Worcestershire NHS trust wants £1m if Kidderminster homes are approved

A plan for 1,450 new homes on former green belt land off Comberton Road in Kidderminster was submitted by Taylor Wimpey last year. 

Worcestershire Acute Hospital NHS Trust has said its "existing service infrastructure for emergency and planned health care is unable to meet the additional demand generated by the proposed development."

The trust claims the new population of the development, called Woven Oaks, would "impact significantly on the capacity of service delivery and performance."

The trust wants a contribution of £1,099,868 in total.

A spokesperson for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We have submitted an application to the planning authority asking for funding from the developers to help cover the costs of providing the capacity that will be required to meet the additional demands on our services which we believe would result from this development.”

Ollie Swain, of the Action Against Woven Oaks group, has raised concerns about the overcapacity of services in the area, especially as other nearby housing developments are in the pipeline. 

"It seems to me because we have a bit of greenery around us, other people are taking advantage of us," he said.

He added that it seems as though "everything is over capacity" and said it was "refreshing" to see that the NHS trust has put forward its application for funding.

Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier said it's "only fair" that developers pay a contribution.

The proposed site was previously green belt land (Image: Ollie Swain)

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Addressing the issue he said: "Unusually, the local acute hospital trust has lodged an objection, seeking £1,000,000 in what is known as Section 106 compensation.

"Developers make a lot of money out of housebuilding. That’s not to be derided as we need new homes and there is nothing wrong with a financial incentive. But in making their profit, there is an increased burden on local schools, amenities, roads, and of course, the NHS.

"S106 monies are there to relieve the financial burden on the wider taxpayer and the developers will be required to build a new primary school and a doctor’s surgery.

"NHS England has worked with the local primary care trust and I understand that the money allocated for a new surgery will be diverted to build capacity in our already brilliant Wyre Forest GP Partnership. But the local hospitals need help as well.

"Money follows patients, but a year behind the increase. So the funding for more acute care space for the extra 5,000 or so residents will only appear a year after they arrive.

"The £1m is there to fill that gap".

A Taylor Wimpey spokesperson said: "Our plans for a new development at Woven Oaks in Kidderminster have been carefully considered following engagement with the local community, Wyre Forest District Council and key stakeholders including the Worcestershire NHS Hospitals Acute Trust.

“If our planning application is approved, we will make financial contributions to Wyre Forest District Council towards new and existing facilities in the local area.

"The decision on how funding will be spent is that of the council and we are in ongoing discussions with them to agree the terms of the Section 106 agreement."