Draft Black Country Plan

Object

Representation ID: 22386

Received: 08/10/2021

Respondent: Inland Waterways Association Lichfield

Policy EMP1 - Site WAE410 - Johnsons Farm and Meadow Farm, Watling Street, Brownhills

This site is an important area of countryside alongside the Anglesey Branch of the Wyrley & Essington Canal. It is part of the West Midlands Green Belt which serves to check the sprawl of built-up areas, to encourage the regeneration of urban land, and to safeguard the countryside. Its proposed removal from the Green Belt would undermine those purposes and damage the setting and economy of the canal. Therefore, IWA objects in principle to its allocation for development. However, if exceptional circumstances can be proven then it is important that the adverse impact of development on the canal is limited and mitigated by sensitive layout, design and landscaping.
The Anglesey Branch is a historic waterway and a valuable amenity and recreational corridor, providing leisure boating, walking, angling, cycling and nature conservation benefits to the area. It is part of the national waterway system which attracts millions of visits each year from local people and holidaymakers from home and abroad, and is a major component of the nation’s tourism industry.
The rural environment of the canals plays a vital role in attracting and sustaining the recreation and tourism use of the whole canal system, which contributes to the visitor economy and helps support local businesses. The income from boating activities provides a major part of the funding necessary for the Canal & River Trust to maintain the canals for public use and enjoyment.
Although much of the canal network in the Black Country is urban or suburban in character, the northern parts of the system in Walsall in particular include several attractive countryside sections. Because of their limited extent, these are of particular value to sustaining tourism as well as an important amenity for nearby residents.
However, major built developments in the countryside adjacent to the canal system destroy the rural setting that contributes to their heritage interest, wildlife, amenity value and recreational use. Visually intrusive built development alongside the canals damages their tourism potential and economic benefits.
The Anglesey Branch currently enjoys a pleasant open rural outlook across this site that enhances its attractiveness for recreational use. The canal towpath is open to the public and provides an accessible footpath. However, the attractive countryside setting of this section of the canal will be largely lost by this proposed allocation and its overall value to the local community and the visitor economy would be diminished if the development is visually intrusive. Industrial units are often large featureless sheds that are inherently more intrusive than housing developments.
It is therefore important that the visual impact of the development on the canal is limited by sensitive design, layout and landscaping of the site. This should provide a broad buffer zone alongside the canal with only limited built development forming a landscaped corridor to help preserve and enhance the canal environment.
This will be in line with the aspirations of Policy ENV7 – Canals, that development affecting the canal network should (1) “deliver a high quality environment”, (2e) “protect and enhance its visual amenity, key views and settings”, and (3d) “positively relate to the waterway by promoting high quality design, including providing active frontages onto the canal and by improving the public realm”.

Object

Representation ID: 22387

Received: 08/10/2021

Respondent: Inland Waterways Association Lichfield

Policy HOU1 - Site SAH226 - Land to north of Painswick Close substation, Sandwell

