115 homes planned for Walsall green belt granted permission as council's refusal overruled by government
A planning inspector has overruled a refusal for 115 homes on Walsall’s green belt.
Outline plans for the Longwood Lane development have now been approved.
Walsall Council originally refused the plans on June 19 on the grounds of inappropriate development on the green belt, concerns over increased traffic, as well as issues around wildlife habitats and trees.
Objections were received by 235 members of the public, Walsall and Bloxwich MP Valerie Vaz, statutory consultees and Walsall Council’s planning officers.
But applicant William Davis Homes Ltd appealed the refusal claiming that none of the reasons had any merit.
The proposals went to a seven day hearing in December before a government planning inspector.
Inspector Tom Gilbert-Wooldridge allowed the appeal, granting outline permission for the homes, with all matters reserved except for access.
Several issues were reviewed throughout the case, including biodiversity, trees, highway safety, inappropriate development on the green belt and overall planning balance.
Mr Gilbert-Wooldridge found that the proposal ‘would cause significant harm to biodiversity, species and habitats including the Wood End Farm Site of Local Importance to National Conservation’.
He said: “It has not been demonstrated that the harm could be avoided or that the damage would be minimised.”
On trees, the inspector said: “The proposal would have an adverse effect on trees along the road frontage that would only be mitigated in the longer term through replacement planting, but overall would have an acceptable effect on other trees including any ancient or veteran specimens.”
At the inquiry Walsall Council said the plans would create an issue for highway safety at the already congested Sutton Road and Longwood Lane junction.
Mr Gilbert-Wooldridge found that the introduction of a signalised junction would mitigate the issue.
Regarding the site’s location on the green belt, the inspector found that the proposal ‘would not represent inappropriate development’.
Mr Gilbert-Wooldridge said: “I afford very significant weight to the delivery of 115 dwellings, given the substantial shortfall in housing land supply.
“The proposal would have an acceptable effect on highway safety and capacity and would not represent inappropriate development in the green belt. I conclude that the appeal should be allowed.”
