Slater Road

Feelings are running high in Slater Road, Bentley Heath, as residents draw battle lines over a proposed new windfall development. The proposal would see the demolition of no 35 Slater Road and the redevelopment of land behind no 29 to 43 Slater Road, providing for the erection of 5 substantial new dewellings, a mix of 2-story and 3-storey, 4-bedroom and 5-bedroom homes.

Those opposed to the new housing claim that there are bats resident in trees that would be lost should the plan proceed and that these trees should, therefore, be a protected habitat.

Those in favour of the development say that the back gardens are far bigger than the average and, in an echo of Government Planning Policy, suggest the space could be better used.

In reality, it seems, the residents of the houses involved aidentified and pproached a suitable developer and, no doubt, will do well out of any redevelopment and, because the proposal is not for affordable housing, it is much more about garden grab development than a solution to local housing issues..

Details of the proposed development can be found at http://www.solihull.gov.uk/planning/dc/ViewAppdetail.asp?Y=2007&R=2248.

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