Draft Black Country Plan

Comment

Representation ID: 17427

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)

The Black Country Consortium Ltd welcomes the opportunity for the refresh of the local plan and review of progress made under the Joint Core Strategy whilst ensuring the needs of the sub region are both identified and met in the forthcoming period to the 2039 vision.

We are supportive of the proposed plan as an evidence based led local plan for the sub region and the all-encompassing range of areas of focused covered and welcome the brownfield first approach, which fits with our policy aims for the region.

In regards to housing; the Black Country Consortium has a brownfield first priority approach in order to maximise potential of unlocking capacity through existing brownfield sites whilst contributing to and acting as a catalyst to wider regeneration and economic prosperity and protecting the natural provision of both environmental significance and asset to community health and wellbeing.

The housing issue specifically within town centres could also be explored further – the task of re-balancing the town / city centres with the removal of retail classification on properties to allow for greater housing provision.

Comment

Representation ID: 17431

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)

We would like to see a reference to sustainable development of industrial and the mention of the Repowering the Black Country project, which is one of 7 areas selected across the Country for decarbonisation. In respect of the Black Country 10 sites have currently been identified in the Black Country, at least one in each borough. for zero carbon hub status, whereby complimentary businesses relocate and can share their energy needs. It would be good to include this initiative in the Plan, so that after the initial funding ceases the ambition is hard wired into the region for future commercial developments and repurposing existing developments.

We welcome the reference to the Black Country Garden City but would like to see a greater focus particularly in consideration of the green industrial revolution, low carbon housing, aspect of retrofitting and the sub regions natural assets such as UNESCO Geopark.

For residents and businesses we welcome the greening and provision of a quality environment –we are currently undertaking a tree survey to map the "green canopy" across the region and in future developments (and retrofitting) of both employment and housing land the requirements for tree planting and sustainable building techniques should be incorporated and consideration be given to more sustainable transport i.e., buses, trains, walking and cycling routes.

Comment

Representation ID: 17432

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)

In respect of the employment land approach, we welcome: -
1. The 100 plus sites covering 280ha specifically allocated for new industrial and logistics activities across the BC to meet a variety of needs.
2. The EZ projects around M54, Darlaston and Brierley Hill being promoted and would encourage the plan to include other sites for future development, i.e., Sandwell borough.
3 Welcome that the Plan protects the vast majority of our 3,000ha of existing employment areas from redevelopment to provide certainty for businesses.

We would like to see a reference to sustainable development of industrial and the mention of the Repowering the Black Country project, which is one of 7 areas selected across the Country for decarbonisation. In respect of the Black Country 10 sites have currently been identified in the Black Country, at least one in each borough. for zero carbon hub status, whereby complimentary businesses relocate and can share their energy needs. It would be good to include this initiative in the Plan, so that after the initial funding ceases the ambition is hard wired into the region for future commercial developments and repurposing existing developments.