This site is an important area of countryside alongside the Rushall Canal. It is part of the West Midlands Green Belt which serves to check the sprawl of built-up areas, to encourage the regeneration of urban land, and to safeguard the countryside. Its proposed removal from the Green Belt would undermine those purposes and damage the setting and economy of the canal. Therefore, IWA objects in principle to its allocation for development. However, if exceptional circumstances can be proven then it is important that the adverse impact of development on the canal is limited and mitigated by sensitive layout, design and landscaping.
The Rushall Canal is a historic waterway and a valuable amenity and recreational corridor, providing leisure boating, walking, angling, cycling and nature conservation benefits to the area. It is part of the national waterway system which attracts millions of visits each year from local people and holidaymakers from home and abroad, and is a major component of the nation’s tourism industry.
The rural environment of the canals plays a vital role in attracting and sustaining the recreation and tourism use of the whole canal system, which contributes to the visitor economy and helps support local businesses. The income from boating activities provides a major part of the funding necessary for the Canal & River Trust to maintain the canals for public use and enjoyment.
Although much of the canal network in the Black Country is urban or suburban in character, the northern parts of the system in Walsall in particular include several attractive countryside sections. Because of their limited extent, these are of particular value to sustaining tourism as well as an important amenity for nearby residents.
However, major built developments in the countryside adjacent to the canal system destroy the rural setting that contributes to their heritage interest, wildlife, amenity value and recreational use. Visually intrusive built development alongside the canals damages their tourism potential and economic benefits.
The Rushall Canal currently enjoys a pleasant open rural outlook across this site that enhances its attractiveness for recreational use. The canal towpath is open to the public and provides an accessible footpath. However, the attractive countryside setting of this section of the canal will be largely lost by this proposed allocation. Whilst the canal corridor will provide an amenity for the new residents, its overall value to the local community and the visitor economy would be diminished if the development is visually intrusive.
It is therefore important that the visual impact of the development on the canal is limited by sensitive design, layout and landscaping of the site. The site includes a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation (SLINC) which the canal contributes to. This should be preserved and enhanced by setting back the built development behind a broad buffer zone alongside the canal with only limited built development forming a corridor of open amenity land to help preserve and enhance the canal environment. This corridor could encompass Public Open Space, parkland, woodland, wildflower meadows, sports fields, children’s play areas or informal recreation space.
This will be in line with the aspirations of Policy ENV7 – Canals, that development affecting the canal network should (1) “deliver a high quality environment”, (2e) “protect and enhance its visual amenity, key views and settings”, (3a) “enhance and promote its role in providing opportunities for leisure, recreation and tourism activities”, and (3d) “positively relate to the waterway by promoting high quality design, including providing active frontages onto the canal and by improving the public realm”.
The comments in Table 22 (page 446) recognise the Rushall Canal as the greatest asset of this site, but the suggestion that heights of buildings overlooking the canal should be raised is fundamentally misguided. This may provide a few residents with better views, but at the expense of a more visually intrusive development as seen from the canal by its many users.

Support

Representation ID: 22389

Received: 08/10/2021

Respondent: Inland Waterways Association Lichfield

Policy ENV7 – Canals
The Inland Waterways Association commends and supports all aspects of Policy ENV7 - Canals, including the development principles, environmental protection, restoration route safeguards, and residential moorings guidance. The following minor amendments are suggested for clarification:
Paragraph 1)
Action: Insert "boaters" before "pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-car-based modes of transport".
Explanation: The prime purpose of canal navigations is for boating, and this remains a focus for their accessibility alongside other users. Navigation and boating is duly mentioned in paragraphs 2)a, 3)b and 6).
10.103
Action: Amend last sentence to read: "... making their reinstatement (and any necessary original realignment) financially challenging and only achievable beyond the Plan period."
Explanation: The existing text is too negative. There are several viable canal restoration projects being actively pursued which are capable of making progress within the Plan period, although like most canal restorations their completion may span several plan periods.
Action: Add new paragraph after 10.103
"Long term projects to restore several canals within or connecting with the Black Country include the Lapal Canal (partly in Dudley), the Fens Branch (in Dudley), the Bradley Canal (in Wolverhampton and Sandwell) and the Hatherton Canal (partly in Walsall). These are supported as important strategic additions to the region's canal network that will benefit the recreation facilities and visitor economy of the Black Country."
Explanation: In response to the comment under Issues and Options consultation responses (page 245) concerning the Hatherton Canal, whilst this remains protected by Walsall's SAD Policy EN4 Canals and it is appropriate to detail the route protection at a local level, for canal restoration projects that cross local authority boundaries it is appropriate for them to be included at the strategic level of the Black Country Plan.

