A DECISION by Redditch planners to approve the building of nine new houses close to the Coventry Highway has been slammed by ward councillor Mike Rouse.
The piece of land in question is wedged between Paper Mill Drive close to the Oast House and the highway.
Coun Rouse (Con, Church Hill) blasted ‘the over development of our town’ by squeezing new homes into ‘inappropriate places’ as shambolic.
The planning application, by Eden Properties (Midlands) Ltd, had been called in by Coun Rouse to be debated by the borough’s planning committee, rather than being left for officers and the chair of planning, Coun Mike Chalk (Con, Abbey) to decide it.
Coun Rouse said he’d done so because he felt it was wrong to build houses that close to the Coventry Highway and Arrow Valley Park.
“The area is susceptible to flooding, the noise levels will be high, and the pollution being wedged between two roads will be high,” he said.
“I am disappointed that the planning committee saw otherwise and decided by a seven to two margin to approve the application.
“The precedent this sets is worrying. Houses right up against a busy highway – in Redditch of all places where such a thing should never be necessary.
“The proximity to the lake, the loss of greenery. All whilst COP26 is happening and we are under pressure to protect our environment.”
He added: “The policy in Redditch that says we have to be predisposed in favour of development unless there are good reasons against it is a travesty and is leading to the destruction of nature and the approval of housing in some stupid locations such as this.
“The over development of our town for yet more housing squeezed in at inappropriate locations for such houses like this is shambolic.”
However members of the planning committee heard there were no objections from the highways authority, the arboricultural officer had described the trees that would be lost as of ‘low value’ and North Worcestershire Water Management was satisfied as long as standard drainage was put in.
Worcestershire Regulatory Services was also satisfied that noise levels were within limits provided a four metre acoustic fence was built.
Borough officers had recommended the plans for approval.
Despite this Coun Rouse said: “This is the thin end of the wedge and mark my words – there will be another application for yet more development just along from these houses in due course.”
The application is for 2 x two bedroomed semi detached houses, 2 x three bedroom semis, 3 x three bedroomed detached, and 2 x four bedroom detached.
