Council contributes £10,000 to RSS study

4:38pm Saturday 5th July 2008

REDDITCH Council has agreed to a £10,000 share of the costs for a detailed study of where nearly 7,000 new homes might be built around the town.

The latest phase of consultation on the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), which maps out how the West Midlands will grow over the next two decades, has earmarked 6,600 homes to be built in and around Redditch.

The West Midlands Regional Assembly is currently asking for views on the proposals that will see hundreds of thousands of new homes built around the region, as well as the associated employment, health, education and transport infrastructure.

The council has already worked with consultants White Young Green on a joint study into the feasibility of the allocations for the area and a report has been produced in partnership with Worcestershire County Council, Bromsgrove District Council, Warwickshire County Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council. New developments would undoubtedly see the town expand beyond Redditch Council's boundaries, so the other authorities have been involved in initial investigations.

A second independent study would identify the "preferred options" for future development, outlining how any new building work would best meet the needs of all councils involved. The total cost of this work would be around £50,000.

Councillor Colin McMillan, portfolio holder for environment and planning, said: "This is one of the most important things this council has had to look at. There are three ways we could go; ignore it and hope it goes our way, do our own thing and ignore the other authorities, or work with everyone to see if we can come up with something we all accept.

"Every one of these options carries an element of risk but I believe that taking part in this joint study is the one that represents the least risk for us."

A third round of consultation is due to take place in October, with further opportunities for public input scheduled in 2009. Further information on the RSS is available at www.wmra.gov.uk.

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