Marston Green residents concerned by business park plan

PLANS to expand Birmingham Business Park have been widely criticised in Marston Green, with one resident claiming that constant development risked turning the village into “an industrial estate.”
A planning application has been submitted which, if approved, would see the creation of four new buildings, with associated car parks and service yards.
There are particular concerns that the scheme would have a serious impact on those residents living in nearby Coleshill Heath Road and Blackfirs Lane.
Bickenhill & Marston Green Parish Council have said that “utmost care” must be taken to ensure that locals don’t suffer as a result of the development.
The concerns they have raised include the imposing design of the new buildings and the increase in noise and activity on the site, which at the moment is predominantly made up of office buildings.
They have urged Solihull Council to impose strict conditions on operating hours, amid fears that deliveries and other work would take place throughout the night.
Mark Rutter, who lives in Blackfirs Lane, said that development of the land would impact on a “semirural” part of the community.
“The traffic on the park at peak hours is already an issue, with long traffic queues,” he wrote on Facebook.
“Despite the application showing low noise, I don’t accept this in reality and noise will be an issue.”
Joseph Carbery described the proposals as “outrageous” and complained about plans to build on another area of green space – already a source of controversy in a community which has lost large tracts of land in recent years.
U+I Group, who own the land, held a public exhibition earlier this month and invited local people to attend. In a letter sent to residents, they pointed out that the site had already been earmarked for employment-led development by Solihull Council.
Marcello Burbante, development manager, said: “The team are keen to listen to local people and hear their views.”