LDF Sustainable future Nov 2013:Layout 1 25/11/13 13:29 Page A Solihull Local Plan Shaping a Sustainable Future December 2013 LDF Sustainable future Nov 2013:Layout 1 25/11/13 13:29 Page 1 Solihull Local Plan Shaping a Sustainable Future December 2013 1 Solihull Local Plan – Shaping a Sustainable Future LDF Sustainable future Nov 2013:Layout 1 25/11/13 13:29 Page 2 Solihull Local Plan Contents 1. Introduction 4 2. Spatial Portrait 8 3. Challenges and Objectives 18 4. Vision 25 5. Spatial Strategy 29 6. Policy Themes: 43 7. Sustainable Economic Growth 44 • P1 - Support Economic Success 47 • P2 - Maintain Strong, Competitive Town Centres 53 • P3 - Provision of Land for General Business & Premises 61 8. Providing Homes for All 66 • P4 – Meeting Housing Needs 68 • P5 - Provision of Land for Housing 72 • P6 - Provision of Sites for Gypsies and Travellers 88 9. Improving Accessibility and Encouraging Sustainable Travel 90 • P7 - Accessibility and Ease of Access 91 • P8 - Managing Demand for Travel and Reducing Congestion 92 10. Protecting and Enhancing our Environment 100 • P9 - Climate Change 102 • P10 - Natural Environment 105 • P11 - Water Management 108 • P12 - Resource Management 112 • P13 - Minerals 115 • P14 - Amenity 118 11. Promoting Quality of Place 122 • P15 - Securing Design Quality 124 • P16 - Conservation of Heritage Assets & Local Distinctiveness 127 • P17 - Countryside and Green Belt 130 12. Supporting Local Communities 134 • P18 - Health and Well Being 135 • P19 - Range and Quality of Local Services 138 • P20 - Provision for Open Space, Children’s Play, Sport, Recreation and Leisure 140 13. Delivery and Monitoring 144 • P21 – Developer Contributions and Infrastructure Provision 145 Appendix A • Development Sites 153 • Site Maps 154 • Local Plan Proposals Map 188 Solihull Local Plan – Shaping a Sustainable Future 2 LDF Sustainable future Nov 2013:Layout 1 25/11/13 13:29 Page 3 List of Figures Page no. Fig 1 Map of the West Midlands Metropolitan Area 6 Fig 2 Spatial Portrait Diagram 8 Fig 3 Table of Key Statistics 9 Fig 4 Map of Index of Multiple Deprivation 10 Fig 5 Graph of Average Lower Quartile House Prices 10 Fig 6 Maps of the Historical Development of Solihull 11 Fig 7 Graph of Average Car Ownership per Dwelling (by Ward) 12 Fig 8 Map of Employment Deprivation in North Solihull 13 Fig 9 Graph Showing Satisfaction Levels with the Local Neighbourhood 15 Fig 10 Graph of Projected Population Change 16 Fig 11 Spatial Strategy Diagram 32 Fig 12 Solihull Town Centre Spatial Strategy Diagram 57 Fig 13 Table of Allocated General Business Sites 62 Fig 14 Solihull Housing Land Supply 2006-2028 74 Housing Trajectory - table 75 Housing Trajectory - graph 76 Housing Land Requirement 77 Deliverable Housing Land Supply 77 Fig 15 Table of Allocated Housing Sites 79 Fig 16 Table of Solihull Town Centre Housing Sites 87 Fig 17 Relationship of Local Plan Policy and Objectives with National and Local Transport Policy 94 Fig 18 Delivery and Monitoring Framework 149 3 Solihull Local Plan – Shaping a Sustainable Future LDF Sustainable future Nov 2013:Layout 1 25/11/13 13:29 Page 4 1. Introduction 1.1 What the Plan is for 1.1.1 The Council has a statutory duty to prepare, monitor and review a development plan for the Borough. The purpose of the Plan is to set out the long-term spatial vision for how its towns, villages and countryside will develop and change over the Plan period (2011- 2028), and how this vision will be delivered through a strategy for promoting, distributing and delivering sustainable development and growth. 1.1.2 The Plan started life as the Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy prepared under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and set within the context of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) and its emphasis on urban renaissance. The Core Strategy was firmly focused on meeting local needs and aspirations through local engagement, but with strategic perspective and responsibility. The Plan has been developed in the light of the changing political and legislative landscape of regional and local planning, including the Localism Act 2011 and the Duty to Co-operate. 1.1.3 The Plan strategy promotes economic and job growth in the Borough and provides for new housing to meet the Borough’s needs, as well as land for other activities including retail, sport and leisure. The strategy aims to conserve and improve the character and quality of the environment, an important component of the Borough’s attractiveness to investment and success. 1.1.4 The Plan reflects national and local targets for reducing carbon emissions and contributes to the Council’s agenda of improving the quality of life and health of the residents of Solihull set out in the Sustainable Community Strategy for Solihull. It will be the starting point for the development of Neighbourhood Plans by local communities and for decisions on all new development proposals. 