Controversial Cheslyn Hay homes plan set to be approved despite concerns it will merge the village with Great Wyrley

The plans to develop 90 homes at Upper Landywood Lane in Cheslyn Hay will also mean a multi-million restoration of Teddesley Hall, in Penkridge, applicant Ken Lees of KGL Holdings has vowed.

Residents have fought a seemingly endless battle against housing schemes on the plot raising concerns about potential traffic chaos, as well as the fact it will close the gap between the village and neighbouring Great Wyrley.

But officers on South Staffordshire Council have recommended the latest scheme be given the green light.

They have prepared a 91-page document which concedes the scheme will harm the green belt closing the gap between the two communities.

But despite stating that element alone provided 'substantial weight' to reject the proposal, officers said it was outweighed by the purported benefits of it which met 'very special circumstances'.

The first of those was the restoration of two wings of the Grade II listed Teddesley Hall which was seriously damaged by dynamite in 1952.

The other arguments in the development's favour are the fact the council has not shown it has enough land to meet housing needs in the next five years, while it will also help meet a huge housing shortfall in Birmingham.

A petition signed by 1,349 residents in opposition to the development has been submitted to the council.

A list of their concerns included the fact the local roads are already congested, a lack of parking at Landywood railway station as well as the added pressure on schools and health services.

The report acknowledges their fears but states they are not enough to refuse the application,

It says: "There have been an exceptional number of representations received in relation to this application, overwhelmingly opposed to the application.

"The representations of the members of the public have been given careful consideration in the assessment of this application and the issues raised are addressed within the individual sections of the report.

"However, the dis-benefits of the development identified by the objectors are not considered to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits provided by the development."

There is still hope for villagers in that the decision will ultimately be made by councillors on the planning committee at a meeting on Tuesday, November 21.

If approved it will also be automatically be referred to the Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government who may call in the scheme and come to another conclusion.

Councillor Kath Williams, who represents the area, said: "Residents do not want it. We have had a lot of applications come up before which they have opposed.

"But I cannot say any more until the committee meeting because we cannot pre-determine the application."