Draft Black Country Plan

Comment

Representation ID: 16187

Received: 09/10/2021

Respondent: Beacon Action Group

The Beacon Action Group has been commenting on planning proposals situated in the Great Barr Local Area since 1983. The Group represents residents who live in the local area adjacent to the Green Belt sites in Sandwell, Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council and Birmingham City Council areas. Residents in these long-standing communities, who are passionate about the area in which they live, will be the most affected by any development proposals in the Green Belt. On behalf of these residents, we wish to register our strong objections to the inclusion of Green Belt sites in the Black Country Plan.

We are currently, and have been supported during this time, by the present and former Members of Parliament from both West Bromwich East and Walsall South parliamentary constituencies. Preservation of the Green Belt is currently endorsed by the West Midlands Mayor.

The current chairman was a rule 6 participant at the 2004 Public Inquiry relating to the Former Great Barr Hall Mental Hospital site, acquired by developers, Bovis Homes, and a participant at the examination in public of the Sites Allocation Plan (SAD) in 2017, in respect of the Great Barr Grade II listed parkland site in Walsall South, supported by Valerie Vaz MP. He wishes to be included as a participant in the examination of this plan.

In particular, we support Sandwell Council in removing the Peak House Farm site from the Black Country Plan.
These environmentally sensitive sites are very important in maintaining open spaces in this area, providing a pathway to the Beacon Way and importantly preventing coalescence between the three aforementioned areas. The area needs to maintain this Green Belt as it is already an extremely polluted area due to the nearby M6/M5 motorway at Junction 7 and the frequently heavily congested A34 dual carriageway from the Scott Arms junction through to Walsall.

BUILDING IN THE GREEN BELT

1.1 The Green Belt is protected from development by The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), paragraphs 79, 80, 88 and 89, the current Black Country Core Strategy (2011), and the local council’s planning policies.

1.2 The Green Belt areas in our locality are situated on the gateway to the three Local authority boundaries of Birmingham, Walsall and Sandwell and thus prevents coalescence and the consequential merging into the countryside that provides a natural rural separation between them.
1.3 Development within the Green Belt is severely restricted and can only be supported when certain criterion is met as outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework and it is vital that the Black Country Core Plan complies with these policies and protocols.

1.4 In particular, they must ensure that substantial weight is given to any harm to the Green Belt. Very special circumstances will not exist unless the potential harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations.

2. THE PRESUMPTION AGAINST BUILDING IN THE GREEN BELT
2.1 The presumption against building in the green belt is clear, the NPPF states in: Paragraph 79 – “The Government attaches great importance to Green Belts. The fundamental aim of Green Belt policy is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open; the essential characteristics of Green Belts are their openness and their permanence.”

Paragraph 80 – “Green Belt serves five purposes: To check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas; To prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another; To assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment; To preserve the setting and special character of historic towns; and to assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land.”

2.2 Paragraph 87 – “As with previous Green Belt policy, inappropriate development is, by definition, harmful to the Green Belt and should not be approved except in very special circumstances.” Paragraph 88 – “When considering any planning application local authorities should ensure that substantial weight is given to any harm to the green belt.
‘Very special circumstances’ will not exist unless the potential harm to the green belt by reason of inappropriateness and any other harm is clearly outweighed by other considerations.”

We trust you will give serious consideration to our comments.

Support

Representation ID: 16188

Received: 09/10/2021

Respondent: Beacon Action Group

Peak House Farm
In particular, we support Sandwell Council in removing the Peak House Farm site from the Black Country Plan.
These environmentally sensitive sites are very important in maintaining open spaces in this area, providing a pathway to the Beacon Way and importantly preventing coalescence between the three aforementioned areas. The area needs to maintain this Green Belt as it is already an extremely polluted area due to the nearby M6/M5 motorway at Junction 7 and the frequently heavily congested A34 dual carriageway from the Scott Arms junction through to Walsall.