SLP KDBH Extracts - Flipbook - Page 27
accommodating additional growth – in a managed fashion; and provided an appropriate
balance is maintained (by ensuring a sustainable pattern of development is achieved), this
would be an acceptable approach.
62.
The Scope, Issues and Options consultation set out 7 broad options for accommodating
growth as follows :
Growth Option A – High Frequency Public Transport Corridors & Hubs
Growth Option B – Solihull Town Centre
Growth Option C – North Solihull/Chelmsley Wood
Growth Option D – Shirley Town Centre & the A34 Corridor
Growth Option E – The UK Central Hub Area & HS2
Growth Option F – Limited Expansion of Rural Villages/Settlements
Growth Option G – New Settlements, Large Scale Urban Extensions or Significant
Expansion of Rural Villages/Settlements
Spatial Strategy
63.
Ideally, seeking to accommodate development needs close to where they arise is a sensible
starting position and given that around 75% of the Borough’s population live within the urban
areas, then these areas should be the initial focus for accommodating development. This
approach would support potential developments that fall within options A to D described
above which are within the urban area. Appropriate development opportunities under these
options are therefore preferred.
64.
There is extremely limited land available that could contribute towards options A to D and
therefore the Council has had to look at options E, F & G (which will require land to be
released from the Green Belt). In doing so it has sought strike a balance between
concentrating development in a relatively small number of locations and dispersing
development over a greater number of locations – a ‘balanced dispersal’ approach.
65.
The strategy also seeks to focus significant developments in locations that are, or can be
made, accessible and sustainable. These locations will typically be on the edge of the urban
area or within the rural settlements that have a greater range of services. This will be
achieved by focussing development in the following locations:
Located adjacent to the urban edge/a highly accessible settlement or;
Located adjacent to a settlement that although it may be less accessible, it has a
wide range of local services (including a secondary school)18 or;
Development that would be a proportionate addition adjacent to an existing
settlement that although is less accessible still has a limited range of services
available within it (including a primary school)19.
66.
This approach will have the following advantages:
Concentration could support the UK Central masterplan and HS2 growth strategy,
and the investment priorities in ‘Solihull Connected’;
Focussing on urban areas and sustainable urban extensions provides the best
opportunity for achieving accessibility and delivering public transport improvements;
18
19
This includes Balsall Common and Knowle/Dorridge/Bentley Heath
This includes Hampton-in-Arden, Hockley Heath and Meriden
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