‘Better to use derelict offices than greenfield’
FIRSTLY I wish the NoRCA (North Redditch Communities Alliance) action group every success at the Public Inquiry in January.
Unfortunately the odds are probably stacked against them as, thanks to successive Government policies, the biggest 10 to 12 homebuilders have a virtual monopoly on large scale developments.
They also have very deep pockets to keep on trying to get their own way and in the circumstances I can understand why Redditch Borough Council don’t want to risk losing a large amount of money in legal fees and other costs!
What is really needed is a simple change in the law so that developers have to pay ALL the costs of a planning appeal. Over to new MP Chris Bloore on that one.
Another problem is the Conservatives. They took about 20 per cent of their party donations from large building firms in 2023 – and now Labour are obsessed with targets for the number of new homes to be built.
Yes, of course, we need more homes but it has to be the right type of property in the right place as identified by housing needs in the local area. So-called ‘affordable homes’ are often a misnomer!
There also needs to be adequate infrastructure, particularly drainage and sewage disposal, to service any new large scale development. The builders often promise to provide adequate facilities and upgrade infrastructure which irrespective of Section 106 agreements are sometimes watered down in the light of ‘changed circumstances’ once they have finished on site!
What the Government and many local authorities need to be looking at is the large number of vacant and sometimes derelict offices and shops. Then, if suitable, look to bring them back into use by conversion or demolition and redevelopment into housing.
Of course, this is much harder than building on a greenfield site so loved by the builders and requires different skill sets and would be resisted by many of the vested interests!
I Welch,
Redditch
‘Lawyers will be the only winners in fight’
WHILST my sympathies are entirely with NoRCA in their hostility to a housing development at Abbey Park golf course, the decision of the council not to fight the appeal is understandable and pragmatic.
Those who disagree should read the national Labour manifesto, specifically pages 36 to 39. A short quote illustrates my point: ‘Labour will get Britain building again….with 1.5million homes built over the life of the next parliament’.
Councillors Baker and Woodall explained in last week’s letters that finances are constrained due to the profligacy of the former council. There aren’t the funds to fight a lost cause.
Part of the ‘change’ Starmer advocated so vociferously was national planning of construction specifically to override local objections.
The depressing truth is, in the unlikely event of an appeal going against David Wilson Homes, they would just come back and try again in a few months and yet more money would be required from the council taxpayers to fight that.
As ever, the only winners would be the lawyers.
K Wass
‘Council need to rethink wording on statement’
FOLLOWING the recent article and editorial comment regarding the council’s decision not to defend the appeal lodged by the developer for the 214-house project on the Abbey Park golf course, the North Redditch Communities Alliance (NoRCA) wishes to highlight a significant concern.
While NoRCA understands and respects the council’s decision given the circumstances, we are perplexed by the wording used in Paragraph 1.5 of the Statement of Case submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.
The statement asserts that the council ‘accepts that planning permission should therefore be granted’.
This conclusion directly contradicts the unanimous and democratic decision of the planning committee to refuse the application in March 2024.
While financial considerations may have influenced the decision not to defend the appeal, the council’s original decision to refuse the application remains valid.
There is no mechanism for planning officers to go beyond this and to infer the democratic decision of the planning committee, comprising elected representatives, should be rescinded.
NoRCA believes this wording may unduly influence the outcome of the Inquiry. We urge the council to reconsider and provide a statement that more accurately reflects the council’s position and the democratic decision of the planning committee.
We acknowledge the council’s excellent record of housing development in recent years. However, we strongly believe that building on valuable green open space, especially when sufficient land is already allocated for housing, is not in the best interests of the wider community.
Mark Jacobs
Chair, North Redditch Communities Alliance (NoRCA)
‘Questions raised over town centre plans’
SO THE Redditch Council leader explored Tory financial vanity regeneration plans for Redditch town centre with dubious pleasure, a tangled mess he said then cancelled them without a plan, all as he explained in his letter to the Redditch Standard last week.
The Labour Council leader delights in saving £6.2million from the Towns Fund awarded to regenerate Redditch, making it a ‘great place’, but fails to explain any plan of his own to enlighten an otherwise dismal Redditch town centre around Market and Ipsley Streets devoid of leisure facilities offering only closed shops, pub and charity outlets.
It was Rachel Maclean who won the Towns Fund of £15.6m for Redditch, not Chris Bloore, who may recently have secured it, unlike the £5m Redditch Arts and Culture award he lost, withdrawn by central Government.
The Kingfisher Shopping Centre, cinema and the recent new ‘blue light’ fire and police stations and the proposed new railway station are fully funded but are not Redditch Council projects.
So explain, today, what plans the council itself has for Redditch town centre regeneration, utilisation of the existing Town Hall, without trying to rub shoulders with other private and public projects?
Will the ‘saved’ £6.2million be lost from Redditch and be reclaimed by central Government?
WE Rochester,
Redditch
We welcome your letters….
We welcome your letters for the Redditch Standard on any subject.
Email them to [email protected]
EDITORS COMMENT
TODAY’S Parliamentary vote on the Assisted Dying Bill has been referred to as ‘the most important one in decades’.
These views have been echoed by Redditch MP Chris Bloore who said it was the biggest issue his constituents had contacted him about since taking up his role.
There are strong viewpoints on both sides of the debate and it is important the right decision is reached for those facing the end of their lives.
Please send us your views for this letters page and visit redditchstandard.co.uk to take part in our poll.
