Tuesday, 25 January 2011

Hockley Heath pub demolition refused

A PLAN to knock down a Hockley Heath pub for retirement flats has been refused.

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The Nags Head on the Stratford Road, run by Harvester, would have been knocked down for 30, two-bedroomed flats. Half would have been for affordable housing.

Some 29 people opposed the plan, below, to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, which threw out the scheme on Wednesday.

Amongst those who objected were Meriden MP Caroline Spelman, Hockley Heath Parish Council and the three Dorridge and Hockley Heath borough councillors.

They said it would lead to ‘insufficient parking’ for shoppers if the pub’s car park is lost and
there are ‘few old buildings left in the village of Nags Head character’.

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The 21 proposed parking spaces are not enough and the plan would cause congestion, others said.

One objection said: “Younger generation need affordable housing in village.”

Another said: “Loss of public house will deaden high street and result in loss of community facility which is a focal point in the village.”

One letter of support was received, which said: “The Harvester is additional to requirements in Hockley Heath, with several pubs in area, it feeds disorder.”

The council’s planning committee was urged by a planning case officer to support the scheme.

They said: “The proposed development would not cause undue overlooking or loss of privacy to existing neighbours because ample distances are retained between the building and adjoining neighbours, or harm to landscape or ecological species.

“The proposal would not undermine the vitality or viability of Hockley Heath as a result of the loss of the pub and restaurant and the proposal would not give rise to concerns regarding sustainability of the use or its impact on highway safety.”

The plan would have seen ten trees removed, including fruit trees, Himalayan birch, lilacs, goat willow and lawson cypress.

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