1.1.5 The Plan will replace the saved policies from the current development plan, the Solihull Unitary Development Plan, 2006. 1.2 Content 1.2.1 The Plan includes: 1.2.1 The Plan includes: •A spatial portrait of the Borough, the place Solihull is today and where it has come from (section 2) • The challenges facing Solihull that the Plan can help to address and the objectives for addressing these challenges (Section 3) •A vision of how the Borough will develop as a place to meet the needs of its local residents, businesses and visitors now and in the future (section 4) •A strategy to direct growth in sustainable locations and identify areas of significant change (section 5) • Policy themes (section 6) • Core policies to deliver the spatial strategy (sections 7 - 12) •A monitoring and implementation framework for delivering the Plan (section 13) • Proposed development sites for new employment, housing and other uses (Appendix A) Solihull Local Plan – Shaping a Sustainable Future 4 LDF Sustainable future Nov 2013:Layout 1 25/11/13 13:29 Page 5 1.3 How the Plan was developed 1.3.1 The Plan is founded on: • National and local planning policies, including: o The National Planning Policy Framework o National imperative of economic growth and sustainable development o Evidence prepared for the revision of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy o Joint Metropolitan commitment to urban renaissance o Local growth ambitions o Other relevant plans, policies and strategies that relate to the Borough or the wider area • Evidence from a number of studies about the Borough, including o Employment Land Study o Solihull Town Centre Study o Retail Capacity Study o Strategic Housing Market Area and Land Availability Assessments o Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment o Strategic Flood Risk Assessment o Settlement Studies o Characterisation Study o Green Spaces Strategy o Annual Monitoring Reports • Recommendations from appraisals and assessments: o Sustainability Appraisal of the objectives, strategy, policies and sites which highlighted potential conflicts or areas where the plan could be improved, and ensures that the Plan accords with the principles of sustainable development. o Habitat Regulations Assessment of the impact of the strategy and policies on the network of sites of European importance for nature conservation, specifically four Special Areas for Conservation at Cannock Extension Canal, Cannock Chase, Bredon Hill and the Peak District Dales. o Fair Treatment Assessment of the impact of policies on specific groups, as a result of race, gender, disability, age or religion • Involvement of key stakeholders and local communities, including consultation on: o Challenges and Choices o The Core Strategy Issues and Options paper - 2008 o Emerging Core Strategy - 2010 o Draft Local Plan - 2012 1.4 Duty to Cooperate 1.4.1 The Council has a strong and long established record of commitment to joint working with neighbouring authorities and other key stakeholders, initially through its support for regional planning, and subsequently via involvement with cross boundary groups. It has played a key role in regional planning for urban renaissance, transport, the green belt and the environment. Since the demise of the West Midlands Regional Assembly, Solihull has continued its involvement through regional and sub-regional working groups. It has cooperated principally on issues relating to: • Economic growth and employment, including North Solihull regeneration, the Airport, NEC, Jaguar Land Rover, the major business parks and Solihull town centre 5 Solihull Local Plan – Shaping a Sustainable Future LDF Sustainable future Nov 2013:Layout 1 25/11/13 13:29 Page 6 Metropolitan Area Metropolitan Fig. 1 Midlands Fig. West Map of the Solihull Local Plan – Shaping a Sustainable Future 6 LDF Sustainable future Nov 2013:Layout 1 25/11/13 13:29 Page 7 • Housing, and gypsy and traveller accommodation, •Transport, • Climate change and the environment, and • Minerals and waste. This has involved working with different authorities and stakeholders and in different groups and fora depending on the issues. 1.4.2 The Council is actively involved with the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, which published a strategic spatial framework plan and planning charter in February 2012. The strategic spatial framework plan identifies the Airport and the NEC as key assets, and highlights the strategic importance of regeneration and growth in North Solihull, the regional investment sites at Birmingham and Blythe Valley business parks, Solihull town centre and potential employment sites in the Borough. All these are reflected in the spatial strategy and Policies P1, P2, P3 and P5 in the Local Plan. The Council is also active with groups relating to Birmingham Airport and the M42 Economic Gateway. 1.4.3 Solihull has worked jointly with other authorities on its Strategic Housing Market Area Assessment and on the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment.