PEOPLE in Bromsgrove are again being urged to share their local knowledge in a consultation on the town’s future development strategy.
Nearly 3,000 responses have already been submitted during consultation on the Bromsgrove District local Plan, with the opinion splitting plans proving controversial.
Launched in June, the consultation programme offers residents an extended 12 weeks to provide thoughts on already identified areas for prospective development within the town.
Of the proposed sites, just under a third of the future homes are in Bromsgrove (roughly 3,000). Another third are spread across Barnt Green, Catshill, Wythall, Alvechurch, Hagley, and Stoke Prior, with each allocated 340–600 homes.
And the final third, another 3,000 homes, at a single large site in Frankley, adjoining Birmingham. The proposals are prompted by Government house building targets imposed on Bromsgrove and would the 9,000 homes developed over the years up to 2043.
As well as providing advanced online consultation tools, the council has put on officer-led drop-in information sessions in a bid to hear from as many people as possible on the best places for homes to be built.
Bromsgrove District councillor Kit Taylor, whose portfolio covers Planning, said: “No development is not an option, and we need to pull on local knowledge to help us to get this right before the future of our district is taken out of our hands.
“I want to thank those people who have spent time to fill in our consultation and come along to our drop-in sessions, because it’s so important we work together on this.
“For example, where landowners have suggested sites for us to consider for the future development, this process means we can all look at the implications of that together, in this very open and transparent way.
“Local knowledge is key to making sure we deliver what Government has told us to, with the district, our residents and each other in mind.”
The next drop-in sessions is expected on September 4 at Alvechurch Village Hall (3pm to 7.30pm). The consultation runs until September 22, with materials available at www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/BromsgrovePlan or at local libraries.
Contact [email protected] or 01527 881211 for queries.
The plans have come under extensive scrutiny from campaign groups, residents and local politicians for various reasons.
At the Standard we have reported extensively on a range of viewpoints surrounding the proposals – search ‘Bromsgrove Standard draft development strategy‘ online to read more.
