Issue - decisions

South Staffordshire Local Plan Spatial Housing Strategy Consultation

23/01/2020 - South Staffordshire Local Plan Spatial Housing Strategy Consultation

That the following principles be approved as the basis of the Council’s response to the South Staffordshire Local Plan Spatial Housing Strategy and Infrastructure Delivery consultation:

a.     Support for the preferred housing growth option of local housing need plus 4,000 homes to meet wider Black Country and Birmingham Housing Market Area need;

 

b.     Provision of detailed evidence to support the case that the Black Country is unlikely to be able to meet its own housing need up to 2038, and that the full 4,000 homes should be specifically allocated to meet Black Country needs;

 

c.      Recognition of the approach used in the selection of the preferred spatial housing option G and the benefits of developing a draft Infrastructure Delivery Plan for this option.  It is important that the spatial housing option selected:

          i.       makes full use of brownfield and urban site options to minimise green belt release.

         ii.       ensures that sites selected for development are carefully located and planned to avoid areas of greatest environmental sensitivity and green belt harm, and to minimise impacts on infrastructure.

        iii.       ensures that any urban extensions are subject to an integrated health impact assessment; provide all necessary local shops, community and health facilities and primary school places on-site; provide secondary school places in appropriate locations; and address wider health service implications, to meet the needs of new residents and avoid impacts on infrastructure in neighbouring authorities.

        iv.       ensures that the infrastructure needs of smaller sites on the South Staffordshire boundary can be met without putting additional pressure on infrastructure in neighbouring authorities.

 

d.     Request that the impact of developments on the wider transport network is assessed, that development links effectively to the strategic transport network and avoids excessive pressure on sensitive transport links, and that developments minimise trip generation through all available mechanisms.

 

e.     Support for use of the very high green belt harm rating to prioritise site selection, whilst also suggesting that consideration is given to making use of landscape sensitivity ratings.

 

f.       Support for the existing Brinsford Strategic Park and Ride site allocation and request that this project and other supporting infrastructure which increases access to the rail network should be promoted in the new Plan.

 

g.     Support for the sites submitted by the Council to South Staffordshire as part of the “Call for Sites”, as approved by Cabinet (Resources) Panel on 2 October 2018.

 

h.     Acknowledgment that the Council and South Staffordshire Council have been working together constructively on planning issues of mutual interest and request that close joint working on all relevant planning issues, particularly development proposals and infrastructure and delivery, continues throughout the Plan preparation process and is strengthened through the creation of a formal liaison group to regularly consider emerging proposals and their cross-boundary implications.