Object

Representation ID: 4901

Received: 23/12/2022

Respondent: Bloor Homes Ltd

Agent: Marrons Planning

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The proposed settlement hierarchy has altered from the Core Strategy due to the Rural Services and Facilities Audit (RSFA) 2021. Hansen Scores only provide a current snapshot and does not take account of additional opportunities development can provide or improved public transport patronage or modal shift strategies. The weighting given to access to employment is too great.

The RSFA places too much weight on rail provision. Regular and frequent bus services are available to Wolverhampton, Stourbridge and Merryhill. These serve a much wider catchment than rail for day to day needs and the ability to improve local services is much greater than rail. No recognition is given to access to employment within the village by means other than public transport, such as Heathmill Road and Smestow Bridge Industrial Estates and the village centre. The RSFA does not recognise changing patterns of working, whereby more people are choosing to work from home either part or all of the time, meaning availability of services and facilities in close proximity to meet day to day needs becomes more important, such as doctors, shops and schools.

Wombourne has 11.5% of the District's population but is only providing 8% of total housing delivery. It should provide 11.5% of housing delivery. Wombourne residents are 11% of the district-wide commuters to Birmingham and 12% of the district's commuters to the whole HMA, suggesting it should provide 11% of the District's contribution to HMA unmet needs. It also has a higher proportion of 0-16 year olds relative to other areas.

The Southern Sub Area in the SHMA has a need of 2,391 dwellings but planned housing supply totals only 1,831 dwellings. Its housing affordability ratio is also higher than the District average. There has been very strong demand for the existing Bloor Homes development compared to other similar high value area developments. The Viability Study 2021 identifies market values in Locality 5 to be amongst the highest in the Plan area.

The spatial strategy should be revised to take account of the above factors. It is readily apparent on this basis that Wombourne should be considered a Tier 1 settlement and have further growth.