BELBROUGHTON residents marched through the village on Saturday with their wheelie bins to protest against controversial proposals by Worcester property developer Gavin Warr.
They claim the applications put forward for land behind 37 Nash Lane will lead to over development in Belbroughton’s conservation area, are not in keeping with other houses in the area and will damage the curtilage of a Grade II listed building.
More than 70 people have objected to the plans for two one-bedroom houses which they say will lead to more traffic and parking problems.
Previous applications for the site have been turned down by the planning committee and dismissed at appeal but the officers have recommended the latest ones for approval.
During the ‘VOTE NO 2 WARR’ march residents pushed their wheelie bins around to symbolise the added noise and congestion that would be brought to the village.
Resident Brian Robinson said: “All over England, neighbours are having their lives wrecked by developers creating misery through unreasonable back-to-back planning applications.
“Miniature wars of attrition like the Western Front, cause stress and damage to family life, while those who stand to make big bucks and who have no intention of living in with the consequences of their actions are allowed to go on relentlessly.
“For two years we have been demanding that the developer commission a proper independent structural survey to see whether what he is proposing is feasible without damaging the Grade II listed outbuildings and our beautiful historic garden walls.
“We have even offered to pay half the cost.”
He added householders with the longest boundary to the site were concerned because previous walls had collapsed in the area.
Amelia Reynolds, whose family home would be among the most affected, added: ‘My husband and I own the access proposed for this development. “The owner and applicant both know full well we dispute their right to intensify traffic across our driveway, but the planning officers keep saying this is a private civil matter.
“This has been going on for three years.
“The support from Belbroughton has been realistic and truly heartening, but the current position of planning officers at both County and District does not fully reflect their own policies.”
The officers said in their report: “It is considered that the proposed development would be appropriate development in the green belt which would preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area and see three disused curtilage listed buildings put back into use in a sympathetic manner.”
We contacted Mr Warr, who owns 11:11 Property, but no-one was available for comment.
The application will be heard at the meeting of Bromsgrove District Council’s planning committee at 6pm on Monday, August 6, at Parkside.
