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ID sylw: 107650

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Hockley Heath Parish Council

DTC Response to the SWLP Preferred Options Local Plan (SG24):

General Comments:

HHPC objects to the inclusion of SG24 within the SWLP, for the reasons detailed in the remainder of this submission. The growth implied by Strategic Growth location 24 (SG24), adjacent to SMBC's boundary and specifically Hockley Heath, are significant to the Parish of Hockley Heath and poses significant risks and damage to the ecological integrity, biodiversity, infrastructure, environmental quality and rural character of the village and its surroundings. Strategic policy in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) highlights the importance of a green buffer between settlements. Removing these defined green gaps would create a continuous urban sprawl meaning that Hockley Heath would likely merge with nearby areas. SMBC's own Local Plan identified further development at Hockley Heath be limited to one site of 100 homes, given Hockley Heath does not have the facilities to accommodate further development. This went through public examination and the Inspectorate was satisfied with the selection SMBC made at that time with respect to Hockley Heath.

•Infrastructure - Limited public transport connections:

Buses serving Hockley Heath: 513/517 - one bus daily Monday to Friday (no service weekends) (Solihull-Redditch / Solihull - Lapworth) A7/A8 - one bus an hour in each direction (Solihull circular route - South) X20 - hourly weekdays (every two hours weekends) (Solihull - Coventry)

No rail station exists within Hockley Heath. The nearest rail station is Dorridge Station, situated 2.3 miles from the village centre. Parking at Dorridge Station is notably oversubscribed, with 84 free spaces and an additional 104 fee-paying overflow spaces, and is regularly oversubscribed after rush hour Monday to Friday.

Given the constraints of Hockley Heath, SG24 would essentially deliver a car-based impact on the village and surrounding areas, with little or no options to mitigate via access to public transport.

• Primary Care:

There are no primary care facilities (GP / pharmacy) and the nearest 1GP practices are 2Dorridge (2.4 miles), Lapworth (2.7 miles) and Tanworth in Arden (3.2 miles).

There is one NHS dental practice in Hockley Heath which serves the local community. This practice runs 4 clinics and reports being busy.

The nearest Pharmacies are Dorridge (2.3 miles) or Cheswick Green (2.8 miles).

• Secondary Care:

There is limited access to local secondary care services, with no emergency department at Solihull Hospital. The nearest Emergency Departments are Warwick Hospital 13 miles or Heartlands Hospital 12 miles. Warwick Hospital is a small district general hospital with circa 380 beds, this would not support such an increase in population locally.

• Education:

The Parish Council have serious concerns regarding school capacity and catchment areas. Has SG24 considered children living in Stratford District or Warwick District Council areas, particularly regarding the cross-boundary issue for those in the catchment of Solihull schools?

One Primary School in Hockley Heath (Admission Arrangements for 2025/2026) Tudor Grange Primary Academy, Hockley Heath for 2-11-year-olds - capacity 252 (published admission number for Reception Year is 30) Nearest High Schools (Admission Arrangements for 2025/2026): Arden Academy, Knowle (3.2 miles) for 11-18-year-olds - capacity 1488 (published admission number for Year 7 is 300) Tudor Grange Academy, Solihull (5.2 miles) for 11-18-year-olds - capacity 1700 (published admission number for Year 7 is 280)

• Traffic:

Regular traffic congestion throughout the village, and significant traffic congestion when the M40 / M42 is closed given the A4300's status as designated relief route for these motorways.

In addition to the A4300, Hockley Heath is served by four significant access routes (Spring Lane, Aylesbury Road, Old Warwick Road and School Road) all of which suffer from traffic congestion (and in the case of School Road, flooding). This would be significantly worsened by SG24-scale development.

Development on greenbelt land requires 50% of housing to be affordable. Given that SWLP SG24 has highlighted greenbelt land for development, and being car-based developments, has analysis been carried out as to how those in affordable housing, who may not own their own vehicle, would travel (given the poor public transport links as highlighted earlier)?

• Ecology and Biodiversity:

Loss of biodiversity and habitat destruction. The proposed developments would destroy hedgerows, woodlands and grassland - removing key habitats for birds, bats, newts, hedgehogs and pollinators. Fragmentation of wildlife corridors, isolating species and potentially reducing their ability to migrate, feed and reproduce. Threating protected species - bats, newts, badgers. SG24 implies significant reduction is farmland. Several sites within SG24 are in active agricultural use. SG24 presents a significant loss of amenity value associated with the area surrounding Hockley Heath. There is insufficient detail in SWLP relating to SG24 on how access to public rights of way and open spaces more generally would be preserved.

• Environmental:

Increase in flood risk - SG24 fails to recognise the existing significant surface water flooding issues present in Hockley Heath. Severn Trent acknowledge this; however, their drainage upgrade isn't currently planned until 2030-31. Surface water currently drains into a local brook, and there are numerous news reports in the public domain relating to serious flooding events in the village centre https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands- news/watch-amazing-moment-man-goes-14715705 SG24 would need to integrate with an existing sewerage system which is already over capacity. There is little or no reference to the underpinning environmental / infrastructure investment SG24 would require to be viable. Residents have reported foul and drainage water flooding in gardens, with frequent ingress into properties. Several properties most impacted have had to install flood defences. As stated above, SG24 would be a predominantly car-based development with an associated increase in traffic related impacts (noise and pollution) impacting human and ecological wellbeing. It is difficult to see how SG24 supports the national drive to Net Zero, a legal requirement, and South Warwickshire's own "Low Carbon South Warwickshire 2030" plan.

Given SG24 Hockley Heath would be predominantly car-based developments, the new sites would need adequate and appropriate access points connecting to existing road infrastructure to make permanent alterations to public highways under Section 278 agreements. Has consideration been given in the SWLP in relation to SG24 and the cross-boundary implications?

• Conclusion:

The Parish Council strongly objects to the proposed developments of SG24. The proposals would:

Erode the distinct identity of the village Impact negatively on the ecology and biodiversity Contribute and lead to a worsening of urban sprawl Add traffic to an already gridlocked village Exacerbate and increase instances of surface water flooding during periods of rainfall