8th December 2022 - MAPPLEBOROUGH WOODS DEVELOPMENT APPROVED BY STRATFORD DC.
Despite the objections on a number of grounds raised by Maureen Berry, Mark Crompton and Mark Wallace last night, Stratford District Council voted to grant planning permission for this development: 7 for, 2 against.
From what we are aware, building construction will begin next Spring 2023 and is projected to take until at least 2028.
There may be some avenues of objection and protest still open if there is enough community support and engagement, and although the chances of success are not high, they are greater than if we did nothing at all. More information will be posted in due course.
22nd November 2022 -MAPPLEBOROUGH WOODS DEVELOPMENT APPROVED 🙁
Last night the Council Planning Committee voted to approve this application for the development of 236 houses by Morris Homes.
This topic will also be covered during the WGRA meeting on Friday 2nd December (7:45pm in the Furze Lane Community Centre).
Naturally this is not the outcome we had hoped for and worked towards, but is also not a surprise.
You may have received a leaflet through your door detailing the proposal of the Mappleborough Woods Proposal residential development on land off Far Moor Lane, Redditch.
We at the Winyates Green Residents Association are aware of the situation with the Mappleborough Woods Proposal and are currently in discussion regarding this.
We would be grateful if any residents would voice their opinion by either emailing our Communications Officer (see about us page) or by joining our Facebook Group (Winyates Green Residents Association) and commenting on the relevant thread. Many thanks.
*This is the objection letter written on behalf of the WGRA. Sharing on here so residents are aware of what members of the committee have been doing behind the scenes**: The Winyates Green Residents Association objects to the proposal for the Mapplebrough Woods Proposal on the following grounds:-
WILDLIFE –The Redditch Gateway has led to the loss of fields tress and hedgerows which were habitat for deer, birds badgers, bats, rabbits, foxes etc. Indeed foxes can now be seen roaming around the closes in Winyates Green. The new development would see a further loss of habitat for the wildlife with the significant removal of trees and hedgerows which provide vital wildlife corridors. Deer, badgers,foxes and bats have recently been seen in the area.The woodland also provides a screen from traffic pollution and noise. Calling the site Mappleborough Woods is contradictory at best. With the government recently offering another £4 million to plant trees to meet its environmental target, it would appear that this development also runs counter to the idea of reforestation being actively promoted by DEFRA.
TRAFFIC – All the traffic from the proposed development would exit on to Far Moor Lane causing considerable congestion. The Amazon site is not yet operational but will inevitably increase traffic in the area in due course. The south site of the Gateway has yet to be developed but again will increase traffic in due course. Any traffic surveys should surely wait until the Gateway is operational to understand the full impact.
DOCTORS – There is currently a 4 week wait to see a doctor at Winyates Health Centre and there could be another 500 people from the new development. The NHS have suggested in a letter dated 12th February 2021 that they would not be able to accommodate patients at any of the 7 GP surgeries in the area and would require an expansion payment of £78,834 if the development were to go ahead.
SCHOOLS – The closest school to the proposed site is Mappleborough Green Primary. This is in Warwickshire and is the school of choice for many Winyates Green residents. However,it is at capacity and any new residents in the new development would potentially take precedence over current residents as they would live closer to the school. The school would need significant investment in order to expand. Other schools in the area are at or nearing capacity and this needs to be fully explored before approval is granted.