A PLANNING application has been submitted to Bromsgrove District Council to build 11 houses on the site of Burcot Garden Centre, Alcester Road.
The proposal comprises eight properties which would be sold at market price – five with three bedrooms and three with four bedrooms.
And there will also be three intermediate homes which will be offered between affordable and market prices.
There will also be 32 car parking spaces included in the development, along with associated landscaping, bin storage and a new access from Pikes Pool Lane.
In the application it is claimed the redevelopment the previously developed site would provide a benefit to the green belt as there would be less hard-standing and a greater green space. It added the removal of unsightly structures, such as sheds and storage containers would also improve the appearance of the site.
The garden centre has been on the site for 11 years and has 23 members of staff.
One woman who contacted us from Alvechurch said: “I have used the centre for more than a decade and if it goes it will be a great loss to the area.
“It’s a fabulous business and I cannot see why it would not continue as a garden centre.
“It’s always very busy when we go there and I know people who travel miles to visit – some as far away as Redditch and Northfield.
“No-one can believe this application has been submitted – they were all really shocked when I told them.”
But Burcot Garden Centre owner Ian Gow said planning permission being granted would not necessarily mean the end of the centre which was fine financially.
Speaking to The Standard he said: “Like all good businesses we are exploring the options available and will look at the situation when the application is determined.”
Under Bromsgrove District Council’s planning regulations developments have to begin within three years of permission being given.
Residents have until April 1 to have their say on the application.
To see the application in full or comment, visit publicaccess.bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk/online-applications/ and search for search for ’19/00220/FUL’.
Highways Issues
Mr Gow has also has hit out at the number of road closures which have been implemented in the area surrounding his business in the last 11 years.
He said a road closure scheduled for the start of next week for Greenhill, would be the 44th one they had endured since the centre opened.
“We are a business dependent on people being able to get to us by road.”
A Worcestershire County Council spokesperson said: “Works in this area have been carried out over the years by a variety of utility companies as well as maintenance works by the county council.
“We always notify the business owner in advance if we are due to carry out any works.
“Due to many of the roads in the Burcot and Greenhill area being very narrow and there being no footpaths, it is often that roads need to be closed fully for health and safety reasons.
“Wherever it is possible to keep a road open and work under temporary lights we would look to do this.”
