A COUNTY councillor for Bromsgrove has blasted a developer for failures to prevent excess dust from damaging properties and creating health risks for homeowners at a large development in the town.
Residents near the phase two construction site of the Perryfields development, headed by developer Taylor Wimpey, have raised major concerns about air-born dust created by the building process.
Homeowners’ properties are being left caked in dust, with the debris infiltrating properties, damaging personal items and even causing respiratory problems for some vulnerable residents.
Worcestershire County councillor for Bromsgrove West, Nikolas Price, has written to both the developer and regulator bodies to call for transparency and action.
After a letter was sent to the developer in May, the site manager confirmed dust control measures were implemented swiftly. Earlier this month, a resident was told 10 dust suppression cannons are deployed across the site.
The developer states it is compliant with all regulations and requirements, having reported zero exceedances of thresholds since dust monitors were installed.
Despite this, residents are regularly sharing images on social media of dust clouds covering the site and the surrounding area as well as thick layers of dust covering properties, vehicles, roads and outdoor areas.
One local resident, Sue Harris, said the “relentless” dust was “getting into her home, damaging possessions and worsening her husband’s health.”
She said for Taylor Wimpey to claim there have been zero exceedances is “insulting”, while branding her responses from the developer as “failing to address the reality of the situation”.
Taylor Wimpey has told Sue they will respond “promptly and appropriately” should any regulatory body instruct them to take further action.
When the Standard approached Bromsgrove District Council (BDC) and Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS), a jointly approved statement from the council’s assistant director for planning,
Ruth Bamford, said the developer is following the required measures to mitigate dust.
The statement said the council’s investigations have so far identified “no legal statutory nuisance”. Ruth Bamford added: “As with any building site, some dust is unavoidable, especially during hot, dry weather, and that is impacting on residents.
“We understand this can be frustrating, particularly for those who feel it’s unreasonable and so expect the law to step in.
“The council will continue to monitor the situation and, where it can, push for stronger dust controls within the limits of current legislation.”
Coun Price is now demanding a formal enforcement meeting with key stakeholders, a publication of dust monitoring data, a review of whether best practice is truly being applied by the developer, independent monitoring of the dust levels and meaningful compensation for those affected.
He is frustrated that Taylor Wimpey is withholding data around its dust monitoring processes, albeit information it is not necessarily legally required to provide, whilst leaving residents living in “clouds of dust”.
He adds that Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) is relying on outdated laws as the basis for what constitutes a breach of a developer’s obligations to limit dust pollution.
Mr Price said: “Residents will not be fobbed off with hidden figures.
“Residents deserve accountability, not excuses. They deserve protection, not emails that explain why nothing more can be done.”
