A community group has spoken out ahead of a decision on the controversial plans for a new housing development in Redditch.
North Redditch Communities Alliance (NoRCA) believe plans to build 214 units on Abbey Park Golf Course and the surrounding land will cause "irreversible damage" to the green space with "significant unease" being felt amongst residents.
The plans were submitted to Redditch Borough Council by David Wilson Homes in December 2021 with the fate of the development, which would also see new play areas, footways and cycleways created, set to be decided at a planning meeting on Wednesday (March 20).
NoRCA, which comprises more than 450 residential dwellings in Hither Green Lane, Dagnall End Road, Birmingham Road Bordesley, areas of Church Hill North and Beoley, was formed after the application was first submitted.
Chairman of NoRCA, Mark Jacobs, said: "As a group, we are supportive of developing Redditch for the benefit of its residents, but we feel strongly that this is simply not best served by building more and more houses on green open spaces, particularly when there is already sufficient land in the borough set aside to satisfy house building targets.
"There is significant unease among residents that the north of the borough has become overdevelopment, the loss of open space is felt very strongly."
NoRCA member, Birgit Morris, added: "To approve the proposed development on designated green open space will cause irreversible damage and is quite simply unnecessary at this time."
More than 300 objections were received against the large-scale development and a petition of more than 1,000 signatures has also been submitted.
The residents of the group are planning to attend the meeting at 7pm to make their objections known.
This includes the detrimental impact on the environment, fears over increased traffic and congestion, the impact on the 'pay and play' golf course and the increased pressures that could be put on local services such as GP Practices, dentists and schools.
David Wilson Homes previously said the "proposed traffic mitigation scheme" will not "result in an increase in traffic".
They added: "If our planning application were to be approved, it would give us the opportunity to meet not only the demand for housing in the area, but will underpin a number of jobs for local people, sub-contractors and suppliers.
"Our plans for the development include the provision and opening up to the new community over eight acres of open space with pedestrian and cycle access and equipped play areas for children. Should our application be granted, we plan to invest in a range of facilities in the community."
Redditch Borough Council has made "special arrangements" for its upcoming planning committee meeting with a live stream being in place.
A spokesperson for the council said: "It is anticipated that the application will attract a lot of community interest and so public speaking arrangements have been extended over and above the normal limits.
"While extra seating will be available for the meeting at the Town Hall, capacity is limited to 70 seats, and these will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Interested parties are asked to use the livestream service where possible.
"The link to the live stream is https://youtube.com/live/QqBgcCOjpEM?feature=share the link will become live when the meeting commences at 7pm".
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