Controversial homes plan for Catshill garage site thrown out

Buy photos » The garages along Byron Way. Photo by Marcus Mingins 0613004MMR

CONTROVERSIAL proposals to build nine homes on two garage sites at the back of Byron Way in Catshill have been thrown out by Bromsgrove District Council's planning committee.

The first of the Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (bdht) applications was for two one-bedroom houses and a two-bedroom bungalow on land at the back of 22 to 32 Byron Way. That was rejected by seven votes to one.

And the second was for six one-bedroom houses for affordable rent, along with a back garden and parking space for each property, at the back of 2 to 8 Byron Way. That was turned down by six votes to two.

The officers had earmarked the applications for approval, but members put forward alternative recommendations for refusal.

Catshill and Marlbrook Parish Council listed 11 objections, including unacceptable density of housing, the creation of alleyways which may encourage anti-social behaviour, and issues with emergency access to the existing homes.

It also said the lack of car parking spaces would lead to on-street car parking and, consequently, congestion.

Those issues were also among the objections put forward by residents.

Coun Frank Cook, from Catshill and Marlbrook Parish Council, said planning applications should at least safeguard, or improve, the quality of life of residents, but the garages developments impinged on it.

And Coun Dr Brian Cooper, the Bromsgrove District Councillor for the area, who also spoke at the meeting, said: "The benefits of building on this site are far outweighed by the effect on the existing residents."

Speaking in favour of the application, Calum Walmsley, from bdht, had pointed out there were more than 3,000 people waiting for suitable housing across the district.

And he said building the one-bedroom homes would enable those people living in properties too big for them to move to the smaller ones, freeing up some of BDHT's family homes for those who needed them.

Mike Brown, chief executive of bdht, said: “We are disappointed by the outcome of the planning meeting.

“We will review the application and then make a decision on how best to proceed.”

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