Marston Green business park plan to return to planning chiefs

PLANS to expand Birmingham Business Park are set to go back to Solihull Council's planning committee next Wednesday.
Last month, a decision on the scheme was postponed, with one member claiming that aspects of the current proposals were “totally unacceptable”.
Councillor Jim Ryan (Con, Bickenhill) argued the application should be deferred given the “scant” information available to the planning committee.
He drew comparisons between the development and a previous application to build the Land Rover Distribution Centre, near Digby Drive.
In that case he said that noise caused by vehicles reversing and moving pallets about, often late at night, had led to battle after battle with the car giant.
He told members that, by comparison, the Birmingham Business Park development would in fact have an even greater impact on those living in nearby Blackfirs Lane, which is why it was so vital to have the full details to hand.
“The applicant has a duty, in my view, to work with officers and the local authority and local residents to get the best outcome that can be had regarding the layout. It’s in their interests to do that moving forward.
“Residents may have to face agony for years as a result of this 24/7 operation of traffic, of movement...”
The applicants have argued that the plans submitted for two new units would be a big boost to the local economy and create hundreds of new jobs.
But Coun Robert Grinsell (Con, Olton) said the “overriding” consideration had to be those residents living closest to the land, while Coun Stephen Holt (Green, Smith’s Wood) said that the way the site was accessed could create difficulties.
Earlier in the meeting, ward councillor Alison Rolf (Con) said the community had grave concerns about the plans put forward.
Addressing the committee, she said: “Please either defer this application, reject it or provide residents with some conditions they can live with because as far as they’re concerned this site is a disaster.”
Richard Cobb, speaking on behalf of Bickenhill and Marston Green Parish Council, said that while it was accepted the site would be developed, strict conditions should be imposed to protect local residents.
“These are plainly going to be two very large buildings with limited opportunity to reduce their scale,” he said.
Following the discussions, the committee voted unanimously to defer the application prompting spontaneous applause from the audience.