Green Belt Approvals in Bromsgrove District

Detailed planning permission has been granted to develop 150 affordable homes on the edge of Bromsgrove town on behalf of Bromsgrove District Housing Trust.  The approved development is in an Area of Development Restraint which is accorded Green Belt status in the adopted Local Plan.

The very special circumstances advocated were principally meeting the chronic affordable housing needs of the town and surrounding settlements in a sustainable location, as well as enabling improvements to a problem road junction and the local bus service.

Bromsgrove District Council’s Planning Department initially opposed the development leading to an appeal against non-determination earlier in 2008 (later withdrawn).  A move towards collaborative working with Council officers and continued support of the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council led to the ultimately successful outcome.

At the Planning Committee on 3 November 2008 Members voted unanimously in favour.  The application was then referred to GOWM as a departure. GOWM has since confirmed that the Secretary of State would not call the application in and the Council could proceed to approve. The Section 106 Agreement with the County Council and District Council had been resolved in advance of the Committee meeting.

The second application approved in the Bromsgrove Green Belt is for an extension to the CSCI ‘excellent’ rated Moundsley Hall Care Home in Kings Norton, to provide extra beds and expansion of the Home’s specialist dementia care facilities.  Members resolved to approve on 1 December 2008 despite an Officer’s recommendation for refusal.

Members agreed with the case put forward by Tetlow King, on behalf of Moundsley Healthcare Group Ltd., that there were very special circumstances present including the pressing need for care facilities within Bromsgrove and Birmingham and the creation of a further 100 nursing and care jobs.  Again GOWM decided that this should not be called in.