Object

Representation ID: 22390

Received: 08/10/2021

Respondent: Inland Waterways Association Lichfield

Policy WSA1 - Home Farm, Sandhills, Walsall Wood
This site is an important area of countryside alongside the Wyrley & Essington Canal. It is part of the West Midlands Green Belt which serves to check the sprawl of built-up areas, to encourage the regeneration of urban land, and to safeguard the countryside. Its proposed removal from the Green Belt would undermine those purposes and damage the setting and economy of the canal. Therefore, IWA objects in principle to its allocation for development. However, if exceptional circumstances can be proven then it is important that the adverse impact of development on the canal is limited and mitigated by sensitive layout, design and landscaping.
The Wyrley & Essington Canal is a historic waterway and a valuable amenity and recreational corridor, providing leisure boating, walking, angling, cycling and nature conservation benefits to the area. It is part of the national waterway system which attracts millions of visits each year from local people and holidaymakers from home and abroad, and is a major component of the nation’s tourism industry.
The rural environment of the canals plays a vital role in attracting and sustaining the recreation and tourism use of the whole canal system, which contributes to the visitor economy and helps support local businesses. The income from boating activities provides a major part of the funding necessary for the Canal & River Trust to maintain the canals for public use and enjoyment.
Although much of the canal network in the Black Country is urban or suburban in character, the northern parts of the system in Walsall in particular include several attractive countryside sections. Because of their limited extent, these are of particular value to sustaining tourism as well as an important amenity for nearby residents.
However, major built developments in the countryside adjacent to the canal system destroy the rural setting that contributes to their heritage interest, wildlife, amenity value and recreational use. Visually intrusive built development alongside the canals damages their tourism potential and economic benefits.
The Wyrley & Essington Canal currently enjoys a pleasant open rural outlook across this site that enhances its attractiveness for recreational use. The canal towpath is open to the public and provides an accessible footpath. However, the attractive countryside setting of this section of the canal will be largely lost by this proposed allocation. Whilst the canal corridor will provide an amenity for the new residents, its overall value to the local community and the visitor economy would be diminished if the development is visually intrusive.
It is therefore important that the visual impact of the development on the canal is limited by sensitive design, layout and landscaping through appropriate masterplanning of the site. This should provide a broad buffer zone alongside the canal with only limited built development forming a continuous corridor of open amenity land to help preserve and enhance the canal environment. This corridor could encompass Public Open Space, parkland, woodland, wildflower meadows, sports fields, children’s play areas and informal recreation space.
This will be in line with the aspirations of Policy ENV7 – Canals, that development affecting the canal network should (1) “deliver a high quality environment”, (2e) “protect and enhance its visual amenity, key views and settings”, (3a) “enhance and promote its role in providing opportunities for leisure, recreation and tourism activities”, and (3d) “positively relate to the waterway by promoting high quality design, including providing active frontages onto the canal and by improving the public realm”.
This site also includes the disused Sandhills Branch of the Wyrley & Essington Canal, the course of which although largely filled-in is clearly visible in the field boundaries and its full extent is shown on historic maps. Part of it is shown as a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation (SLINC) on the Strategic Allocation plan.
Policy ENV7 – Canals (5) requires that the potential to record, preserve and restore disused canal features should be fully explored, and that the line of the canal should be protected by the detailed site layout. Para. 10.102 further advises that the potential to preserve the line of the canal as part of the wider green infrastructure network be explored, and also that where feasible and sustainable, proposals should consider the potential for the restoration of disused sections of canal.
There is considerable potential here for the Sandhills Branch Canal to be at least partly restored to water to protect its historic interest and to provide an attractive aquatic feature and environmental corridor within the site. Without access to private land it is not clear how much of the original wharf buildings survive northwest of Home Farm but any that do should be retained, restored and reused as part of the public realm within a linear parkland setting along the line of the canal. Consideration should also be given to more fully restoring the branch canal back to its original junction with the main line of the canal and to including a number of permanent residential boat moorings in the original terminal basin area, which would add variety and interest to the housing provision on this site.

