Cooks Lane housing scheme set for approval

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build eight new homes in Kingshurst are expected to be rubber-stamped next week.
Council officers have recommended that the care scheme, at 214 Cooks Lane, is approved - despite concerns about homes being packed in and limited access for vehicles.
Back in September, councillors had agreed to defer a decision on the development until further details about the parking arrangements had been provided.
Kingshurst and Fordbridge councillors David Cole (Lab) and Robert Hall (Ind) had both spoken at the meeting to raise concerns about the proposal.
Coun Cole told the decision session that the plans were "ill-thought out" and likely to lead to tensions with existing residents.
Discussions about the development of the land have dragged on for more than a decade, during which time a number of different proposals have been brought forward.
The latest version of the scheme is intended to provide supported living for people with disabilities.
Following the decision session a couple of months ago, Sandant Care Ltd has agreed to incorporate extra parking spaces into its plans.
The firm has argued that the facilities should be "more than sufficient", given that the residents won't drive and the majority of the company's carers use public transport.
The planning committee will consider the updated plans on Wednesday (November 28).