BASE HEADER

No

ID sylw: 106007

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Mr Simon Fones

Reasons to Oppose Hockley Heath Group (SG24) as a Strategic Growth Location in the South Warwickshire Local Plan.
1.Surface Water Drainage Issues
Current drainage problems in Hockley Heath highlight the unsuitability of large-scale development without substantial infrastructure improvements.
2. Lack of Secondary School Provision
. Hockley Heath lacks a secondary school, and neighbouring schools are already at capacity, making it unsustainable to meet the educational needs of an additional 2,000 households.
3. Poor Public Transport Links
Hockley Heath is not close to a train station and has limited public transport, increasing reliance on cars and contravening the aim to promote sustainable travel.
4. Character of the Village
A large-scale development would fundamentally alter the character of Hockley Heath, a small village, undermining its distinctiveness and rural identity.
5. Maintaining a Green Buffer
Keeping a green buffer between Dorridge and Hockley Heath prevents urban sprawl and protects the individual identities of these settlements.
6. Contradiction with SMBC’s Local Plan
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) determined that only small-scale development is appropriate for Hockley Heath.
7. Traffic Congestion and Road Safety
. A development of this size will significantly increase traffic on the A3400 and surrounding roads, worsening congestion and raising safety concerns in a village already experiencing issues with speeding and heavy vehicles.
8. Biodiversity and Environmental Impact
The proposed site risks harming wildlife habitats in and around the village, failing to meet this requirement.
9. Lack of Economic Justification
Hockley Heath is not a major employment centre, meaning most new residents would commute, adding strain to transport infrastructure and working against sustainable development goals.
10. Community Opposition and Consultation NPPF
11. Inappropriate Scale of Development
Building over 2,000 homes in Hockley Heath, a small village, is disproportionate to its current size and infrastructure, putting undue strain on local services and facilities.
12. Limited Local Amenities
Hockley Heath currently has very few local amenities, such as shops, healthcare facilities, or leisure services, to support a significant population increase.
13. Lack of Sustainable Employment Opportunities
The village does not have enough local employment opportunities to sustain a large residential development. NPPF Paragraph 86 encourages developments in rural areas to support sustainable economic growth, which is not evident in the SG24 proposal.
14. Landscape Sensitivity
Hockley Heath lies within a semi-rural area with a high-quality landscape that contributes to its character.
15. Heritage and Conservation
The area around Hockley Heath has historic buildings and conservation areas that could be impacted by large-scale development.
16. Disproportionate Impact on a Small Community
Introducing over 2,000 new homes would more than double the population, altering the village’s character and sense of community/identity.
17. Cumulative Impact with Other Developments
The South Warwickshire Local Plan should consider the cumulative impact of this proposal alongside other developments in neighbouring areas, such as Dorridge, Blythe Valley and Knowle.
18. Conservation of the Countryside
The development of SG24 would damage the rural landscape that defines Hockley Heath and its surroundings.