RESIDENTS living near a proposed ‘garden-grabbing’ development on Alderbrook Road in Solihull have drummed up support of more than 400 people in a bid to bring the plans to a halt for a second time.
A planning application to demolish 23 Alderbrook Road, build five five-plus-bedroom houses and extend number 21 was handed to Solihull council in June.
Plans reveal the developer, Tyler Parkes, wishes to knock down and re-build 23 Alderbrook Road to create access to four new houses on the back gardens of 21 to 27 Alderbrook Road and extend number 21.
This came just six months after a similar application was refused by planning chiefs, which the developer has appealed against.
In the previous application the developer sought to demolish and rebuild 23 Alderbrook Road and build five more new homes on the garden’s of 21 to 27 Alderbrook Road.
A petition with around 410 signatures, alongside more than 100 objection letters, have been handed to the council.
The current application would require the demolition of a house built in 1904, the removal of 30 trees and landscaping to gain access to the new properties.
Residents have raised concerns over the newly submitted proposals saying they are misleading as the plan is exactly the same size development, it would be out of character with the area and parking issues have not been taken into consideration.
Fiona Somerville, one of the campaigners, said: “Why was this resubmitted application not refused at submission stage under planning officer ‘delegated responsibility’ as it clearly ignores the reasons the planning committee refused the previous application?
“In fact, this decision is flaunted by submission of a second application for a development reduced from five back-land properties to four properties at an increased total built measurement, which excludes the proposed enlargements to number 21 and 23.
“The new development application is clearly large than the previous application which exacerbates the reasons for which the previous application was refused.
“Applying case officer delegated responsibility in this instance could have avoided planning officers spending a great deal of time and effort – at great cost to tax payers.”
Alan Tyler, director at Tyler Parkes, said: “This site delivers housing in a highly sustainable location and contributes in a small way to reducing pressure on greenbelt land.
“Although the site area is the same, the number of new dwellings, excluding replacement, is reduced by 20 per cent from five to four in this application.
“It is a very low density scheme reflecting the character of the area and completely in accordance with Solihull’s residential development and parking guidelines.
“The principle of development such as this has already been accepted in Alderbrook Road on many occasions.”
The matter will go to the planning committee next Wednesday (August 8).
