Wildlife corridor industrial units plan set to be rejected

Councillors in Sandwell have been advised to reject a proposed industrial development on land adjacent to the Asda store on Wolverhampton Road.

Phill Speaksepare, a local resident, has cautiously welcomed the officers’ recommendation saying it was a major step forward in what he described as a David and Goliath battle with developers.

“This is good news. I’m pleased the officers think this way and obviously I wholeheartedly agree,” he said.

“We were opposed on the grounds of destroying a wildlife corridor and destroying a very varied and rich ecosystem.

“Also the sheer intolerance of increased traffic congestion on top of what we already have to suffer with Junction 2 of the M5 and the light and privacy issues from a three-storey building at the back of residents’ houses.”

Objectors have said the land is home to badgers, foxes and bird species such as common buzzards and helps mitigate air pollution from the nearby M5.

They submitted 47 individual letters of objection along with an online petition of 20,545 signatures to the council.

Saying the final decision still had to be taken by councillors, Mr Speaksepare added: “I would say the residents are cautiously pleased at the council officers’ recommendations.

“We wholeheartedly agree and hope the committee do the right thing on behalf of the wildlife and the local community.”

London-based Canmoor Ltd had submitted plans to Sandwell for two industrial units of 7,503 square metres with car parking, a service yard and loading docks on the site which is owned by Asda.

In recommending refusal, planning officers said the proposal could give rise to severe highway safety issues.

They added the proximity and height of the development would also have an overbearing effect on nearby homes while a planned footpath would cause noise and disturbance to residents.

Members of the planning committee will decide on the application at their meeting on December 4.