The LDF Evidence Base

The new planning system requires our planning policies to be based on strong evidence. The Spatial Planning Team has been preparing the evidence base that will underpin the development of our LDF policies, including the Local Plan, formerly the Core Strategy.

Set out below are details of the evidence base studies.  Keep checking this page for updates.

Characterisation Study - The study provides an analysis of the physical characteristics of the main settlements within the Borough to inform the Draft Local Plan, including an assessment of topography, landscape, land use, activity and the arrangement, form and appearance of buildings and spaces. The study also provides a spatial profile of key neighbourhoods with the Borough, which identifies the key characteristics, strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of each area.

Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire Employment Land Study - A sub-regional study of the need for employment land up to 2026.

Green Infrastructure Study - A Green Infrastructure Study was undertaken as of the evidence base for the Local Development Framework for Solihull MBC.  Green infrastructure is defined as 'a network of multi-functional green space, both new and existing, both rural and urban which supports the natural and ecological processes and is integral to the health and quality of life of sustainable communities' (PPS12).  The Green Infrastructure Study identifies the current green infrastructure provision, connectivity (publicly accessible and non-accessible) and existing projects both in and around Solihull; it investigates the functionality of these assets, provides a strategic overview and makes recommendations for future work.

Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment - A joint assessment with Birmingham and Coventry City Councils to identify the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers and assess the need to allocate new sites for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation.

Habitat Regulations Assessment - A screening report to determine whether further assessment of the Core Strategy is required was undertaken in September 2008.  This concluded that there would be no direct impact on sites of international importance/nature conservation, but recommend that further screening shall be undertaken in relation to four sites.  None of these sites are in Solihull.  This work will be completed by March 2012.

Heritage Assessment of Sites - The study undertaken by Warwickshire County Council, provides an assessment of proposed development sites and their potential impact on the historic environment, including any impact on archaeology and historic landscape character.  The study has informed the selection of sites included in the Draft Local Plan and will be used to inform future development briefs.

Infrastructure Delivery Plan - (see attached documents).  The Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) provides a baseline of the existing infrastructure capacity and needs in the Borough and assesses the infrastructure requirements to support the predicted growth set out in the draft Local Plan. The IDP is a live document and will be reviewed before the Submission stage of the draft Local Plan.

Settlement Studies - This study will provide data on the Borough’s settlements in terms of their character and ability to meet the needs of their residents, both now and in the future, to test what scale of development would be appropriate in different settlements and to inform the policies we produce as part of the LDF.

Solihull Employment Land Study - The study informs policies relating to employment produced as part of the LDF.  The study updates the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Employment Land Study and includes land supply and demand analysis.  The study is dated November 2011.

Solihull Green Spaces Strategy - A review of the Green Spaces within the Borough, in line with government guidance, has been undertaken. A strategy to support the role of existing green spaces and priorities for improvement to existing and the provision of new open space was adopted in August 2006.  The Green Spaces data has been updated to 2011.

Solihull Retail, Leisure and Offices Study - (see attached documents). A retail leisure and offices study for the Borough that informs policies relating to retail centres produced as part of the LDF and to inform decision making.  The original study is dated November 2009.  The latest study, that updates the original, is dated November 2011. 

Solihull Town Centre Study - (see attached documents). A study of Solihull Town Centre to guide its future development, including the need for new retail and other development in Solihull Town Centre, to inform policies relating to the role and development of Solihull Town Centre to 2021 and beyond.

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) - (see attached documents). A sub-regional assessment for Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire to define the areas that may flood, taking into account waterways and other sources of flooding and the impacts of climate change. The assessment identifies the Environment Agency's flood zones and areas at risk from flooding. The attached map indicates flood zones 2, 3a and 3b and other areas at risk from flooding in Solihull.

Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) - This study assesses the suitability of sites proposed to meet the housing land requirement and what action will need to be taken to ensure suitable sites can be developed. This assessment does not determine which sites or areas will be allocated or identified for new housing development but will help in the decision making process.  The SHLAA has been informed by assessments of over 200 sites.  Summaries of sites assessed up until September 2010 can be found attached, entitled "SHLAA Housing Site Options".  These documents will be updated with assessments of sites submitted up until January 2012 shortly.

Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) - Provides an estimate of housing need and demand in Solihull in terms of affordable and market housing. It  provides evidence of how the distribution of need and demand varies across the study area, for example between the urban and rural areas. It considers future demographic trends and identies the accommodation requirements of specific groups, such as the elderly and first time buyers. The assessment is accompanied by an appraisal of rural housing needs.

Sustainability Appraisal of the Draft Local Plan - A key element of the LDF Core Strategy or Local Plan is the Sustainability Appraisal (SA), which tests the Plan objectives, policies and allocations against sustainability criteria.  An appraisal has been undertaken at each stage of the Local Plan, and has been helped to inform its development.  The SA of the Emerging Core Strategy was completed in November 2011, and the recommendations have helped to inform the development of the Draft Local Plan.  The SA of the Draft Local Plan was completed in January 2012 and is being published alongside the Local Plan.

Warwickshire Arden Landscape Guidelines Report - The document provides an assessment of the Arden Landscape Character, found within Solihull Borough, dividing it into seven distinct landscape types. It also sets out a series of management strategies to inform new development and land management practices.

Warwickshire Historic Landscape Characterisation - This report summarises the results of the Warwickshire Historic Landscape Characterisation Project carried out by Warwickshire County Council between May 2006 and March 2010. The project includes an assessment of the Historic Landscape Character of Solihull Borough which is summarised in Chapter 6.

Contact Details

Further details about the LDF can be obtained from the Spatial Planning Team.

Telephone: 0121 704 6393, 6397, 8225 or 6646

Email: sustainabledevelopment@solihull.gov.uk