A PLANNING application has been submitted for a Waitrose plan for Knowle, raising the prospect of a decision within months.A detailed application was submitted to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council this week, two months after a public exhibition on the plans.
The final plan has the same key proposals as put forward at the exhibition, namely:
● A Waitrose store on the site of Knowle Village Hall.
● A new village hall on the site of a former bowling green.
● Demolition and re-siting of 10 bungalows to make way for a car park.
● 180 car parking spaces, 52 more than currently provided at four public car parks.
The application will be decided by the council’s planning committee, which meets every month. The next meeting is in April. Residents can give their views ahead of a decision.
The plan has proved controversial in the village. A poll from the January exhibition found residents were split about the plan.
Of those who responded, 439 supported it, 48 per cent, while 476, 52 per cent, did not.
What do you think? Leave your comments at the bottom of this story. No registration required.
The applicant, Kimberley Developments, says the plan will provide an ‘attractive and vibrant area combining retail, residential and community functions’.
Car parking would be ‘improved’ it says and the development will be a ‘boost to local trade’.
Current shops, particularly food outlets, are ‘failing to meet local need’ it says and the area is ‘cluttered’ and ‘fragmented’.
A transport assessment says: “A new foodstore generates negligible true ‘new’ trips.
“In general, most, if not all, the trips made to a new foodstore are already being made to existing stores.”
It estimates 106 journeys in and out of car parks ‘associated with the store’ between 8am and 9am and 342 between 5pm and 6pm in the week.
It estimates 298 from 11am to 12pm and 265 from 2pm to 3pm on Saturdays.
The Silhillian will be bringing you analysis and reaction to the plans in the coming weeks.
A total of four planning applications were submitted for the store and bungalow developments. To see full details enter the application number e.g. 2010/324 here.
Click here for The Silhillian's stories on the plans.
Application: 2010/324
Location: LAND ADJACENT TO 104 ST. JOHNS CLOSE, KNOWLE, SOLIHULL B93 0NH
Type: MINOR FULL APPLN
Received on: 09/03/2010
Deadline: 28/04/2010
Case Officer: JULIA SYKES
Proposal: THE ERECTION OF A PAIR OF SEMI-DETACHED BUNGALOWS (PLOTS 3 AND 4).
Application: 2010/321
Location: LAND AT ST. JOHNS CLOSE, KNOWLE, SOLIHULL B93 0NH
Type: MAJOR FULL APPLN
Received on: 05/03/2010
Deadline: 02/06/2010
Case Officer: JULIA SYKES
Proposal: REDEVELOPMENT OF SITE FOLLOWING DEMOLITION OF EXISTING HALL AND RESIDENTIAL TO PROVIDE NEW FOODSTORE, REPLACEMENT VILLAGE HALL, AND 6 No. RESIDENTIAL UNITS AND CAR PARKING.
Application: 2010/322
Location: LAND SITUATED ON THE CORNER OF 1 LODGE ROAD & 20 LONGDON ROAD,
KNOWLE, SOLIHULL B93 9HH
Type: MINOR FULL APPLN
Received on: 09/03/2010
Deadline: 28/04/2010
Case Officer: JULIA SYKES
Proposal: ERECTION OF A DETACHED BUNGALOW (PLOT 1).
Application: 2010/323
Location: LAND ADJACENT TO 149 ST JOHNS CLOSE, KNOWLE, SOLIHULL B93 0NL
Type: MINOR FULL APPLN
Received on: 09/03/2010
Deadline: 28/04/2010
Case Officer: JULIA SYKES
Proposal: DEMOLITION OF GARAGE BLOCK AND THE ERECTION OF 1 No. DETACHED
BUNGALOW (PLOT 2).
