Golf course housing plans are withdrawn
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to develop up to 1,000 new homes on a former golf club in south Birmingham has been withdrawn after being earmarked for refusal.
Bloor Homes was seeking permission to redevelop North Worcestershire Golf Club, in Northfield, but met a barrage of opposition from councillors and residents.
It wanted to demolish the old clubhouse and build up to 1,000 homes, a primary school, community centre and new access onto the 80-acre course which shut last March.
Its proposals were due to be debated by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee this Thursday – but officers recommended it be refused. It was then withdrawn.
A report said the council had received many objections to the plans including opposing the loss of recreational space while education chiefs said the applicant’s assessment of school places was flawed.
The Wildlife Trust said the site contributed a significant amount of “natural capital” to the area and the scale of the development would result in a loss of this capital.
Previous objections by city councillors had expressed fears over increased traffic on what is already a busy area for commuters coming into Birmingham.
But Birmingham City Council had received some support for the project with 45 letters submitted, citing a dire need for new homes in the area while affordable housing would help more young people buy.
The former golf course will otherwise become a target for anti-social behaviour, other supporters argued.
Last year, the city council’s development chief said the site had not been earmarked for housing in its new development plan.
The committee meeting report concluded: “The site for housing development is contrary to the adopted Birmingham Development Plan (and) the proposal fails to provide adequate compensation for the loss of 80 acres of private open space and essential education infrastructure.”