SLP KDBH Extracts - Flipbook - Page 6
Climate Change
12.
Although the reasons noted above triggered the need to review the plan, it is also clear that
a new plan provides an ideal opportunity to ensure the Council’s approach to planning
matches its ambitions in responding to the climate change challenge. In recognition of the
gravity of the climate change emergency the Council adopted a ‘Climate Change
Declaration’ in October 2019. Action on many fronts is needed to address this challenge and
through this plan the Council will set, in a statutory framework, those aspects of the
declaration’s actions that can be addressed through the planning system. As the declaration
states “there needs to be a just transition for our residents and for business, taking them with
us, so as to protect employment and avoid adverse effects on our people, our economy and
our communities.”
Covid-19
13.
This introduction would not be complete without reference to the Covid-19 crisis of 2020. Its
effects have been devastating and the long term effects of it are still not clear. But what is
clear is that the Borough must create the right conditions for the recovery and having an
adopted plan in place will play a key part in this.
How Could it Affect Me?
14.
The local plan as a whole sets out the future spatial strategy for the Borough and includes
the allocation of sites to promote development. It also identifies land where development
would be inappropriate because of its impact on, for instance, environmental or historic
assets; and it also incorporates a strategy for enhancing the natural, built and historic
environment.
What will happen if we don’t identify enough land for
new development?
15.
National planning policy is that the supply of land for housing should be significantly boosted,
and without an adequate supply of land for new dwellings, access to the homes that we all
need becomes ever more difficult. Equally, land for commercial needs has to be managed to
ensure that both existing businesses can flourish whilst also providing an opportunity to
attract new business into the Borough. Of course, we also need to recognise the special
place that Solihull is, and this plan seeks to ensure that the right balance is achieved
between providing land for new development and protecting what makes Solihull special.
16.
If the Council does not have an appropriate plan in place, it will be unable to demonstrate a
‘5 year land supply’ and this could mean that policies in the 2013 plan would be considered
out-of-date and lead to less influence over the impact, including through inappropriate
design, that some developments may have. This increases the Borough’s vulnerability to
speculative development proposals, and would lead to development and growth taking place
in an unplanned manner, placing additional pressure on infrastructure without guaranteeing
or planning positively for measures that can mitigate the impacts. In addition, the Secretary
of State could intervene in the Council’s plan making powers thus taking away local choice
about where development should be accommodated.
Background
17.
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This plan has been developed through a series of stages which started with a scope, issues
and options consultation in November 2015; and further consultations on draft versions of a
plan in November 2016 and January 2019. These earlier stages, and the evidence base