Crest Nicholson has lost an appeal at the independent
Planning Inspectorate for 38 homes on a field at Four Ashes Road, Bentley Heath.
It appealed as Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council had not
made a decision on the plan. A public hearing was held on the appeal last
month.
The inspector said the plan did not provide enough homes and
a wide enough range of sizes.
The 38 homes equates to 29.7 units per hectare but council
policy for new housing says this should be 30 to 50.
The authority has also earmarked the site for housing with a
guide of 40 units per hectare, which would mean 51 homes at the site.
The appeal report – released today – says: “The sustainable
location of the site would justify a higher density of development which could be
accommodated without detriment to the character of the area.”
Some 15 of the homes would be affordable while 23 would be
four-bedroom homes at market value.
But the report says “an appropriate range of market
dwellings would not be provided by the appeal scheme”.
This acknowledged the market value homes would cost
“significantly less” than the average price for similar properties in the area
and would sell well.
And the inspector said the plan would have “no detriment” or
“little harm” to neighbours.
It says: “Whilst the loss of the open fields would have an
effect on the character of the area, the principle of developing the land has
been established.”
And it said the council’s highways department had not
objected and inspector said the plan would have no “detriment to highway
safety”.
Crest Nicholson said it would give cash to expand Arden
school, which has a capacity of 1,200 pupils but currently has 1,222 on roll.
Yet the council will have to pay part of the firm’s appealcosts as it was “unreasonable” for not making clear its objections on housing
mix until after the appeal was lodged, the inspector found. The figure will now be agreed.
In June, councillors objected to the scheme, saying it did
not provide the right mix of homes.
That month, another planning application was made for a
two-storey building for 51 “extra care apartments” for OAPs to the south of the
site. No decision has been made.
