Muslim cemetery plans withdrawn at 11th hour
CONTROVERSIAL plans to turn a slice of Solihull farmland into a Muslim cemetery with 3,000 plots have been withdrawn at the last minute – but are set to be resubmitted.
The council’s planning committee was this week expected to refuse the latest application to create a burial ground at Woodhouse Farm, in Catherine de Barnes Lane.
Officers had argued the development, which would include a 63-space car park, would harm the character of the green belt site.
But ahead of the meeting, the agent for Thaqwa Cemetery Ltd had expressed concern that the council had not received all of the reports relating to the proposals.
After a request to defer the decision was refused by the local authority, it was confirmed the applicant would pull the plans and resubmit them.
In a letter to planning officers, Justin Smith, acting on the developer’s behalf, said: “Obviously more cost for the public purse and your time but I guess that is your decision?”
Almost 50 objections to the scheme had been submitted, with concerns raised by groups including Hampton Society and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). Common criticisms included the impact on the countryside location, a risk to road safety and that the need for the site had not been proven.
Bickenhill and Marston Green Parish Council said: “There is no overriding need to warrant creation of a burial ground in the green belt when other options are available or are being planned.
“The parish council have further concern that such a facility, if approved, would increase demand to serve a much wider area than just Solihull and South Birmingham, so adding to the pressure for development in the area.”
Neighbouring Hampton-in-Arden Parish Council had argued that the application was essentially “identical” to two previous schemes lodged with the council in 2014 and 2015 and ultimately thrown out.
“The proposal will also involve the loss of a substantial area of land classified as the best and most versatile agricultural land,” said a spokesman. However, the applicants had maintained that there was a shortage of space available at council-run facilities and that the need for Muslim burial space was “many times greater” than the authority’s own estimates.
“We have demonstrated that there exists a chronic need for the provision of additional burial capacity nationally but, more importantly, a critical need exists to serve the local and regional needs of a minority group.
“Meeting this need has wide public benefits, particularly for those people whose culture or religion requires a burial.”
The planning committee also heard that a separate scheme for another piece of Catherine de Barnes’ green belt had been refused on appeal.
The care village plan, in nearby Hampton Lane, had gone to the Planning Inspectorate after permission was previously refused by Solihull Council. The decision was upheld. Cllr Jim Ryan (Con, Bickenhill) congratulated officers on arguing the case.
There is no overriding need to warrant creation of a burial ground in the green belt when other options are available.
Parish Council