Residents may be aware of the councils recent ‘Call for Sites’ in order to fulfil its responsibilities in respect of housing targets (some 1300 new homes a year for the next ten years).
We have posted here a breakdown of the main sites the Dickens Heath, Tidbury Green and Cheswick Green communities, together with maps.
There are so many sites put forward that I have not drawn up a synopsis of each site. The full report, relating to the whole of the borough, can be read via this link: https://solihull-mbc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/906f0c69fb5e41cb84b56d959f4d4db5 and you can break down the search for individual wards/parish.
It is important to note that this is a land availability exercise, and it does not necessarily mean that these sites are suitable for development. Through the plan-making process, the Council will determine how much growth should be included in the plan, and where it should be located.
There are a few sites that were included in the (now withdrawn) local plan, as well as many others that were put forward, but not carried further.
Sites that are duplicated include Dog Kennel Lane, Tilehouse Lane, Tythe Barn Lane and Wood Farm. In respect of Woods farm, We have included it in this report as it is within the Dickens Heath parish boundary but access is off Bills Lane.
Each site will now undergo a sustainability review before a more in-depth options appraisal report being published later this year. It is then we will get some sort of idea as to what sites may be considered for further investigations and consultation.
We have posted these details, not to alarm, but to inform. By visiting the website showing the submissions you can find out details for all submissions in the borough. The vast majority will not get off the ground. The Call for Sites map from 2016 shows the extent of submission that year and only so many went through to the examination in public held by the planning inspectors.
In effect, there is nothing to object to – at this stage. Once the sites have been whittled down to form the schedule of sites for consideration, that is the time. There are certainly sites that I have very serious reservations about; some I can readily accept – subject to infrastructure requirements and conditions being established. But, more about that later this year.