PROPOSALS to build 19 new council houses in Redditch have been given the green light by borough planners.
The homes, three 2-bed bungalows, six 2-bed homes and 10 3-bed homes will be built on an old play area off Edgworth Close in Church Hill and mark the first time in years that the council has built in its own homes to rent.
More remarkable is that it is a Conservative administration – the party of Margaret Thatcher’s Right to Buy policy 40 years ago – that’s doing it.
“This is a step in the right direction for Redditch Borough Council,” said Leader Councillor Matt Dormer.
“We have a Conservative administration building affordable houses and we will not stop there.”
The new homes, each with two parking spaces, an electric charging point and safe cycle storage, had sparked opposition from some Edgworth Close residents who raised objections over access, safety and the loss of parking which was already at a premium.
Resident Janice Thompson, who asked for her comments to be read out at the meeting, said access to the close was already compromised for emergency vehicles and that with an increase in through traffic access to the garages in Edgworth Close “would be well nigh impossible”.
She also said that while the new houses would have two dedicated parking spaces, the existing residents in the close had to fight for what little parking was available.
The meeting further heard that access to the new development would reduce the number of available parking spaces by five.
Local Ward Councillor Mike Rouse, deputy leader of the party who spoke for the objectors said: “The residents raised valid concerns and although we did not get the result they wanted I am hopeful the issues they raised can be looked at by Worcestershire County Council Highways and we can put in measures to help residents.”
