Object

Representation ID: 4989

Received: 20/12/2022

Respondent: Barratt West Midlands

Agent: Savills

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Part c of Policy HC10 states that all developments will be required to incorporate tree lined streets. We consider that the policy should be worded as set out in the NPPF. Paragraph 131 states that “planning policies…should ensure that new streets are tree-lined” with footnote 50 adding “unless, in specific cases, there are clear, justifiable and compelling reasons why this would be inappropriate”. In order to be consistent with national policy (NPPF paragraph 35), Policy HC10 should be amended to refer to situations where tree-lined streets may not be appropriate. Barratt’s experience on a number of current housing developments is that Highways Authorities are not always supportive of tree-lined streets particularly in relation to the long-term management of the highways trees.
Part e states that proposals should use “bespoke house types to avoid a monotonous visual appearance”. It is unclear what is meant from that but on major development schemes delivered by national housebuilders, providing all bespoke house types is not achievable or reasonable.