Shirley appropriation
From Press Office on 11 December 2007
Open space land required for the development of Shirley Town Centre will be appropriated and held for planning purposes for when the development scheme proceeds.
On 22nd November, Solihull’s Cabinet agreed after considering objections, to appropriate 1.07 hectares of open space land.
The Overview and Scrutiny Management Board called in this decision, and at their meeting last night (Monday 10th December), the reasons for the call-in were debated:
- The Council has failed to prove that the land is surplus to requirements. At present the green open space, which forms part of the Oak Tree Circle, provides a vital public amenity to local residents and its disposal would be a huge loss to Shirley which already has considerably less open space than many other areas in the borough.
- There is no evidence that the £500,000 offered by the Council and Shirley Advance for the loss of this land represents best value for Shirley residents and traders.
- The decision to include this land in the scheme was based on the Council’s strategic land advisor’s advice in meetings which were not open to the public. It should have gone to tender to ensure best consideration.
- The Council’s developer partners Shirley Advance have confirmed that part of the area concerned is required only to make the scheme financially viable.
- The objectives of the UDP can be met through a smaller scheme which does not require the disposal of this land.
The board concluded that the decision made by Cabinet on 22nd November was reasonable.
This means that the reasons for the call-in will not be referred back to Cabinet and the appropriation can go ahead.
The three parcels of open space proposed for appropriation were:
- 0.45 hectares or thereabouts to rear of 47 -63 (odd numbers) Haslucks Green Road
- two parcels of parkland – 0.62 hectares or thereabouts, one of which is to side and rear of 67 Haslucks Green Road; the other to the rear of Saracens Head pub and the British Legion on Stratford Road.
The Council is currently promoting a compulsory purchase order under its planning powers to acquire outstanding land it needs for the scheme.
Julie Turner 0121 704 6136
Email: juturner@solihull.gov.uk