PLANS to build 2,560 homes on land by Webheath are to be reconsidered by Bromsgrove planners following pressure from campaigners.
Bentley Parish Council had raised concerns over the impact of the development on roads and lanes in the surrounding area after the project was backed by district planners last October.
The development, which falls on Bromsgrove District land, was also effectively approved by Redditch planners last month after they voted to delegate the final decision to their Head of Planning and Regeneration, who holds the same position on Bromsgrove District Council.
Vice chairman of Bentley Parish Council, Roz Bewsher, said: “We wrote a letter to the head of planning because we felt there were material considerations which had not been put before Bromsgrove or Redditch planners.
“Issues such as highway safety and the impact it will have on Foxlydiate Lane residents.
“We are very pleased to hear that Bromsgrove District Council has decided to put the application back before its planning committee in April.”
Developers have promised to make a £2.2million contribution to Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to help mitigate pressures it may face as a result of new residents moving on to the site.
The location was given the green light by government inspector Michael Hetherington two years ago to meet Redditch’s housing needs as part of its ‘Local Plan 4’.
But since then the borough’s housing need calculation has been virtually halved, from 337 houses per annum to 181, calling into question the need for the entire development.
Redditch Borough Council told the Standard that the application will not need to go back before its planning committee.
