Draft Regulation 18 Sandwell Local Plan

3. Development Strategy

3.12-3.19 Duty to Co-operate

It is recognised that Sandwell’s geography provides particular challenges as regards meeting identified housing and employment land needs within its own boundaries. The shortfalls identified are significant, and the impact on other authorities within the Housing Market Area are expected to be considerable. As a general principle, Sandwell Council is encouraged to fully explore all reasonable options in order to meet as much of its own identified need as possible.

The South Warwickshire authorities note that any overspill of unmet housing or employment needs brings with it a need for additional infrastructure in the areas accommodating this overspill, in order to meet the needs of residents and businesses. As such, it is anticipated that any future considerations regarding accommodating overspill within the South Warwickshire area will also need to address these additional infrastructure needs.

3.77-3.85 Green Belt

It is acknowledged that the Green Belt in Sandwell protects a relatively limited area of valuable open space within a heavily urbanised area. As such, it is agreed that it would not be appropriate to seek to release Green Belt land for development in Sandwell.

7. Sandwell’s Housing

7.12-7.13 Windfall Development

Given the shortfall in housing sites for allocation, Sandwell Council should act to maximise the amount of new housing that can come forward on windfall sites, and in particular, on existing residential sites. This could be through the development of design codes which set out ways to appropriately densify existing residential areas, for example through infill, additional storeys, sub-division, or replacement dwellings.

7.14-7.22 Housing Density, Type and Accessibility

The principle of establishing minimum densities for new housing, based on location and proximity to services and public transport, is supported. However, it is suggested that the baseline densities are in some cases inappropriately low, given the existing development pattern. It would be expected that many of Sandwell’s historic Victorian terraces would have densities well in excess of 40 dph, which demonstrates that family housing can be successfully accommodated while optimising densities.

It is also anticipated that calculating the appropriate density for an application site could be complicated and subject to challenge from applicants. There is potential ambiguity existing around whether a particular facility should be used to determine accessibility, what mode of transport to use, and what distances could be reasonably covered by that mode of transport. It would be clearer and simpler if the Council included on its policies map zones where different minimum densities would apply. For example using buffer distances from public transport and town centres.

8. Sandwell’s Economy

8.7-8.11 Providing for Economic Growth and Jobs
Given the shortfall in available employment land, Sandwell Council is encouraged to ensure that efficient use is made of the land that is available. While it may not be possible to require a minimum density as happens with housing land, there may be other ways to maximise the economic benefit from employment land.

3. Development Strategy

3.12-3.19 Duty to Co-operate

It is recognised that Sandwell’s geography provides particular challenges as regards meeting identified housing and employment land needs within its own boundaries. The shortfalls identified are significant, and the impact on other authorities within the Housing Market Area are expected to be considerable. As a general principle, Sandwell Council is encouraged to fully explore all reasonable options in order to meet as much of its own identified need as possible.

The South Warwickshire authorities note that any overspill of unmet housing or employment needs brings with it a need for additional infrastructure in the areas accommodating this overspill, in order to meet the needs of residents and businesses. As such, it is anticipated that any future considerations regarding accommodating overspill within the South Warwickshire area will also need to address these additional infrastructure needs.

3.77-3.85 Green Belt

It is acknowledged that the Green Belt in Sandwell protects a relatively limited area of valuable open space within a heavily urbanised area. As such, it is agreed that it would not be appropriate to seek to release Green Belt land for development in Sandwell.

7. Sandwell’s Housing

7.12-7.13 Windfall Development

Given the shortfall in housing sites for allocation, Sandwell Council should act to maximise the amount of new housing that can come forward on windfall sites, and in particular, on existing residential sites. This could be through the development of design codes which set out ways to appropriately densify existing residential areas, for example through infill, additional storeys, sub-division, or replacement dwellings.

7.14-7.22 Housing Density, Type and Accessibility

The principle of establishing minimum densities for new housing, based on location and proximity to services and public transport, is supported. However, it is suggested that the baseline densities are in some cases inappropriately low, given the existing development pattern. It would be expected that many of Sandwell’s historic Victorian terraces would have densities well in excess of 40 dph, which demonstrates that family housing can be successfully accommodated while optimising densities.

It is also anticipated that calculating the appropriate density for an application site could be complicated and subject to challenge from applicants. There is potential ambiguity existing around whether a particular facility should be used to determine accessibility, what mode of transport to use, and what distances could be reasonably covered by that mode of transport. It would be clearer and simpler if the Council included on its policies map zones where different minimum densities would apply. For example using buffer distances from public transport and town centres.

8. Sandwell’s Economy

8.7-8.11 Providing for Economic Growth and Jobs
Given the shortfall in available employment land, Sandwell Council is encouraged to ensure that efficient use is made of the land that is available. While it may not be possible to require a minimum density as happens with housing land, there may be other ways to maximise the economic benefit from employment land.

