Saturday, 1 December 2012
Developer vows to pursue Bentley Heath homes plan
A DEVELOPER has pledged to pursue plans for homes on a
Bentley Heath field after being refused permission for 38 houses.
Crest Nicholson’s Ben Miller spoke after the firm lost an appeal at the independent Planning Inspectorate for the scheme 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 in
October.
The inspector said the plan did not provide enough homes and
a wide enough range of sizes. The site earmarked for housing in council
policies.
Mr Miller said: “We will be liaising with the council to
discuss our concerns about increasing the density of development at Four
Ashes Road and will work with them to find a
suitable resolution.”
Mr Miller, the firm’s development director, said it is “very
disappointed”.
He said: “We are committed to delivering a high quality and
sensitive scheme of new homes for the people of Solihull
and believe the Council’s request for a higher density build would be
detrimental to the character of the development and local area.
“We have been working closely with the Council for the past
year to develop a housing plan which would meet the needs of local people and
be in keeping with the surrounding area.
“Our design scheme takes into consideration housing demand,
as well as the look and feel of existing homes in the area, and was approved in
principle by the council’s urban designer.
“We undertook extensive research to determine the correct
mix of homes to bring to market and believe strongly that our proposal of 15
two and three bedroom affordable houses, and 23 four bedroom properties, would
offer the best solution to meet local requirements.
“This would provide a range of homes, in varying styles and
sizes, as well as delivering a good proportion of affordable homes to help
people onto the property ladder.”
The council wants the site to have 40 units per hectare,
which would mean 51 homes.
Another planning application was made in June for a
two-storey building for 51 “extra care apartments” for OAPs to the south of the
site. No decision has been made.
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