Object

Representation ID: 22391

Received: 08/10/2021

Respondent: Inland Waterways Association Lichfield

Poiicy WSA5 - Land at Yorks Bridge, Lichfield Road, Pelsall
This site is an important area of countryside alongside the Wyrley & Essington Canal. It is part of the West Midlands Green Belt which serves to check the sprawl of built-up areas, to encourage the regeneration of urban land, and to safeguard the countryside. Its proposed removal from the Green Belt would undermine those purposes and damage the setting and economy of the canal. Therefore, IWA objects in principle to its allocation for development. However, if exceptional circumstances can be proven then it is important that the adverse impact of development on the canal is limited and mitigated by sensitive layout, design and landscaping.
The Wyrley & Essington Canal is a historic waterway and a valuable amenity and recreational corridor, providing leisure boating, walking, angling, cycling and nature conservation benefits to the area. It is part of the national waterway system which attracts millions of visits each year from local people and holidaymakers from home and abroad, and is a major component of the nation’s tourism industry.
The rural environment of the canals plays a vital role in attracting and sustaining the recreation and tourism use of the whole canal system, which contributes to the visitor economy and helps support local businesses. The income from boating activities provides a major part of the funding necessary for the Canal & River Trust to maintain the canals for public use and enjoyment.
Although much of the canal network in the Black Country is urban or suburban in character, the northern parts of the system in Walsall in particular include several attractive countryside sections. Because of their limited extent, these are of particular value to sustaining tourism as well as an important amenity for nearby residents.
However, major built developments in the countryside adjacent to the canal system destroy the rural setting that contributes to their heritage interest, wildlife, amenity value and recreational use. Visually intrusive built development alongside the canals damages their tourism potential and economic benefits.
The Wyrley & Essington Canal currently enjoys a pleasant open rural outlook across this site that enhances its attractiveness for recreational use. The canal towpath is open to the public and provides an accessible footpath. However, the attractive countryside setting of this section of the canal will be largely lost by this proposed allocation. Whilst the canal corridor will provide an amenity for the new residents, its overall value to the local community and the visitor economy would be diminished if the development is visually intrusive.
It is therefore important that the visual impact of the development on the canal is limited by sensitive design, layout and landscaping through appropriate masterplanning of the site. The canal and an adjacent wetland, woodland and grassland area is shown as a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation (SLINC) on the Strategic Allocation plan. This should be preserved and enhanced by setting back the built development behind this buffer zone with additional landscaping and public realm uses to help preserve the setting of the canal.
This will be in line with the aspirations of Policy ENV7 – Canals, that development affecting the canal network should (1) “deliver a high quality environment”, (2e) “protect and enhance its visual amenity, key views and settings”, (3a) “enhance and promote its role in providing opportunities for leisure, recreation and tourism activities”, and (3d) “positively relate to the waterway by promoting high quality design, including providing active frontages onto the canal and by improving the public realm”.

Object

Representation ID: 22392

Received: 08/10/2021

Respondent: Inland Waterways Association Lichfield

Policy WSA4 - Yieldsfield Farm, Stafford Road, Bloxwich

This site includes the former Lords Hayes Branch of the Wyrley & Essington Canal, which runs along its northern boundary. Although long disused and largely filled-in, its course is clearly visible in the field boundaries and its original extent is shown on historic maps. There is still evidence of water in places and its course is shown as a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation (SLINC) on the Strategic Allocation plan.
Policy ENV7 – Canals (5) requires that the potential to record, preserve and restore disused canal features should be fully explored, and that the line of the canal should be protected by the detailed site layout. Para. 10.102 further advises that the potential to preserve the line of the canal as part of the wider green infrastructure network be explored, and also that where feasible and sustainable, proposals should consider the potential for the restoration of disused sections of canal.
There is considerable potential here for the Lords Hayes Branch Canal within the site to be at least partly restored to water to protect its historic interest and to provide an attractive aquatic feature and an improved environmental corridor within the site. Although there are no proposals to make this section navigable again, the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust plan to restore a section of the canal just outside this site, from Fishley Junction to west of Fishley Lane, as part of the new route for a restored Hatherton Canal. Consideration should also be given to re-watering the short intervening section to join these up to secure a reliable water supply for the SLINC section.