3. Development Strategy

3.12-3.19 Duty to Co-operate

It is recognised that Sandwell’s geography provides particular challenges as regards meeting identified housing and employment land needs within its own boundaries. The shortfalls identified are significant, and the impact on other authorities within the Housing Market Area are expected to be considerable. As a general principle, Sandwell Council is encouraged to fully explore all reasonable options in order to meet as much of its own identified need as possible.

The South Warwickshire authorities note that any overspill of unmet housing or employment needs brings with it a need for additional infrastructure in the areas accommodating this overspill, in order to meet the needs of residents and businesses. As such, it is anticipated that any future considerations regarding accommodating overspill within the South Warwickshire area will also need to address these additional infrastructure needs.

3.77-3.85 Green Belt

It is acknowledged that the Green Belt in Sandwell protects a relatively limited area of valuable open space within a heavily urbanised area. As such, it is agreed that it would not be appropriate to seek to release Green Belt land for development in Sandwell.

7. Sandwell’s Housing

7.12-7.13 Windfall Development

Given the shortfall in housing sites for allocation, Sandwell Council should act to maximise the amount of new housing that can come forward on windfall sites, and in particular, on existing residential sites. This could be through the development of design codes which set out ways to appropriately densify existing residential areas, for example through infill, additional storeys, sub-division, or replacement dwellings.

7.14-7.22 Housing Density, Type and Accessibility

The principle of establishing minimum densities for new housing, based on location and proximity to services and public transport, is supported. However, it is suggested that the baseline densities are in some cases inappropriately low, given the existing development pattern. It would be expected that many of Sandwell’s historic Victorian terraces would have densities well in excess of 40 dph, which demonstrates that family housing can be successfully accommodated while optimising densities.

It is also anticipated that calculating the appropriate density for an application site could be complicated and subject to challenge from applicants. There is potential ambiguity existing around whether a particular facility should be used to determine accessibility, what mode of transport to use, and what distances could be reasonably covered by that mode of transport. It would be clearer and simpler if the Council included on its policies map zones where different minimum densities would apply. For example using buffer distances from public transport and town centres.

8. Sandwell’s Economy

8.7-8.11 Providing for Economic Growth and Jobs
Given the shortfall in available employment land, Sandwell Council is encouraged to ensure that efficient use is made of the land that is available. While it may not be possible to require a minimum density as happens with housing land, there may be other ways to maximise the economic benefit from employment land.

3. Development Strategy

3.12-3.19 Duty to Co-operate

It is recognised that Sandwell’s geography provides particular challenges as regards meeting identified housing and employment land needs within its own boundaries. The shortfalls identified are significant, and the impact on other authorities within the Housing Market Area are expected to be considerable. As a general principle, Sandwell Council is encouraged to fully explore all reasonable options in order to meet as much of its own identified need as possible.

The South Warwickshire authorities note that any overspill of unmet housing or employment needs brings with it a need for additional infrastructure in the areas accommodating this overspill, in order to meet the needs of residents and businesses. As such, it is anticipated that any future considerations regarding accommodating overspill within the South Warwickshire area will also need to address these additional infrastructure needs.

3.77-3.85 Green Belt

It is acknowledged that the Green Belt in Sandwell protects a relatively limited area of valuable open space within a heavily urbanised area. As such, it is agreed that it would not be appropriate to seek to release Green Belt land for development in Sandwell.

7. Sandwell’s Housing

7.12-7.13 Windfall Development

Given the shortfall in housing sites for allocation, Sandwell Council should act to maximise the amount of new housing that can come forward on windfall sites, and in particular, on existing residential sites. This could be through the development of design codes which set out ways to appropriately densify existing residential areas, for example through infill, additional storeys, sub-division, or replacement dwellings.

7.14-7.22 Housing Density, Type and Accessibility

The principle of establishing minimum densities for new housing, based on location and proximity to services and public transport, is supported. However, it is suggested that the baseline densities are in some cases inappropriately low, given the existing development pattern. It would be expected that many of Sandwell’s historic Victorian terraces would have densities well in excess of 40 dph, which demonstrates that family housing can be successfully accommodated while optimising densities.

It is also anticipated that calculating the appropriate density for an application site could be complicated and subject to challenge from applicants. There is potential ambiguity existing around whether a particular facility should be used to determine accessibility, what mode of transport to use, and what distances could be reasonably covered by that mode of transport. It would be clearer and simpler if the Council included on its policies map zones where different minimum densities would apply. For example using buffer distances from public transport and town centres.

8. Sandwell’s Economy

8.7-8.11 Providing for Economic Growth and Jobs
Given the shortfall in available employment land, Sandwell Council is encouraged to ensure that efficient use is made of the land that is available. While it may not be possible to require a minimum density as happens with housing land, there may be other ways to maximise the economic benefit from employment land.

