Publication Plan November 2022

Object

Representation ID: 5256

Received: 21/12/2022

Respondent: CCB Investments

Agent: RCA Regeneration

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

In relation to the 4000-home contribution towards unmet housing needs of the Greater Birmingham and Black Country Housing Market Area, we are supportive of this. However, it remains unclear whether this is now a contribution entirely for the Greater Birmingham area or whether there was a proportion towards the unmet need of the Black Country. This figure should be disaggregated.
We also consider that the tier 2 settlements should be subject to an increased level of allocation. It is noted that there are 4 large strategic sites subject to allocations in excess of 500 dwellings. The limitations of these sites are that they are unlikely to deliver quickly – requiring greater levels of upfront investment in infrastructure as well as being often fraught with more complex technical problems which take time to solve. Moreover, these sites will be delivered on a phased basis, requiring multiple planning applications, all of which takes time. In order to deliver housing quickly (particularly in light of the delays to the delivery of this plan) there should be an increase in the number of smaller, less strategic allocations to deliver within the initial phase of the plan period in order to ensure the council can initially achieve and then maintain a healthy supply of housing land.
Our client’s site is located in Pattingham which is a Tier 3 settlement as set out Publication Plan Regulation 19 document. However, Pattingham is clearly far more sustainable than the assessment suggests. The site is clearly within safe and easy walking distance to St Chads Primary School, convenience store, public houses, restaurants, shops, and pharmacy, and local bus stops. It is simply not the case that the site is locationally unsustainable.

Object

Representation ID: 5257

Received: 21/12/2022

Respondent: CCB Investments

Agent: RCA Regeneration

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

Omission site: Westbeech Road, Pattingham

The site would make a valuable contribution towards meeting the district housing target. The site presents an opportunity to deliver housing within Pattingham which is a highly sustainable location. The site would achieve sustainable development without the need for major infrastructure investment and without the need to phase delivery. The site could deliver a residential development combined with a much needed new medical centre to serve the village and the wider community.
Land at Westbeech Road is by far the most sustainably-located site put forward in the Local Plan Review for Pattingham. The existing footpath network in Pattingham means that this site will need little infrastructure upgrades fully in line with the aims of the local authorities Preferred Strategy.
In addition, the site is the only proposed allocation that can deliver a new Medical Centre for Pattingham. This highly sustainable location is ideal for patients and staff alike and when assessed over the full plan period. This must be given significant weight as a public benefit to existing and future residents of Pattingham, particularly as the plan seeks to minimise the pressure on existing infrastructure and reduce the dependence on private vehicles.
For the reasons highlighted above, we urge that the council should give further consideration to the site at Land at Westbeech Road, Pattingham and it should be included as a housing allocation within the Publication Plan.