The site is located on land at Buntsford Hill, on the southern edge of Bromsgrove town. It is located approximately 2 kilometres from the town centre.
The site is located adjacent to the Avoncroft Museum which lies to the west, Buntsford Gate Business Park to the north, a small residential development on Buntsford Hill to the east and open countryside to the south.
The site is in a highly sustainable location with a number of services and facilities present within the vicinity of the site and in the wider area and Town Centre. There are a number of bus services that operate within the vicinity of the site meaning the site is accessible via public transport and the site is within easy walking distance of Bromsgrove train station.
Barberry are an established privately owned property development and investment company based in the West Midlands. Their current portfolio comprises a range of developments across all property sectors and UK wide, including residential and commercial. Barberry strive to develop schemes of the highest quality and are well positioned to be both flexible and diverse in how they approach developments. Their website address is www.barberry.co.uk.
Barberry are proposing to submit an Outline Planning Application for a sustainable new residential development on land at Buntsford Hill, Bromsgrove which will deliver the following:
An outline application is being prepared to assist Bromsgrove in rectifying the delivery of much needed market and affordable homes on a sustainable, grey belt site on the edge of the conurbation.
Paragraph 155 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is supportive of housing development on Green Belt sites when they comply with the provisions within it. The introduction of Paragraph 155 to national policy was a positive intervention to allow greater flexibility in planning system. It does not undermine the wider role or function of the Green Belt but instead allows for the release of sustainable sites for development where the planning system is otherwise failing to meet the development needs in that area.
Among other things, the criteria in Paragraph 155 includes sites that meet the definition of Grey Belt (which is the case here) and where there is a demonstrable need for homes in that local authority. A demonstrable need for homes can arise when a Council has less than a five-year housing land supply or when it has failed to score 75% in the Housing Delivery Test. Both apply in Bromsgrove, with the Council unable to demonstrate a five year housing land supply and scoring just 50% on the Housing Delivery Test.
Our view is that a housing development on this site would comply with Paragraph 155 of the NPPF and an outline application is being prepared in this context. It will make a significant contribution to the delivering of new homes in the district, on a site that is well related to the conurbation and would not undermine the strategic role or function of the Green Belt
An Outline Planning Application is a type of planning application that enables applicants to seek approval for the general principles of a development project. Details of the site access, layout, appearance, scale and landscaping can all be reserved for future consideration, although the details of the site access are often included at the outline stage to provide certainty over the access solution.
Once outline planning permission is granted, a subsequent application(s) will need to be submitted known as a Reserved Matters Planning Application. This would include the detailed consideration of the proposed layout of the housing development, along with its appearance, the scale of the homes and the associated landscaping. This application would be subject to further consultation with the local community before being determined.
Yes, in line with the “Golden Rules” set out by the Government for development of sites in the Green Belt, it is expected that 50% of the new homes at the site will be provided as affordable housing. The precise mix of affordable housing will be determined in liaison with the Housing Team at the Council, but it is anticipated that it would include a mix of homes for both social rent and shared ownership homes that would appeal to first time buyers.
Mature trees and hedgerows will largely remain in tact save for where the point of access into the site is to be created which will result in the loss of a small section of hedge. New trees and hedges will be planted as part of the overall landscaping and BNG proposals for the site.
Yes, the site will deliver 10% BNG.
No, the site is located in Flood Zone 1 and therefore at low risk of flooding.
It is proposed that surface water will be positively drained, via a gravity fed system and network of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) such as attenuation basins and swales before.discharging into the River Salwarpe.
It is proposed that two accesses off Buntsford Hill will serve the site. The first will be via the existing roundabout junction that also serves Avoncroft Museum, whilst the second will be to further to the east of the site on Buntsford Hill. A loop through the development will be created linking the two points of access.
Discussions are ongoing with the local authority in relation to the capacity of existing services to accommodate the proposed development and what contributions might be needed to provide any additional capacity needed. This might be through financial contributions or the provision of a new facility on site. Any contributions will be secured via a legally binding agreement known as a Section 106 agreement between the Applicant and the Council.
Yes. New areas of open space are proposed within the site, principally at the site’s western extent around the existing windmill. The existing orchard on site will be reinforced with new planting whilst children’s play areas and opportunities for informal recreation will be provided throughout the site.
Yes. Opportunities for active and sustainable travel will be provided within the site through the provision of new footway and cycleways. Enhanced connections to local bus services will be provided and opportunities to facilitate walking routes to Bromsgrove train station will be explored.
Following this consultation, we will review all feedback we receive before finalising and submitted our planning application to the Council.
The consultation website will be updated with information about the submitted plans and to those who have opted to receive further updates will receive an email advising them of the submission of the Outline Planning Application.
Once the Outline Planning Application has been submitted and registered by the Council, the Council will carry out the statutory consultation on the application, seeking feedback from statutory bodies such as the Highway Authority along with other consultees and local residents.
Once the application has been thoroughly assessed a decision will be made by the Council as to whether or not to grant planning permission.
We want to ensure that the emerging proposals align as much as possible with the priorities and aspirations of the local community in Bromsgrove.
We have launched this dedicated consultation website which provides an opportunity for local residents to review and help shape the proposed development and to provide any feedback on the proposed new homes and areas of public open spaces provided.
Comments on the proposals can be left via the comment facility on this website.
Alternatively if you would prefer to write to us the address is:
Buntsford Hill Consultation
c/o Harris Lamb
4thFloor
4 Brindley Place
Birmingham
B1 2LG
Alternatively you can email us at buntsfordhill@harrislamb.com
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