Alvechurch Parish Council has completed its U-turn over plans to build a retirement complex on a Green Belt field close to the village centre.
The full council backed the decision of its planning committee not to support the plans submitted by McCarthy & Stone for 36 apartments behind the former vet’s in Birmingham Road.
The move will come as a blow to the developer, which was given support “in principle” for its plans by the parish council in March last year.
During last month’s council meeting, Oliver Luard, a land buyer for McCarthy & Stone, said: “We have made it clear that our interest in progressing this site was dependent on community support and parish council support in taking it through.”
The parish council is only one of a number of consultees in the process, but its lack of support will not help McCarthy & Stone to persuade the planning authority, Bromsgrove District Council, that there is a special case for building on designated Green Belt land – even though it is a site many feel should be taken out of the Green Belt in a forthcoming review by Bromsgrove planners.
The matter led to a passionate debate among councillors, with some believing the chance of a new “sporting hub” at the cricket club, extra parking and improved pedestrian access to The Meadows should be taken now.
The planning committee and others felt that the principle of Green Belt protection should be upheld, as well as expressing reservations over the safety of access to the development and insufficient parking.
Coun John Cypher, supporting the scheme, said: “Building on this site, in principle, is still a very worthwhile thing to support. It really comes down to the question that we do not want to make the best the enemy of the good.”
Parish chairman Andy Humphries said: “When in March 2014 we looked at this in outline, all of us hoped that Bromsgrove District Council would have at least started the Green Belt review and it feels we have been let down here. But the situation is that there is no Green Belt review.”
Coun Adrian Smith said: “I don’t want to stop development of the cricket club, I think it is essential, but we’ve set precedents by adhering to Green Belt policies.
“You would be setting an almighty precedent for this council if we go against Green Belt policy at the moment.”
Coun Mary Green said: “Personally, I would like to see that bit of scrubby land developed, but I would find it very difficult as a parish councillor to support building on the Green Belt before a Green Belt review.”
Above: How the retirement apartments would look from the cricket pitch.
See The Village View