BUILDING is soon to be under way for 214 houses on land which forms part of the Abbey Park golf course.
The plans for the development by David Wilson Homes caused outrage in the town, with an action group – North Redditch Communities Alliance (NoRCA) being set up to halt to development.
NoRCA comprised of more than 450 residents and had consistently opposed the application submitted in December 2021.
In March 2023, 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.
NoRCA argued the development was unsustainable, citing concerns about the loss of green space, wildlife habitat, increased traffic congestion, strain on local services and increased flood risk.
The developer appealed the decision and the case then went to the Planning Inspectorate in January last year.
The Inspector elected to grant planning permission to the developer and cited the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which came into effect in December 2024, and the increase in Redditch’s housing targets from 143 houses to 486 houses per year (a 240 per cent increase), as key factors.
The Inspector concluded the additional housing would benefit the town economically, despite the acknowledged impact on already over-stretched local services and the loss of green space.
The Inspector also noted the importance of the land sale and golf course reconfiguration to the hotel’s commercial viability.
The homes are set to be a selection of two, three and four-bedroom properties of various styles, with the development being called Arrowgreen View.
Steve Barton, senior sales manager at David Wilson Homes Mercia, said: “Redditch is an amazing location and Arrowgreen View will benefit a range of home buyers with its excellent commuter links and tranquil setting.
“The development has been designed to suit the needs of the modern-day home buyer with spacious streets, designated green spaces and energy-efficient features in the properties.
“There will be something for everyone and we are looking forward to welcoming prospective buyers to the development when it launches.”
