PLANS have been approved for 370 homes off Whitford Road in Bromsgrove despite a campaign against the development.

Bromsgrove District Council planning committee passed plans for the controversial development which is part of the town’s Local Plan.

The application forms part of a larger site that was subject to a planning appeal in 2021, which granted outline permission for up to 490 homes, a local shop, public open space and landscaping which is known as Site A.

Site B on Albert Road is the demolition of the Greyhound pub and the construction of up to 15 homes and a new access road.

Bromsgrove Advertiser: 'Save Our Town' campaigners.'Save Our Town' campaigners.

The remaining homes on Site A and Site B are subject to further planning applications.

In opposition to the Whitford Road development and further development on Perryfields Road which has outline permission for 1,300 homes, residents have formed a ‘Save Our Town’ group.

The campaign group now has over 2,500 members on Facebook.

Co-founder of the group, Sue Harris said the approved plans are ‘unbelievable’.

She added: “This application is a big deal and I feel the committee just wanted to get it done and passed.

"I’m really disappointed because of all the hard work we have put in - the Whitford Vale Voice group have been fighting for years.

"I do feel deflated, but we are going to keep fighting and the campaign will keep going.

“Between the development on Whitford and Perryfields, that’s around 1800 homes which is huge.

“We need to take a stand and keep fighting this to be listened to.”

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

At the planning committee meeting on July 4, concerns were raised about a bus route servicing the estate, the quality of the homes and “substandard” gardens, and the impact on recently discovered badger setts on the site.

Councillor for Rock Hill Harrison Rone-Clarke said the council has turned a blind eye to the planning application.

He added: “Real, material concerns have been raised about whether or not this scheme is fit for purpose: whether the planning inspector was given reliable statistics about speeding on Whitford Road, whether maintenance of this new estate will be handed over to unaccountable bureaucrats and so on, and what the council chose to do was turn a blind eye.

“The only way to stop this shower of incompetence is to show these yes men the door at the first possible opportunity.”

Debbie Farrington, representative for Bellway Homes at the council’s meeting said due to the location of the site the Planning Inspector when granting permission on appeal said the site was a sustainable location.

The 370-home development will feature a mix of one to five-bedroom properties, including 148 affordable homes through rent or shared ownership.

A large area of public open space accounting for 10 acres of the site, including a children’s play area will also be created at the western edge of the development.

Bellway will provide funding of more than £4 million for the local community as part of the planning agreement for the site.

Contributions will include £725,753 for high school education, £648,418 for first school education, and £518,918 for sustainable infrastructure.