‘We don’t have infrastructure for new homes’
RESIDENTS OPPOSE PLANS ON FORMER BRUKER UK SITE
NEIGHBOURS in Tile Hill fear plans for another 120 houses will create a community without services, placing pressure on already “oversubscribed” schools and GPS.
Banner Lane could see 120 homes built on the site of science firm Bruker UK, which has proposed to build a new headquarters north of the site on vacant grassland.
The scheme is split into two applications but combined has drawn 31 letters of objection ahead of a decision by Coventry’s planning committee due this week.
Planning officers have recommended approval while Bruker has said the plans will provide a new “fitfor-purpose” HQ and meet a “pressing need for new homes”.
But residents say the area is being saturated by homes without the facilities.
They pointed to a scheme on Bannerbrook Park estate which was promised a primary school to serve wider plans for 380 homes – although this never materialised.
One resident Phil Cox said: “There’s only one school in the local area which is Leigh School. It is oversubscribed already.
“There’s only one GP servicing this whole area on Station Avenue which is also oversubscribed and you can’t get an appointment.
“There was an expectation on the previous plans there would be a GP and school and now there’s plans for even more houses and pressure on the local infrastructure, and still no consideration for it. It is really short-sighted and they have completely gone back on plans for community investment.”
Another resident, Nigel Coxhead, said there was “scant regard” to community facilities.
He said: “The medical facilities in the area are chronic to say the least, primary school education and pre-school availability is under significant pressure. They have quoted there are four primary schools within 1km of the site, but it isn’t true as there aren’t. Not even as a crow flies.”
Concern has also been raised on the impact on wildlife. Bruker has said the new headquarters will be built on “neglected and derelict” grassland, but residents say the land and wider area serves as an important nature corridor for wildlife.
Mr Cox said: “The plans effectively knock out the entirety of the nature corridor and replace it with patches of green space running through the new estate and a small gully between the houses.
“Before it was a large enclosed hedgerow running all along the perimeter which animals use as well as open green space. We’ve seen deer, hedgehogs, foxes, newts and other small animals using this. It’s a huge biodiversity issue.” Section 106 funding has been provided for £758,665 towards education, £79,235 for health care and medical facilities, and £194,834 for hospitals. A Toucan crossing is also proposed. However, residents have called for tangible measures to be agreed. No objections have been raised by statutory consultees, but planning officer Dean Leadon said talks between the council’s ecology team and Bruker remain over the wildlife corridor.
“They have no objection due to the uplift provided on the existing Bruker site. An enhanced wildlife corridor has also been requested on the existing Bruker site to enable connectivity to the Site of Special Scientific Interest [Tile Hill Wood],” he said in a report ahead of the meeting, where a final decision will be made.
“Discussions are currently taking place and amendments will be provided for planning committee as a late item. Subject to this being satisfactory it is considered that the proposal accords with Policy GE3.”
It is really shortsighted and they have gone back on plans for community investment.
Phil Cox