Reviewing the Plan for Solihull’s Future

Recommendations

Info

Reviewing the Plan for Solihull’s Future Draft Local Plan 6. Sustainable Economic Growth Introduction 110. Solihull has one of the most productive economies in the Midlands. The presence of its key economic assets combined with Solihull’s central location on the national motorway and rail networks and the quality of its environment, have been key to its success in attracting investment, particularly in high value-added sectors that include automotive manufacturing, ICT, business and professional services, creative industries and construction. The attractiveness of the Borough to businesses and investors is set to take a significant leap forward with the arrival of the high speed rail link and the Interchange station that is to be accommodated in the Borough. UK Central 111. The UK Central proposals present a unique opportunity on a nationally significant scale to bring forward major growth. This will contribute to wider strategic ambitions and in doing so make a substantial contribution to the economic growth aims of not just the Council, but also both the WMCA and the GBSLEP. The UK Central area, including The Hub, where key economic assets are located, also encompasses the proposed High Speed 2 Interchange railway station within the triangle of land bounded by the A45, A452 and the M42, now known as Arden Cross. 112. The UKC Masterplan (June 2013) highlights the opportunity as follows: “At the heart of the proposition is the notion that, by capitalising on one of the strongest economic bases in the country today, the area has the potential to underpin a national economic resurgence. By targeting investment in local infrastructure and committing to deliver an expanded Airport and proposed HS2 station, the benefits for the area and the UK are not only startlingly significant but also very exciting at a time when the country is moving out of one of the worst economic cycles in modern history.” Solihull MBC - 38 - November 2016
Reviewing the Plan for Solihull’s Future Draft Local Plan 113. The GBSLEP’s HS2 Growth Strategy (July 2015) also outlined how to fully maximise the benefits of one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe – including the need to take advantage of the opportunity for development around the interchange station to create a: “high value, mixed activity economic growth hub in a highly accessible, well serviced and concentrated urban environment. Through taking an innovative and modern approach to ‘garden city’ principles that are fit for the current and future era, the development of ‘lifestyle districts’ in and around the Interchange Station will embrace a range of mixed uses; sustainability techniques; the very best infrastructure; and accessibility.” 114. Now that the area’s potential has been recognised, it is important that every opportunity is taken to ensure that the vision is realised and delivery gets underway. To help achieve this an appropriate planning framework is needed that can encourage, guide and facilitate development to take place in a managed and coordinated manner. The approach of this Local Plan Review recognises that delivery of the area’s potential will take place over many years and it must remain flexible to ensure that no future opportunities are lost. 115. Delivery isn’t just about having an appropriate planning framework in place, and it’s in this context that in 2016 the Council established the UK Central Urban Growth Company (UGC) to lead the delivery of the project. In particular its aims are: To focus on securing the necessary infrastructure, connectivity and infrastructure improvements to create the optimum environment for investment, new jobs and homes. To co-ordinate planning, sequencing and delivery of the infrastructure and wider public transport connectivity across the UK Central Hub Area. To work collaboratively with the land owners to inform the masterplan process to optimise financial, social and economic value. To work commercially and to realise the development opportunity of the Arden Cross site and the wider benefits this will bring to the Hub. 116. The UGC is bringing together the key stakeholders from The Hub area to develop a concept framework that will illustrate the key components and growth aspirations of the partners; together with an indication of the infrastructure needed to support delivery of the project. The UGC will have an opportunity, through responding to this plan, an opportunity to feed this work into the Local Plan Review process as more detail emerges, and is another reason why a degree of flexibility is required, especially at this stage. 117. It is clear from what has already been described that the Hub area embraces a unique concentration of economic assets and potential which holds out the prospect of making a significant contribution to the Government’s aims for job creation and growth. What is needed as part of this plan is a policy approach that allows these assets to flourish whilst providing a framework to ensure that the resulting developments provide a well integrated sense of place, with easy access through the area, and is supported by appropriate infrastructure. The focus of the policy is to ensure these existing, new and expanded assets work together as part of a whole. This will ensure that the ‘whole is greater than the sum of the parts’. Solihull MBC - 39 - November 2016
Page 1 and 2: Reviewing the Plan for Solihull’s
Page 37: Reviewing the Plan for Solihull’s
Page 89 and 90:
Reviewing the Plan for Solihull’s
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101 and 102:
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
Page 113 and 114:
Page 115 and 116:
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
Page 121 and 122:
Page 123 and 124:
Page 125 and 126:
Page 127 and 128:
Page 129 and 130:
Page 131 and 132:
Page 133 and 134:
Page 135 and 136:
Page 137 and 138:
Page 139 and 140:
Page 141 and 142:
Page 143 and 144:
Page 145 and 146:
Page 147 and 148:
Page 149 and 150:
Page 151 and 152:
Page 153 and 154:
Page 155 and 156:
Page 157 and 158:
Page 159 and 160:
Page 161 and 162:
Page 163 and 164:
Page 165 and 166:
Page 167 and 168:
Page 169 and 170:
Page 171 and 172:
Page 173 and 174:
Page 175 and 176:
Page 177 and 178:
Page 179:
Page 183 and 184:
This page is left intentionally bla
show all

Reviewing the Plan for Solihull’s Future

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?