3. Development Strategy

3.12-3.19 Duty to Co-operate

It is recognised that Sandwell’s geography provides particular challenges as regards meeting identified housing and employment land needs within its own boundaries. The shortfalls identified are significant, and the impact on other authorities within the Housing Market Area are expected to be considerable. As a general principle, Sandwell Council is encouraged to fully explore all reasonable options in order to meet as much of its own identified need as possible.

The South Warwickshire authorities note that any overspill of unmet housing or employment needs brings with it a need for additional infrastructure in the areas accommodating this overspill, in order to meet the needs of residents and businesses. As such, it is anticipated that any future considerations regarding accommodating overspill within the South Warwickshire area will also need to address these additional infrastructure needs.

3.77-3.85 Green Belt

It is acknowledged that the Green Belt in Sandwell protects a relatively limited area of valuable open space within a heavily urbanised area. As such, it is agreed that it would not be appropriate to seek to release Green Belt land for development in Sandwell.

7. Sandwell’s Housing

7.12-7.13 Windfall Development

Given the shortfall in housing sites for allocation, Sandwell Council should act to maximise the amount of new housing that can come forward on windfall sites, and in particular, on existing residential sites. This could be through the development of design codes which set out ways to appropriately densify existing residential areas, for example through infill, additional storeys, sub-division, or replacement dwellings.

7.14-7.22 Housing Density, Type and Accessibility

The principle of establishing minimum densities for new housing, based on location and proximity to services and public transport, is supported. However, it is suggested that the baseline densities are in some cases inappropriately low, given the existing development pattern. It would be expected that many of Sandwell’s historic Victorian terraces would have densities well in excess of 40 dph, which demonstrates that family housing can be successfully accommodated while optimising densities.

It is also anticipated that calculating the appropriate density for an application site could be complicated and subject to challenge from applicants. There is potential ambiguity existing around whether a particular facility should be used to determine accessibility, what mode of transport to use, and what distances could be reasonably covered by that mode of transport. It would be clearer and simpler if the Council included on its policies map zones where different minimum densities would apply. For example using buffer distances from public transport and town centres.

8. Sandwell’s Economy

8.7-8.11 Providing for Economic Growth and Jobs
Given the shortfall in available employment land, Sandwell Council is encouraged to ensure that efficient use is made of the land that is available. While it may not be possible to require a minimum density as happens with housing land, there may be other ways to maximise the economic benefit from employment land.

3. Development Strategy

3.12-3.19 Duty to Co-operate

It is recognised that Sandwell’s geography provides particular challenges as regards meeting identified housing and employment land needs within its own boundaries. The shortfalls identified are significant, and the impact on other authorities within the Housing Market Area are expected to be considerable. As a general principle, Sandwell Council is encouraged to fully explore all reasonable options in order to meet as much of its own identified need as possible.

The South Warwickshire authorities note that any overspill of unmet housing or employment needs brings with it a need for additional infrastructure in the areas accommodating this overspill, in order to meet the needs of residents and businesses. As such, it is anticipated that any future considerations regarding accommodating overspill within the South Warwickshire area will also need to address these additional infrastructure needs.

3.77-3.85 Green Belt

It is acknowledged that the Green Belt in Sandwell protects a relatively limited area of valuable open space within a heavily urbanised area. As such, it is agreed that it would not be appropriate to seek to release Green Belt land for development in Sandwell.

7. Sandwell’s Housing

7.12-7.13 Windfall Development

Given the shortfall in housing sites for allocation, Sandwell Council should act to maximise the amount of new housing that can come forward on windfall sites, and in particular, on existing residential sites. This could be through the development of design codes which set out ways to appropriately densify existing residential areas, for example through infill, additional storeys, sub-division, or replacement dwellings.

7.14-7.22 Housing Density, Type and Accessibility

The principle of establishing minimum densities for new housing, based on location and proximity to services and public transport, is supported. However, it is suggested that the baseline densities are in some cases inappropriately low, given the existing development pattern. It would be expected that many of Sandwell’s historic Victorian terraces would have densities well in excess of 40 dph, which demonstrates that family housing can be successfully accommodated while optimising densities.

It is also anticipated that calculating the appropriate density for an application site could be complicated and subject to challenge from applicants. There is potential ambiguity existing around whether a particular facility should be used to determine accessibility, what mode of transport to use, and what distances could be reasonably covered by that mode of transport. It would be clearer and simpler if the Council included on its policies map zones where different minimum densities would apply. For example using buffer distances from public transport and town centres.

8. Sandwell’s Economy

8.7-8.11 Providing for Economic Growth and Jobs
Given the shortfall in available employment land, Sandwell Council is encouraged to ensure that efficient use is made of the land that is available. While it may not be possible to require a minimum density as happens with housing land, there may be other ways to maximise the economic benefit from employment land.