250 homes at Land At Coulter Lane Farm, Coulter Lane, Burntwood

The site and surroundings

The site is farmland and a former farm café within the Green Belt, beside homes, a school, roads, open countryside and a stream.

“To the immediate south lies Church Road where the application site bounds several properties with frontages onto this highway. Coulter Lane bounds the site to the east, comprising sporadic residential properties, with the housing development of St. Matthews beyond. Upfields, to the south-east forms a linear ribbon of residential development. The south-western boundary is formed by Fulfen Primary school and its playing fields.”

“The site is washed over by the West Midlands Green Belt and is mainly within Flood Zone 1 with an area of Flood Zones 2 and 3 within the site, associated with a stream running across the western part of the site.”

Officer report

Officers’ main findings

Officers considered heritage harm very low, landscape effects manageable, drainage achievable, highway impacts acceptable and biodiversity net gain deliverable.

“It is concluded that there would be a very low degree of less than substantial harm to the significance of the Grade II listed Fulfin Cottage and Fulfen through development within their relative setting. Moreover, there will be no harm to the significance of the grade II listed Christchurch and The Burnthouse nor will the development of the application site cause harm to the locally listed buildings and non-designated heritage assets assessed.”

“The residential development of open agricultural land will inevitably result in an impact both on the character of the landscape and visual amenity of the area, however, such impact would be mitigated by the location of the development in the context of established built form to the south, west and east of the site.”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

An objector, a ward member and the applicant’s agent made representations before the application was considered.

The committee’s decision

The committee resolved to refuse the application against the officer recommendation.

“RESOLVED: Refusal against officer’s recommendation for the following reasons:”

Minutes

Why permission was refused

The committee found harm from Green Belt development, pressure on local infrastructure and severe residual highway impacts at the local network.

“Reason 1 – Inappropriate Development within the Green Belt The proposed development constitutes inappropriate development within the Green Belt and would result in the loss of open Green Belt land that makes a strong contribution to preventing unrestricted urban sprawl, and maintaining the openness of the Green Belt.”

“Reason 3 – Unacceptable Highway Impact The proposed development would generate a significant increase in vehicular traffic, resulting in an unacceptable impact on the safe and efficient operation of the local highway network, with particular regard to Swan Island, where existing congestion and traffic pressures are already substantial.”

Minutes