Councillor objects to Miller Homes' Cofton Hackett plans

Cllr Rebecca Waters, who represents Rubery and Rednal, has formally opposed the outline planning application for land west of Skylark Street in Cofton Hackett, near Longbridge and Rednal.

The application, submitted to Bromsgrove District Council under reference 26/00907/OUT, proposes up to 115 homes, including a mix of market and affordable properties.

It also includes car parking, landscaping, public open space, green infrastructure, play areas and drainage features.

Cllr Waters said: “I strongly object to this outline application.”

One of her main concerns is the site’s designation.

She argues the agricultural land should remain protected as Green Belt rather than being downgraded to "Grey Belt."

She said the site helps prevent the sprawl of Rubery and Rednal and stops settlements from merging into one another, while also preserving the surrounding countryside.

Cllr Waters disputed the applicant’s claim that the land sits within a "pocket," instead describing it as largely open to the countryside, woodland, and Cofton Reservoir.

She said: “This site is bounded on one side by Cofton Hackett and on three sides by open countryside, woodland belts and reservoir.”

Public opposition has also surfaced, with a petition calling for the development to be rejected on Green Belt grounds.

Despite the objections, Miller Homes, the developer behind the plans, describes the site as an opportunity to provide new homes while retaining the character of the area.

The company’s consultation website states its aim is to deliver “high-quality, attractive new homes” that respect Cofton Hackett’s rural identity and are sensitively integrated into the community.

Cllr Waters also raised concerns about the impact on healthcare infrastructure.

She argued that existing GP services, already under strain, would be placed under further pressure by the development.

She said the effect of the 115 proposed homes should be considered alongside a separate application for 50 homes in the area.

She said: “Adding 115 houses plus 50 at Cofton Lake Road (165 total) without new GP provision [is] unsustainable.”

These claims about GP capacity and waiting times have not been independently verified.

Cllr Waters also pointed to schools as a potential issue.

She said that St Andrew’s First School in Barnt Green and Alvechurch C of E Middle School are “regularly oversubscribed.”

She urged the council to consider the impact on school places before granting approval.

The affordable housing element of the scheme was also questioned.

Miller Homes states that 50 per cent of the homes would be classed as affordable.

However, Cllr Waters called for clearer details on how these homes would be secured and what the tenure mix would look like.

The formal application describes the plans as a mix of market and affordable housing.

Cllr Waters also raised concerns about the scheme’s impact on wildlife, heritage assets, and local infrastructure.

She concluded her objection by asking that the application be refused and decided by Bromsgrove District Council’s Planning Committee.

The plans are currently at the outline stage, meaning details such as appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale would be decided later.

The only detailed matter currently under consideration is access from Skylark Street.

The plans were received by the council in August and cover land west of Skylark Street in Cofton Hackett.

No decision has yet been made on the proposals.

Miller Homes has described the site as an opportunity to deliver “high-quality, attractive new homes” that are “sensitively integrated into the existing community.”