Amended framework plans for the huge 6,000-home greenbelt development and neighbouring employment park in Sutton Coldfield have been released following a public consultation at the end of last year.

Birmingham City Council has issued the revised supplementary planning documents (SPDs) which provide guidance for developers looking to build homes and employment facilities in Langley and Peddimore, ahead of a meeting of the authority’s cabinet next Tuesday (April 16).

The Langley Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE) and 71 hectare Peddimore site plans will be discussed by council chiefs next week with the council saying they are ‘key elements’ of the Birmingham Development Plan which goes to 2031.

The Langley sustainable urban extension on Sutton Coldfield green belt

As well as 6,000 homes at Langley, the Peddimore site is expected to create up to 10,000 jobs, with around two thirds of those at the site which neighbours Minworth.

Following more than 200 responses to the consultation, which saw 400 people attend eight drop-in sessions, the city council confirmed it has amended the SPDs to take in the public and interested parties’ views.

A number of concerns were raised including: the Langley development will ‘impact adversely on existing residents’, with the number one issue being traffic, with further fears for schools and health care, with some citing that Good Hope Hospital ‘will not be able to accommodate new residents’.

Solutions including the possible opening up of the Sutton Park line, a new link to the M42 motorway, better access to existing stations and improved cycle routes.

Some questioned the need for more retail facilities, given the closure of shops in Sutton Coldfield, and the SPD was amended to encourage ‘independent, niche retailers as well as those that support healthy food choices’. Also on retail, the city council also amended the plans to ‘require links to Asda’ from the Langley site.

The city council also said it ‘supported the reopening of the Sutton Park line and stations to passengers’.

There was support too for the early phasing of a secondary school – with a number of parents having difficultly securing a place for their children in existing schools in recent weeks.

While reference was also changed to the language used in the SPDs regarding the high quality design requirement. Instead of saying using language that developers ‘should’ adhere to a design, the language has been changed to ‘will’ or ‘needs to’. The SPD has also been changed to say affordable housing is required to be ‘indistinguishable’ from ‘market housing’ – private sales.

Councillor Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Birmingham will be home to 150,000 more residents by 2031, so we must build 51,000 new homes and create the jobs and opportunities for that growing population.

"Langley and Peddimore are key parts of the Birmingham Development Plan and it was really important that we worked with the local community to hear their views on such major developments. There has to be a shared vision, with communities, landowners and developers all signing up to a shared goal.

“The updated supplementary planning documents address concerns raised and will help the city council and developers drive through these major developments, delivering a legacy of new homes, job opportunities and modern infrastructure for the area."

The council said Langley SUE will have a focus on family accommodation, homes on the site will be supported by three primary schools, a secondary school, health services, major green corridors, sports provision, and shopping and other facilities.

A spokesperson for the city council added: “With 71 hectares of land at Peddimore, it has the potential to secure major national and international business interest in the city, with a focus on advanced manufacturing and industrial uses. The high quality design and landscaping on the site will help integrate the development into the surrounding area.

“Both sites will be supported by major investment in transport networks. There will be significant walking and cycling routes, integrated Sprint services and high quality bus provision, and improvements to the roads to accommodate the developments, with two new junctions onto the A38.