Object

Representation ID: 22393

Received: 08/10/2021

Respondent: Inland Waterways Association Lichfield

Policy WSA6 - Land off Sutton Road, Longwood Lane, Walsall
This site is an important area of countryside alongside the Rushall Canal. It is part of the West Midlands Green Belt which serves to check the sprawl of built-up areas, to encourage the regeneration of urban land, and to safeguard the countryside. Its proposed removal from the Green Belt would undermine those purposes and damage the setting and economy of the canal. Therefore, IWA objects in principle to its allocation for development. However, if exceptional circumstances can be proven then it is important that the adverse impact of development on the canal is limited and mitigated by sensitive layout, design and landscaping.
The Rushall Canal is a historic waterway and a valuable amenity and recreational corridor, providing leisure boating, walking, angling, cycling and nature conservation benefits to the area. It is part of the national waterway system which attracts millions of visits each year from local people and holidaymakers from home and abroad, and is a major component of the nation’s tourism industry.
The rural environment of the canals plays a vital role in attracting and sustaining the recreation and tourism use of the whole canal system, which contributes to the visitor economy and helps support local businesses. The income from boating activities provides a major part of the funding necessary for the Canal & River Trust to maintain the canals for public use and enjoyment.
Although much of the canal network in the Black Country is urban or suburban in character, the northern parts of the system in Walsall in particular include several attractive countryside sections. Because of their limited extent, these are of particular value to sustaining tourism as well as an important amenity for nearby residents.
However, major built developments in the countryside adjacent to the canal system destroy the rural setting that contributes to their heritage interest, wildlife, amenity value and recreational use. Visually intrusive built development alongside the canals damages their tourism potential and economic benefits.
The Rushall Canal currently enjoys a pleasant open rural outlook across this site that enhances its attractiveness for recreational use. The canal towpath is open to the public and provides an accessible footpath. However, the attractive countryside setting of this section of the canal will be largely lost by this proposed allocation. Whilst the canal corridor will provide an amenity for the new residents, its overall value to the local community and the visitor economy would be diminished if the development is visually intrusive.
It is therefore important that the visual impact of the development on the canal is limited by sensitive design, layout and landscaping through appropriate masterplanning of the site. The canal and the adjacent area is shown as a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation (SLINC) on the Strategic Allocation plan. This should be preserved and enhanced by setting back the built development behind a broad buffer zone alongside the canal with only limited built development forming a continuous corridor of open amenity land to help preserve and enhance the canal environment. This corridor could encompass Public Open Space, parkland, woodland, wildflower meadows, sports fields, children’s play areas and informal recreation space.
This will be in line with the aspirations of Policy ENV7 – Canals, that development affecting the canal network should (1) “deliver a high quality environment”, (2e) “protect and enhance its visual amenity, key views and settings”, (3a) “enhance and promote its role in providing opportunities for leisure, recreation and tourism activities”, and (3d) “positively relate to the waterway by promoting high quality design, including providing active frontages onto the canal and by improving the public realm”.

Object

Representation ID: 22396

Received: 08/10/2021

Respondent: Inland Waterways Association Lichfield

Policy EMP1 - Site WAE410 - Johnsons Farm and Meadow Farm, Watling Street, Brownhills

This site is an important area of countryside alongside the Anglesey Branch of the Wyrley & Essington Canal. It is part of the West Midlands Green Belt which serves to check the sprawl of built-up areas, to encourage the regeneration of urban land, and to safeguard the countryside. Its proposed removal from the Green Belt would undermine those purposes and damage the setting and economy of the canal. Therefore, IWA objects in principle to its allocation for development. However, if exceptional circumstances can be proven then it is important that the adverse impact of development on the canal is limited and mitigated by sensitive layout, design and landscaping.
The Anglesey Branch is a historic waterway and a valuable amenity and recreational corridor, providing leisure boating, walking, angling, cycling and nature conservation benefits to the area. It is part of the national waterway system which attracts millions of visits each year from local people and holidaymakers from home and abroad, and is a major component of the nation’s tourism industry.
The rural environment of the canals plays a vital role in attracting and sustaining the recreation and tourism use of the whole canal system, which contributes to the visitor economy and helps support local businesses. The income from boating activities provides a major part of the funding necessary for the Canal & River Trust to maintain the canals for public use and enjoyment.
Although much of the canal network in the Black Country is urban or suburban in character, the northern parts of the system in Walsall in particular include several attractive countryside sections. Because of their limited extent, these are of particular value to sustaining tourism as well as an important amenity for nearby residents.
However, major built developments in the countryside adjacent to the canal system destroy the rural setting that contributes to their heritage interest, wildlife, amenity value and recreational use. Visually intrusive built development alongside the canals damages their tourism potential and economic benefits.
The Anglesey Branch currently enjoys a pleasant open rural outlook across this site that enhances its attractiveness for recreational use. The canal towpath is open to the public and provides an accessible footpath. However, the attractive countryside setting of this section of the canal will be largely lost by this proposed allocation and its overall value to the local community and the visitor economy would be diminished if the development is visually intrusive. Industrial units are often large featureless sheds that are inherently more intrusive than housing developments.
It is therefore important that the visual impact of the development on the canal is limited by sensitive design, layout and landscaping of the site. This should provide a broad buffer zone alongside the canal with only limited built development forming a landscaped corridor to help preserve and enhance the canal environment.
This will be in line with the aspirations of Policy ENV7 – Canals, that development affecting the canal network should (1) “deliver a high quality environment”, (2e) “protect and enhance its visual amenity, key views and settings”, and (3d) “positively relate to the waterway by promoting high quality design, including providing active frontages onto the canal and by improving the public realm”.

