A PUBLIC consultation on where future homes will be built is to be launched by Bromsgrove District Council, despite the document being rejected by Redditch councillors.

The Housing Growth Consultation document was unanimously approved by Bromsgrove District Councillors on February 20.

The consultation will seek residents’ views on a joint planning proposal between Redditch Borough and Bromsgrove District councils, covering the Foxlydiate and Brockhill areas that are on Redditch’s border, but within the administrative boundary of Bromsgrove District Council.

But the launch date of the consultation has been delayed until April 1, after Redditch councillors did not approve the document at its latest meeting, held on February 18.

Bromsgrove councillors agreed to write to Redditch Borough Council leader, Councillor Bill Hartnett, asking him to reconsider the authority’s position on the consultation as a matter of urgency under the councils’ duty to cooperate, which was introduced in the Localism Act.

Bromsgrove councillors agreed to defer the date to give their Redditch counterparts the chance to reconsider the proposals at its next meeting, scheduled for March 25.

Bromsgrove District Council leader Roger Hollingworth said: “We firmly believe that it is in the best interests of our residents to carry out cross boundary consultation on this important document.

“Not least because potential sites in Bromsgrove have been identified to take on Redditch’s housing allocation.

“Whatever happens we still plan to launch the consultation on April 1.”

Redditch Borough Councillor Greg Chance, whose portfolio covers planning, said: “We are currently considering our options and concerns.”