The Green development at Shirley, Solihull represents the positive redevelopment of a brownfield site.

Reserved matters for the latest phases have been successfully sought for the development of 137 dwellings within Phases F and G, including public open space, SUDs attenuation pond, play facilities alongside cycle and pedestrian routes. Phases F and G of this multi-phased development was approved at committee on the 17th August 2021, subject to conditions.

Claremont has provided planning advice to Bellway Homes in respect of securing reserved matters approval for multiple phases of the redevelopment of The Green, Shirley. Consent has been secured for over 200 family homes in a sustainable location as a part of a wider redevelopment, on a site which is in an emerging allocation in the Local Plan Review. The latest reserved matters for Sub Phase F have also been submitted to Solihull MBC and awaits determination for the last phase of the Bellway development.

Claremont Submits Environmental Statement Application for Bellway Homes at Daventry

Instructed by Bellway Homes, Claremont Planning prepared an Environmental Statement to inform a full planning application for the development of 143 dwellings to the south west of Daventry, Northamptonshire. The site itself comprised a component of a wider strategic allocation for the delivery of 1,100 homes. Bellway sought to achieve full planning for a single, first phase of the wider site as an initiating mechanism for the realisation of the wider strategic site.

Preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment was deemed appropriate by the applicant in light of the assessment made by neighbouring landowners on adjacent parcels within the wider strategic allocation. Whilst the Bellway site represented a small scale development, it was deemed that assessment should be made to ensure a comprehensive scheme that responded to the EIA Regulations and that the scheme demonstrated the requirements that qualified it as Schedule 3 development. However, through the ES prepared by Claremont, it was clearly established that the impacts as a result of the Bellway scheme would fall far below that of the neighbouring Malabar scheme due to its far larger scale.

The EIA was submitted to Daventry District Council in December 2019 following collation of work prepared between 9 individual technical consultants. The application continues to be considered by the Local Planning Authority, with Claremont continuing to negotiate with the Council to ensure an expeditious decision.

Permission Granted for Retrospective Change of Use in South Staffs

Acting on behalf of a long-standing client, Claremont Planning were instructed by Rockford Estates to prepare a retrospective planning application for the change of use of a barn from sui generis agricultural use to general storage, B8 use class. The barn, located within a compound of multiple buildings under the control of the applicant, benefited from permission for use to store agricultural items and machinery. But as a consequence of changes in the applicant’s circumstances, the barn was no longer needed for farming use and is of better use for storage.

It was demonstrated through the submission that the established use of the barn for general storage purposes conformed to local planning policy and did not demonstrate unsustainable development. Concerns with respect to highway safety were addressed by an improved access driveway. Through the proposal it was also shown that appropriate controls could be implemented to overcome concerns regarding residential amenity through limitations to delivery times and vehicle weight restrictions. Planning permission was granted by Planning Committee putting an end to a long-standing enforcement matter.