Object

Representation ID: 22397

Received: 08/10/2021

Respondent: Inland Waterways Association Lichfield

Policy HOU1 - Site SAH226 - Land to north of Painswick Close substation, Sandwell
This site is an important area of countryside alongside the Rushall Canal. It is part of the West Midlands Green Belt which serves to check the sprawl of built-up areas, to encourage the regeneration of urban land, and to safeguard the countryside. Its proposed removal from the Green Belt would undermine those purposes and damage the setting and economy of the canal. Therefore, IWA objects in principle to its allocation for development. However, if exceptional circumstances can be proven then it is important that the adverse impact of development on the canal is limited and mitigated by sensitive layout, design and landscaping.
The Rushall Canal is a historic waterway and a valuable amenity and recreational corridor, providing leisure boating, walking, angling, cycling and nature conservation benefits to the area. It is part of the national waterway system which attracts millions of visits each year from local people and holidaymakers from home and abroad, and is a major component of the nation’s tourism industry.
The rural environment of the canals plays a vital role in attracting and sustaining the recreation and tourism use of the whole canal system, which contributes to the visitor economy and helps support local businesses. The income from boating activities provides a major part of the funding necessary for the Canal & River Trust to maintain the canals for public use and enjoyment.
Although much of the canal network in the Black Country is urban or suburban in character, the northern parts of the system in Walsall in particular include several attractive countryside sections. Because of their limited extent, these are of particular value to sustaining tourism as well as an important amenity for nearby residents.
However, major built developments in the countryside adjacent to the canal system destroy the rural setting that contributes to their heritage interest, wildlife, amenity value and recreational use. Visually intrusive built development alongside the canals damages their tourism potential and economic benefits.
The Rushall Canal currently enjoys a pleasant open rural outlook across this site that enhances its attractiveness for recreational use. The canal towpath is open to the public and provides an accessible footpath. However, the attractive countryside setting of this section of the canal will be largely lost by this proposed allocation. Whilst the canal corridor will provide an amenity for the new residents, its overall value to the local community and the visitor economy would be diminished if the development is visually intrusive.
It is therefore important that the visual impact of the development on the canal is limited by sensitive design, layout and landscaping of the site. The site includes a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation (SLINC) which the canal contributes to. This should be preserved and enhanced by setting back the built development behind a broad buffer zone alongside the canal with only limited built development forming a corridor of open amenity land to help preserve and enhance the canal environment. This corridor could encompass Public Open Space, parkland, woodland, wildflower meadows, sports fields, children’s play areas or informal recreation space.
This will be in line with the aspirations of Policy ENV7 – Canals, that development affecting the canal network should (1) “deliver a high quality environment”, (2e) “protect and enhance its visual amenity, key views and settings”, (3a) “enhance and promote its role in providing opportunities for leisure, recreation and tourism activities”, and (3d) “positively relate to the waterway by promoting high quality design, including providing active frontages onto the canal and by improving the public realm”.
The comments in Table 22 (page 446) recognise the Rushall Canal as the greatest asset of this site, but the suggestion that heights of buildings overlooking the canal should be raised is fundamentally misguided. This may provide a few residents with better views, but at the expense of a more visually intrusive development as seen from the canal by its many users.