RESIDENTS have shared their anger and disappointment after a major planning application for 1,450 new homes was approved, which some fear will cause "chaos."
Taylor Wimpey's Woven Oaks development, on former green belt land off Comberton Road in Kidderminster, will also see a new primary school, care home, community hub and commercial units built.
The controversial application, which has been revised over the years, was first submitted in March 2022 and sparked outrage from Kidderminster residents who raised concerns over traffic safety and congestion.
500 people objected to the proposals on Wyre Forest District Council's planning website. The Action Against Woven Oaks group was also set up, with a petition shared by residents Sophie and Ollie Swain.
A meeting of the council's planning committee was held on Tuesday (October 15) to decide the application.
During the meeting, Mr Swain addressed councillors and raised “significant concerns,” particularly regarding the proposed access to the estate on Husum Way.
He said: “The primary concern revolves around the highway safety, the proposed signal control junction integral to this development.
“It has serious safety deficiencies, notably it suffers from a substandard forward visibility, a crucial flaw that could endanger both drivers and pedestrians alike.”
“The development is expected to make the existing traffic congestion severely worse”.
Neil Cox spoke on behalf of the applicant at the meeting. He said: “Provision is made for new community infrastructure including a primary school, a community space, small commercial units to support convenience retailing and leisure, a mobility hub and a care home.
“In total over £26million in financial contributions will be provided to mitigate the impact of the proposal and to support improvements to off-site infrastructure including improvements to key roads and junctions, provision of active travel corridors and improvements to sports facilities”.
Councillor Alan Sutton moved the motion for approval, which was seconded by councillor Ben Brookes.
Councillor Fran Oborski moved a motion for refusal and urged members to reject the application, warning of the “traffic chaos” the development would cause.
She said: "I am urging the committee to refuse this application purely on the fact it is a hybrid application and it brings in an unnecessarily dangerous junction at Shakespeare Drive/ Husum Way".
"It's a case of the wrong houses in all the wrong places".
Councillor David Ross said: "I will be supporting the application because there is no alternative. One can't refuse it.
"But can I just say, it is with the absolute utmost reluctance that I do so".
Regarding highway safety, council leader Marcus Hart said he was "satisfied" that new traffic measures, including traffic light junctions, the new arm off the Spennells Valley roundabout, and new crossings, are a "substantial improvement".
He said: "The reality is we are where we are. The principle is effectively established, the land is not green belt.
"It's been removed from the green belt. It's an allocated site within the adopted local plan".
Nine councillors voted to approve the application, two voted against, and one abstained.
Mr Swain said following the meeting: "In tens year's time when it's all completed, we will be in absolute gridlock".
Councillor Liam Carroll, who voted to reject the proposal, said he was "deeply disappointed" that the plan was approved.
He said: "My primary concern is the significant road safety risks this project will pose on Husum Way, which is why I voted against it. As the ward councillor, I am committed to holding Taylor Wimpey accountable as we see this development unfold in our neighbourhood".
People took to Facebook to share their frustration.
Councillor Leigh Whitehouse said: "We absolutely need to be protecting our green spaces, not building thousands of houses without additional provision and infrastructure".
Steve Cooper said: "The A450 will be gridlocked".
Others agreed that the area is in need of more housing.
Matt Harris added: "Good to see that they are building schools and amenities to go with the houses which is what is needed.
"We need more houses overall but they need the amenities required to support them too".
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