Express & Star

Fresh objections raised over plan for 175 homes near Stourbridge

Fresh objections have been lodged to plans for 175 homes in a village near Stourbridge. The scheme earmarked for land in Hagley by Cala Homes already has outline planning permission – despite a 4,000-name petition and public protests.

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Campaigners had argued the scheme, which also includes new office space, would exacerbate traffic problems in the village and put pressure on school places and village facilities. But the development on land off Kidderminster Road was approved by members of Bromsgrove District Council in January.

Hagley Parish Council is now working with the developer to ensure the village benefits from the scheme.

Among the work that is proposed is a £1 million improvement project to the A456 Kidderminster Road roundabout and the junction of Kidderminster Road and Worcester Road.

A full planning application has been lodged with the district council with a decision due in the coming months.

But objections have been registered by residents in the village.

Trevor Brooks, of Birch Dale, said: "The traffic system at the junction of the A456 and A491 is already at breaking pointwith traffic regularly backing up onto the roundabout both on weekdays and at weekends. There is nothing in the proposal to convince me that the situation will improve.

"I am also concerned about the considerable strain that the proposed development would put on local services.

"In particular, the proximity of the development to Hagley Primary School will surely force existing residents of Hagley to school their children outside of the village."

While David Hope of Worcester Road said: "The building application intends to add 175 residences which will be located at an already busy road junction.

The additional traffic and junction will make the road system unworkable."

Ingrid Davis, of Church Street, said: "The development is on a busy roundabout and the rush hour traffic is already causing long delays.

"As well as this, there will be additional pollution and the loss of valuable green space."

"Hagley village amenities are already struggling,both the school and the doctors surgery are over subscribed and I cannot see that there is sufficient space to extend them without taking up more green space.

"Parking in the high street is always a problem and the library and station car parks are nearly always full.

"All in all Hagley cannot cope with a population explosion."

Speaking about the development, Cala Homes Midlands managing director, Darren Humphreys, said: "The detailed plans we have submitted are for a high quality scheme, traditional in design and sensitive to its village location.

"The considerable contribution we will be making to improvements to local infrastructure and services will also mean that the development will benefit the wider community."

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