A controversial plan to build a new housing estate in Redditch has been refused by councillors following hours of heated debate. 

Councillors voted unanimously against the plans submitted by David Wilson Homes to build 214 dwellings on parts of Abbey Park Golf Club and land west of Hither Green Lane. 

The plans would also see new play areas, footways and cycleways created. 

The application was refused due to the borough already having an adequate 10-year supply of housing as well as concerns over the plans severing the green corridor linking Arrow Valley Country Park to the open countryside. 

There were also issues raised over the loss of green space, the increase in traffic congestion on the A441 and the pressure that could be put on existing infrastructure such as GP services and schools in the area. 

Ahead of the meeting, North Redditch Communities Alliance (NoRCA), which has been campaigning against the plans since 2021, said the plans would cause "irreversible damage" to the green space. 

They added: "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. 

"There is significant unease among residents that the north of the borough has become overdevelopment, the loss of open space is felt very strongly."

Redditch Advertiser: An artist impression of the new homes An artist impression of the new homes (Image: David Wilson Homes)

The decision to refuse the application took place during a planning committee meeting last night (Wednesday, March 20) which went on for almost four hours. 

The meeting had a full house of people in attendance, including NoRCA, with some residents being turned away at the door as the room had reached capacity. 

There was an initial presentation from Paul Lester, of the planning department, outlining the plans and the reasons why they recommended approval. 

This included the national housing crisis and the need for new homes, the results of a traffic survey carried out in 2022 and steps that had been taken by the developer to create recreational and open spaces on the new estate. 

Speakers, including representatives from David Wilson Homes, residents, councillors and traffic planning experts, were then each allocated time to argue for and against the application before the final vote was made shortly after 10.30pm. 

Residents and NoRCA clapped as councillors said they could not support the application and the plans were refused.

In response to the refusal notice, a spokesperson for David Wilson Homes Mercia said: "We are disappointed that our planning application for 214 homes in Redditch has been refused.

"The development would bring a wide range of benefits to the town, including £5 million invested in the area, the creation of new, publicly accessible green open spaces, a new play area, footways and cycleways and jobs for local people, in addition to 66 affordable homes to meet the demand for housing."