Meeting over fears land linked to Crooked House boss near Streetly could become housing estate
Almost 300 residents turned out to a meeting over concerns that a developer linked to the unauthorised demolition of the Crooked House pub may be planning to build houses in the green belt.
No application has yet been lodged for the land near Little Aston’s exclusive Roman Road, but a residents' meeting heard that there were concerns over a lack of adequate infrastructure to accommodate a new estate.
The meeting on Monday was attended by Little Aston Park Residents’ Association and Clavedon Park Management members following talks with land owner Adam Taylor, who previously had business links to the Crooked House in Himley near Dudley and has links to a property company called Roman Aston Development Limited.
The field off Roman Lane the falls within the Lichfield District Council area.
The association’s spokesman said: “We have spoken to the landowner about his plans for the land which is in the greenbelt.
“There is no infrastructure here to warrant a development of 80 to 100 houses. Roman Lane is a one-car road. If 80 houses are built, and these days they come with two to three cars, that is not going to work.
“We have seen many accidents and near misses on the blind junction where the proposed access road would run to Little Aston Park Road and Royston Chase.
“They are talking about buying and knocking down existing houses to create the new access road, but any new development would possibly involve Roman Lane which is a narrow private road. The schools and medical services in the area are oversubscribed as it is.
“In addition, Little Aston Park is a registered conservation area. You would think that would give us some protection from new developments, but we have concerns about the Government’s proposal to change planning policy which may reduce some planning application decisions from local council control.
”We are well aware of how much pressure town halls are under to meet Government housing targets."
Lichfield District Council's cabinet member for housing Councillor Alex Farrell said no application had been submitted relating to the field.
However Councillor Farrell said: "The guy who owns the land has been telling people that there's a planning application coming.
“I understand that we need to build more homes, but we need a community-led, infrastructure-first approach and I don’t believe this proposed site is appropriate.”
“I would definitely not be in favour of a development on this land. I would echo the massive strength of feeling shown at the residents’ meeting and I’ll support local people 100 per cent."
There was a public outcry after the former Crooked House pub in Himley near Dudley was gutted in a blaze on August 5, 2023 then demolished days later.
Mr Taylor, is now the sole director of A T E Farms, which bought the 258-year-old pub shortly before it was set alight by arsonists. He is also listed as a director of Roman Aston Development Limited.
