A HOUSING developer has been found to build hundreds of homes on the controversial Whitford Road site.

Catesby Estates has sold its part of the 42-acre site, which has outline planning permission for up to 490 new homes, to Bellway Homes.

Bellway is set to bring forward 370 new homes, and 120 homes will be delivered by Miller Homes.

Around 40 per cent of properties will be affordable housing and over £6.7 million is set to be contributed to infrastructure and highways works.

An outline planning application was heard by the planning committee in 2014 and despite being allocated within the Bromsgrove District Plan was refused, a decision that was backed by an inspector.

Bromsgrove Advertiser: Land off Whitford Road. Land off Whitford Road.

In response Catesby acquired the former Greyhound Inn public house which had ceased trading, enabling the creation of a new roundabout to access the development.

A further outline application submitted jointly with Miller Homes in 2017 was deferred by members of the planning committee.

The application was deferred again at committee in 2019, and Catesby and Miller Homes appealed to the planning inspectorate in December 2019.

The appeal was successful, along with a full award of costs against Bromsgrove District Council.

In his judgement the planning inspectorate said the site had a “crucial role in contributing to the supply of housing land “and the “development would boost the provision of market and affordable housing in Bromsgrove.”

Myron Osborne, chief executive of Catesby Estates said, “National housebuilder Bellway have a reputation for delivering high quality new homes, and we are very pleased to have completed this land sale.

“This site shows how difficult and lengthy the process of new home delivery can be, despite being allocated in the district plan and located in a sustainable area where there is a recognised shortage of housing, particularly affordable homes.”