Residents object to office block plan for 'much-loved' green space in Stourbridge

More than 60 residents have objected to plans to build a two-storey office block on a parcel of “much-loved green space” in Amblecote.

Liberty Holdings has applied to create a “sustainable office building” on Cameo Drive, just off King William Street.

The 1,963sqm site, which is privately owned, is currently open grassland with trees and shrubbery, which residents say provides a vital habitat and corridor for wildlife in the area.

Liberty Holdings, however, has submitted a plan to Dudley Council seeking to turn the site into sustainable office accommodation set over two floors, with 15 parking spaces.

Residents in the area, however, have reacted furiously to the plan with more than 60 objections submitted to council planners to date.

Amblecote councillors Paul Bradley and Pete Lee are among those who have voiced their opposition to the scheme.

Councillor Bradley, deputy leader of Dudley Council, said: “The future impact on residents is wholly unacceptable with existing overflow parking already from nearby businesses.

“Proposal of 15 spaces is ridiculous given the said existing issues of this area.

“There would be a negative impact on residents in the loss of a valued urban green space and a well-used daily amenity space for dog walkers etc.

“The loss of both an appropriate buffer zone between residential and the trading area.”

He also highlighted potential privacy issues for residents and added: “This area is an established home to local wildlife and has always been a green space. I have lived in the area all my life and have never seen it used as anything but a small urban green space. I very much hope planners reject this overbearing application.”

Councillor Lee added: “This estate already has significant parking issues that we have been working hard to address. Any further building here will only create even more problems for residents, on top of the huge loss of this beautiful and much-loved green space.”

A design and access statement submitted by the applicant says the building would incorporate sustainable features and the scheme would include green infrastructure to enhance the site’s ecological value.

It adds that the building would be designed to fit in with the local area and with just 15 parking spaces it would encourage people to travel by public transport, reducing car travel and therefore emissions.

Former Conservative councillor for the ward Kamran Razzaq, who is leading the charge against the proposed development - despite having lost his seat to Reform in the local election, however, said: “It is simply outrageous that developers believe they can build an office block here in the middle of a residential area.

“Parking is already a daily struggle for everyone living here, and providing only 15 spaces for a 68-workspace development shows there has been very little consideration for the impact this will have on local people.

“On top of that, this is the only piece of green space serving this entire estate and it is also home to protected wildlife. It is essential that we preserve this natural environment for everyone to enjoy and for the animals that live here.

“We have joined together as a community and we are sending a clear message – we will not allow anything to be built on this land.”

Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles (Labour) is also backing concerned residents.

She said: “The site has been a green amenity space for as long as anyone can remember and provides an essential buffer between residential and nearby industrial units.

“The plan only provides 15 parking spaces which is wholly inadequate given the existing parking problems on the tight local streets. It's difficult to see a need for a two-storey office block when there are several vacant office spaces in the vicinity and would take away an established wildlife haven.”