'It is going to cause chaos': New homes approved for Wombourne despite bus stop and flooding concerns
Plans for more than 90 homes in Wombourne have been given the green light for land – despite concerns residents living at the new development would have to walk at least 900 metres to the nearest bus stop.
Members of South Staffordshire Council’s planning committee deferred their decision on the application for land off Pool House Road at last month’s meeting to request further information on public transport access for the site.
And on Tuesday (February 17) they voted to approve the plans for 92 homes, after hearing existing bus services would be affected if they were diverted to call at Pool House Road. A report to the committee said: “The nearest bus stops are located on Planks Lane, approximately 900 metres from the site.
“Discussions have been held regarding diverting parts of the existing service, however as this is an existing high frequency service it was decided it would be detrimental to altering an existing service to extend towards the development due to the current timetables having no flexibility to accommodate a diversion and doing so would result in the loss of service elsewhere in Wombourne. In these circumstances, it is felt that the walk distance is acceptable given the high quality bus service that exists.
“Whilst it is acknowledged that best practice guidance commonly refers to a recommended maximum walking distance of approximately 350 metres to a bus stop, this guidance is not a policy requirement and is not always achievable in every location. Concerns have been raised regarding the walking route along Giggetty Lane; however the improved pedestrian crossing infrastructure secured as part of this planning application provides alternative and shorter walking routes to the bus stops on Planks Lane.
“Facilities are being upgraded to enable safe walking for future residents – the following are all approximately within 1,000 metres: Cherry Trees School, Giggetty Lane, St Bernadettes Catholic School, Lindale Drive, Wombourne High School, Ounsdale Road, Wombourne Leisure Centre, Ounsdale Road, Lidl Wombourne Enterprise Park, Dale Medical Practice Planks Lane and Wombourne Pharmacy on Planks Lane. As walking will have the biggest impact on sustainable travel it is felt this site represents a good opportunity to provide housing in an accessible location within close proximity to these local amenities.”
South Staffordshire Council received more than 30 objections to the application. Wombourne resident Ian Hawkins, who spoke against the proposals last month and at Tuesday’s meeting, highlighted existing flooding issues in the area.
He said: “It remains our view that it would be irresponsible for the plans to be approved. The development is on a greenfield site, currently being used as farmland, whereas the principle of 'brownfield first' has been abandoned, leading to urban sprawl and the loss of green spaces to the Wombourne community.
“The impact of this has a massive negative effect to farming, wildlife and also climate change. This council declared a climate emergency on 10th September 2019 – these plans show no regard to this.
“Pool House Road floods regularly and increasingly so; the drainage is not fit for purpose and the addition of the proposed housing development will only worsen this. The flooding causes problems for cars – some have already been damaged due to the flooding – and is located at one of the proposed crossing sites from the development to the Poolhouse Estate.
“Are you expecting residents to wade through water to cross the road? Because that will be the reality.
“The attenuation pool is proposed for the part of the site furthest away from the road, and whilst this will assist some of the site drainage it will not be able to negate all of the additional surface water and will therefore add to the current flooding problems – it is going to cause chaos to one of the main roads through Wombourne. The proposed development will also have a negative impact on the environment and remove any elements of natural drainage that exist at present.”
Sarah Butterfield, an agent who spoke in support of the plans at both meetings, said: “The council have identified this site as a sustainable location for development; Wombourne is a main service village, which is considered a suitable location for additional development and growth. The site is currently safeguarded land, identified for development in the council’s current development plan, and is a proposed allocation in the emerging plan.
“Footpath improvements and upgrades will enable safe walking routes for pedestrians to and from the site and there are a number of schools, the leisure centre, a Lidl supermarket, a medical practice and a pharmacy all within one kilometre of the site. The pedestrian improvements comply with the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) requirement to give priority to pedestrians and cyclists and the development is in close proximity to local amenities.
“Bus services are available from bus stops on Planks Lane via a route that has pavements and street lighting. Bus services available from Planks Lane are numbers 15, which serves Wombourne, Wall Heath, Kingswinford, Brierley Hill and the Merry Hill Shopping Centre, and 16A provides access from Wombourne to Wolverhampton.
“There are also bus services operating on Brick Bridge Lane approximately 1.1km from the site – the 16 service serves this stop and provides access to Stourbridge and also to Wolverhampton. The service runs on average three times an hour from 6am to midnight Monday to Saturday and every half an hour between 9am and midnight on a Sunday.
“This development will deliver 92 residential dwellings and policy-compliant affordable housing and will significantly boost housing land supply in South Staffordshire. There are no harms arising from the development that will significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.”
