service, the site would generate significant extra traffic on the A449 which would be used as its main access. The A449 was formerly a trunk road and continues to be a Primary Route (green signs), the main road between Worcester and Wolverhampton. It would be harmful to the purpose of the A449 as a Primary Route to develop new housing adjacent to it, slowing down existing traffic, especially at peak hours, and causing road safety risks.
Green Belt assessment in Land Use Consultants’ 2019 Green Belt Study - Moderate-High

Object

Representation ID: 23406

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: West Midlands CPRE

Agent: Gerald Kells

DUH213 [wrong reference for Triangle site] Dudley Kingswinford Triangle
This site is agricultural land. It is on a highly visible rise. There is a definite western boundary, the A449.
While there are bus services to the edge of the site, it would generate significant extra traffic on the A449, which would be used by much of the traffic that any housing on this land would generate. The A449 was formerly a trunk road and continues to be a Primary Route (green signs), the main road between Worcester and Wolverhampton. It would be harmful to the purpose of the A449 as a Primary Route to develop new housing adjacent to it, slowing down existing traffic, especially at peak hours, and causing road safety risks. There is also a risk of expansion outwards along or beyond the A449, raising concerns about the return of the controversial, damaging and twice-rejected past plan for a Western Strategic Route.
Green Belt assessment in Land Use Consultants’ 2019 Green Belt Study - Moderate-High

Object

Representation ID: 23407

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: West Midlands CPRE

Agent: Gerald Kells

DUH 206/207/209 Dudley Stourbridge Railway Line
This site is on farmland on the edge of Pedmore. it extends towards Hagley with no clearly defensible boundary protecting the narrow gap between Hagley and Pedmore. The nearest bus service is at Redlake Lane suggesting it would not be well situated for use by Public Transport. There is a risk that this site could end up joining Stourbridge and Hagley by later infill proposals.
Green Belt assessment in Land Use Consultants’ 2019 Green Belt Study - Moderate-High

Object

Representation ID: 23408

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: West Midlands CPRE

Agent: Gerald Kells

We support CPS3 (g) in regards to Green Belt. However, the key role identified in CPS3 of promoting urban renaissance is undermined by the significant number of sites identified in Green Belt, which also (as we say about Para 3.16) cannot be considered to be locations with defensible barriers.

It is important that the Plan supports on-going work to improve the accessibility of the local countryside, including tree plantings, habitat renewal and footpath improvements, also taking advantage of the network of canals.

We note that while the LUC Green Belt Study graded sites on their impact on Green Belt, these also can have a high landscape impact, especially in areas visible to large numbers of people, such as the sites adjacent to the Arboretum and between the canal and Longwood Lane.

Comment

Representation ID: 23409

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: West Midlands CPRE

Agent: Gerald Kells

While Green Belt primarily serves a strategic function, we also welcome the emphasis on ‘heritage, recreation, agricultural and nature conservation value.’ For many people this represents their local countryside. Moreover, it contains areas of particular value for amenity, such as the Walsall Arboretum, Barr Beacon and Seven Cornfields. The landscape characteristics of the Green Belt are also important along with key areas of nature conservation and geological importance such as Cuckoo’s Nook in Walsall.