Changes to plans for huge Sutton Coldfield 5,500-home development labelled 'eco vandalism'
The Langley Sutton Coldfield Consortium has submitted revised plans for the big 5,500-home development set to be built on former greenbelt land in Sutton Coldfield next to Walmley.
The consortium, made up of a series of developers who are set to build the homes, says plans have been reviewed and changed to take on board residents' and local councillors' concerns.
But local representatives have said some of the proposals are still opposed by residents and there is a demand for a further rethink.
Read more: Hundreds oppose 'wildlife corridor destruction' plan linked to development
There will be a chance for residents to quiz the developers direct at a public meeting held in Falcon Lodge next Monday (July 28).
The Langley Consortium has said it has amended two key elements following the receipt of feedback to its previous proposals.
A hedge row erupted last year, when the developers announced plans to remove more than 400 metres of mature hedgerows to make way for a new combined 3.5-metre wide cycle way and footpath.
At the time more than 1,000 people had objected to the proposal to rip out the established hedgerow, home to a range of wildlife. And that figure is now almost 2,000.
The consortium says it has 'listened' to those objections and now proposes intalling an 'instant hedge' along the western boundary of the site by Springfield Road.
Another concern raised over the location of a primary electricity sub-station has also been addressed with that plan not now going head.
On the hedge 'row' the Langley Consortium insisted the current hedgerow had to be removed as there was not space for a new cycleway, which Birmingham City Council insists must be installed – and must be next to the existing road.
It said: 'The need for a walking/cycling route along the western boundary was prescribed by the city council's Highways to encourage sustainable travel and deliver a visible, safe and usable route for both new and existing residents.
'The existing verge on Springfield Road between Churchill Road and Reddicap Heath Road is too narrow to accommodate this facility resulting in the need to remove a 400m section of hedgerow.
'The consortium has committed to replanting a native, species-rich mature 'instant' hedgerow which will be circa 1.8m high in the first year of planting (broadly equivalent to the height of the existing hedge).'
In addition to the new 'insta-hedge', the consortium said there will also be new tree planting and the hedge may go above 1.8 metres.
It also claimed the new hedge would be better than the old one saying: 'This will provide an enhancement to biodiversity when compared with the existing, single non-native species hedgerow
'And can immediately reinstate the visual screening function provided by the existing hedgerow.'
A spokesperson for the Langley Consortium said: 'We have listened to the concerns of residents and have amended our plans.
'We have removed the proposed primary electricity sub-station and are investing in an 'instant hedge' along Springfield Road.
'This new, 'instant hedge' enables the creation of a safe walking and cycling route together with an improved landscaping and biodiversity function.
'This forward-focused approach to delivering enduring benefits forms part of the wider drive to deliver an exemplar development.'
Read more: Rising crime in suburb sparks plea on how to spend police station sell-off cash
But Sutton Reddicap councillor, Richard Parkin, aired his frustrations claiming he had to fight to get a public meeting, with the consortium at first not willing to do so.
And he also said the hedge replacement issue misses the point that residents want the existing hedgerow to be retained and the cycleway to be the new homes side of that natural barrier.
That's rather than it being destroyed and replaced by a new hedge metres from where one already exists.
Cllr Parkin (Sutton Reddicap, Cons.) said: 'Langley Consortium recently submitted updated plans and there's 80 new documents and almost 400 in total.
'There's pages and pages of stuff, which is virtually impossible to read and understand.
'Residents have contacted me and said 'how do we work out what we are looking at here?'
'The Langley Consortium was reluctant to have a meeting initially and then wanted to be at a ward meeting and only answer written questions.
'I said you have got to talk to people and eventually they agreed to have a public meeting – next Monday.'
On the 'instant hedgerow' proposal Cllr Parkin said: 'I have many questions on it.
'The general view of residents they remain opposed to removing the hedgerow that's been there at least 90 years.
'It's eco-vandalism to encourage people to walk and cycle and active travel but to remove a mature hedgerow which a wildlife expert has said is home to a massive variety of birds and other animals.
'How long will it take for them to come back to the instant hedgerow, will it last as it will need a lot of watering before it is established.
'It seems sacrilege to remove a bio-diverse hedgerow to replace it with a new one metres away.
'Nearly 2,000 residents have objected to that and they haven't listened.'
Cllr Parkin also said the new north A38 junction should have a northerly exit, not just one to the south – a point other councillors and residents have raised before.
Read more: Hundreds more trains to serve city suburb weekly creating 'London-like' service
His views have been echoed in a report by Jon Lord, head of regeneration & sustainability at Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council.
In a report set to be discussed at the town council's planning committee next Tuesday (July 29), he recommended objections to the instant hedgerow plan saying the consortium and city council's arguments on why the new cycleway cannot be put behind the existing hedgerow 'can be refuted'.
He referred to previous objections in December 2024 'remain unchanged and in some cases exacerbated' – namely the cycleway behind the existing hedge 'would be much more sensitive and beneficial in environmental terms compared to that currently being proposed'.
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Mr Lord also questioned the internal road design within Langley as not 'safely accommodating cyclists' with question marks over the 6.5 metre (3.25 metre per carriageway) width of the road.
And said the cycleway stops before reaching the northern section of the site.
He also called for north facing slip roads on the second A38 junction – yet to be built, with fears traffic will be pushed onto more minor roads and cause congestion. And for a reliable bus service.
The revised plans will be able to be discussed by Langley Consortium at an informal residents' drop-in question and answer session at Falcon Lodge Methodist Church Hall in Newdigate Road on Monday, July 28 between 4pm and 7pm.
The Langley Consortium is made up of developers Homes England, Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd, Vistry Homes Ltd, William Davis and Bellway Home.
It is set to build the majority of the 5,500 homes on the site and says 35 per cent will be 'affordable'.
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