A HOUSEBUILDER is appealing the unanimous decision by the Redditch Borough Council planning committee to reject an application to build 214 houses on part of the Abbey Park Golf Course.
The appeal, lodged on behalf of Barratt David Wilson, will be adjudicated upon by the Planning Inspectorate at a Public Inquiry starting on Tuesday and running until Thursday (January 21 to 24) at Woodrow Meeting Rooms, Woodrow Centre.
In March 2024, two years after submission, the planning committee refused the application 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 ‘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 objectors who commented.
The North Redditch Communities Alliance (NoRCA), comprising more than 450 residents, has consistently opposed the application submitted in December 2021 by David Wilson Homes.
NoRCA members were primed to challenge the appeal and was expecting the council to join them.
However, the council said it had taken legal advice and it was not in the public interest to spend the cash needed to fight the appeal.
Mark Jacobs, chair of NoRCA, said: “There are many reasons why we are against this development; loss of green open space, loss of biodiversity and damage to wildlife, increased flood risk, increase in traffic on the already congested Dagnell End Road and Birmingham Road, to name just a few.
“We respect the need for properly planned housing in and around Redditch.
“However, this land is not allocated for development in the current Redditch Council Local Plan.
“We are very disappointed the current council feels unable to defend the appeal, citing mainly financial reasons, but we feel strongly that local democracy needs to be upheld.”
The inquiry will also be live-streamed on the council’s YouTube channel.
Visit youtube.com/@redditchboroughcouncil7894 to view it.
