Object
Part Two: Centres and Site Allocations (Regulation 18)
Representation ID: 74
Received: 19/12/2023
Respondent: Mr Mark Andrews
I would strongly object to this site being reclassified as being suitable for any scheme which was residential-led.
At the moment Dudley centre is failing to deliver its function as a town centre. I have lived in Dudley all my life, and am now forced to travel to Wolverhampton or even Solihull to buy basic items such as clothing. Whilst I recognise that the plan does not anticipate any demand for comparison floorspace in Dudley, part of the reason for this is the lack of suitable units required by large retailers, coupled by the poor location and access for many retail units in the town. There is also a shortage of food-and-drink outlets in the town. I would be very concerned to see such a prime site developed predominantly for housing. One only has to look at the contraction and decline of Tipton town centre following a residential-led redevelopment in the late 1970s.
I do object altogether to housing development, but it must only be in a supportive role to retail, commercial and leisure development. Dudley punches well below its weight for its catchment area, and the focus should be on the commercial development of the town. The plan has also identified the need for a food store in the town, but fails to allocate a suitable site. I would suggest that meeting this demand should take priority over housing, which is better suited to out-of-town and suburban site.
The plan also fails to recognise that two large retail units have been lost in the town following the demolition of the former B&Q building in Portersfield, and the impending loss of the C&A/Farmfoods unit in Birmingham Street.
I would request that any housing development should be restricted to first-floor upwards, and should only be permitted if tied to substantial retail or leisure development. I would propose a sequential test that would first of all give priority to retail development, then to food-and-drink outlets, then to other leisure use (eg a box park or showground), and if not it should be retained as a car park.