COUNCIL chiefs are calling for more clarity from the county council on concerns that the borough will have to shoulder its share of almost 40,000 new homes.
Discussing Worcestershire county council’s new ‘Local Transport Plan 4’ an executive meeting of Redditch borough councillors unanimously agreed there was ‘a fundamental lack of regard for strategic growth issues related to future housing needs’.
The issue is over the Greater Birmingham Housing Market Area which could be required to accommodate at least 37,900 homes – a percentage of which will need to be built in Redditch.
In a report officers indicated that should a large amount of land be needed, Green Belt to the south-west of the town may have to be considered.
However meeting on Tuesday (April 4) borough councillors said the county’s planning document lacked detail and clarity.
Mistakes made in the document were also pulled up, including one that stated “Local Plan No.4 seeks to allocate 46,400 dwellings between 2011 and 2030” which should have stated that the town would seek to allocate ‘6,400 dwellings’ in the same time frame.
Explanation was also requested on why town centre plans were not included when they were in the previous plan.
It was also noted that “The plans have the potential to affect every resident, so the schemes detailed need to be the right ones to ensure that the transport in the borough is sustainable.”
