Bungalow scheme on greenbelt approved

Nine bungalows to be built on green belt despite ‘disrespectful’ claim

Tom Cramp - Local Democracy Reporter | Friday 26th May 2023 9:42am

A scheme for nine bungalows to be built on green belt land in Tidbury Green has been approved by Solihull Council. The application survived claims that it would be ‘disrespectful’ to neighbours who will have to live with construction dust, pollution, and reduced privacy for years.

The land behind Lowbrook Lane is technically classed as green belt land, meaning development should only happen under ‘very special circumstances’. Town planners believed this scheme was acceptable because the land does not ‘contribute to openness’ and exists merely as a buffer zone to prevent housing estates from merging together.

The developer Kingslea Homes is now free to build the mixture of nine detached bungalows and dormer bungalows, each with private parking and a garden. A condition decided by the council was that the dormer bungalows were not to be converted into houses in the future.

At a planning meeting last night (May 24), Donna Savage, an agent acting on behalf of Kingslea Homes, said: “This is not green belt land that we should be dying in a ditch about. We have got a housing crisis in this country.

“My client wants to address a specific need for bungalows. It’s very rare that anyone comes before this committee with that kind of development.”

Local resident Derek French also spoke at the meeting and disagreed with Ms Savage. He said: “The images give the impression the land is a leafy meadow with huge space – it is not. I live at number 58 Lowbrook Lane, I can see exactly what land is there.

“Nine dwellings would have a major impact on the area that is available. Seven of the nine properties will overlook my garden.”

A total of 19 residents, as well as Tidbury Green Parish Council, had written in objection to the scheme. However, it was passed unanimously by the planning committee last night.

Cllr Peter Hogarth (Cons, Silhill) said: “Personally I welcome bungalows. There are so few of them being built in the borough, and this looks to me like it could be a rather pleasant development.”

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