AN ACTION group is primed to challenge an appeal which has been lodged against the Redditch Council Planning Committee’s unanimous decision to reject the application for developing 214 houses on part of the Abbey Park golf course.
The North Redditch Communities Alliance (NoRCA) – comprising over 450 residents – has consistently opposed the application submitted in December 2021 by David Wilson Homes.
The application was eventually brought before the planning committee in March, over two years after it had initially been made.
The planning committee voted to refuse planning consent on the basis the land was designated green open space, that Redditch had exceeded its house building target and did not need the houses and the design was totally ‘out of keeping with the surrounding area’.
Other factors such as flooding risk, traffic congestion and the extra demand on local infrastructure and services were raised by many of the objections received by the council.
Mark Jacobs, the chair of NoRCA said: “We are fully supportive of the economy growth objectives outlined by the recently elected Government, but we feel strongly that this is simply not served by building on green open spaces, particularly when additional houses are not needed for the council to achieve its targets.
“We are fully supportive of the planning committee’s decision and will work with the council in opposing the appeal.
“The development being proposed would generate additional noise and environmental pollution, lead to increased traffic congestion and put further pressure on already over-stretched local services and infrastructure.
“It is certainly counter-intuitive to managing the impact of climate change given the lack of sustainability, the biodiversity loss that will be caused and the environmental injustice inflicted on local residents.”
The developers argued because the plan included access for vehicles, play areas, public open space and much-needed infrastructure, it would have a positive impact on the town.
The appeal is to be adjudicated upon by the Planning Inspectorate at a public inquiry scheduled to start on January 21, 2025.
