Bromsgrove and Redditch councils to vote on housing plan

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PROPOSALS for a public consultation on a joint planning partnership between Bromsgrove District and Redditch Borough Councils are set to be discussed on Wednesday (February 6).

They relate to Redditch needing 6,400 homes by 2030, but only having the capacity for around 3,000 within its border.

Because of the need for local authorities to plan ahead, the two councils have worked together and identified their preferred locations for 3,400 to be built - at Foxlydiate and Brockhill, inside the Bromsgrove authority’s border.

The plans for the consultation will go between Bromsgrove District Council’s cabinet on Wednesday (February 6) and Redditch Borough Council’s executive committee on February 12.

This latest development follows the joint consultation on the issue in 2010 and the introduction of the ‘duty to co-operate’ as part of the Localism Act.

Bromsgrove District Council leader, Coun Roger Hollingworth, said although he did not agree with the duty to co-operate, the houses had to be taken and he felt the sites chosen were the best ones available.

Coun Kit Taylor, responsible for planning, added: “This consultation could be important for the whole district because if we want to keep control of our own local planning then we have to work within the law and new rules have imposed a duty to co-operate on us.

“This consultation document shows the evidence for the proposals, and would give our residents a chance to comment on them.”

If the cabinet recommends a full council vote on Wednesday (February 6) and it is given the go ahead by members on February 20, there wil be a public consultation on the Housing Growth Consultation, its supporting background evidence report and a sustainability appraisal between February 25 and April 8.

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