A GOLF club and hotel in Redditch is set to sell some of its land to developers to build over 200 homes.

The Abbey Hotel & Golf Club have been working with housing developer, David Wilson Homes to bring forward plans for 216 homes on land west of Hither Green Lane.

A member of the golf club, who asked not to be identified, said proposals were announced last week by bosses to sell land that currently hosts holes one and two.

A proportion of the money is then set to be used to redesign the golf course, potentially reducing the course from a par 72 to a par 70.

A spokesperson for David Wilson Homes said: “The development will deliver 216 high quality new homes and new affordable homes to meet local need.

“With Redditch Borough Council failing to deliver enough new homes to meet government targets, there is a need to provide new homes in sustainable locations such as this, with good access to services, while both avoiding greenbelt release and facilitating future investment in the Abbey Hotel & Golf Club.

Redditch Advertiser: This is what the new development could look like. Image/ David Wilson Homes. This is what the new development could look like. Image/ David Wilson Homes.

“The plans include extensive public open space, accessible to new and existing residents. These areas of public open space will include exciting and dynamic play space for children.”

The proposals show a mix of two storey detached, semi-detached and terraced homes with several 2.5 storey homes which will ‘reflect the character of existing homes within the Abbey Park area’.

Homes will be designed around an existing pond, and trees and hedgerows will be enhanced to create a buffer to the existing houses on Hither Green Lane.

Resident of Hither Green Lane and acting chairman of Abbey Park Residents Association, Denis Miles said there are around 158 homes on Hither Green Lane and this development will ‘more than double that number’.

He said: “There are so many things to think about with this development like the protection of animals who habit the space, especially the deer. Where would they live if there are houses built on the land?

 

“Obviously there is the huge concern of traffic. If the traffic jams are bad now, they would be awful with this many houses.

“There will be a considerable number of objections on grounds that this is not part of the local plan – it should not be allowed.

“Our group will be joining Bordesley Matters neighbourhood group to form a united approach and are set to hold a meeting soon to discuss the plans.”

Mr Miles also said the proposed development is only a short distance from the recently passed plans for over 1,000 homes on Weights Lane.

He added: “The extra cars and traffic will be awful from both sites. It’s too much.”

Councillor for Abbey ward, Julian Grubb said he knows about the plans but said ‘until we reach the stage of a formal planning application I cannot comment’.

He added: “If any residents or interested parties get in contact then will we look into it.”

If plans are passed, the scheme will be delivered by Mercia Division which have recently worked on the Abbey Gate development next to Alexandra Hospital and Enfield Gardens at Ipsley.

The housing developer say they will be shortly submitting a planning application to Redditch Borough Council.

To view plans and provide feedback visit landwestofhithergreenlane.co.uk