Council planners have given the go-ahead for the building of new alms-houses despite opposition from local villagers. 

Applicant Berkswell Charities applied to build 37 new homes on green belt land west of Hob Lane, Burton Green, in January. The scheme went before the Solihull Council’s planning committee at its latest meeting.

The application submitted to the authority said: “Almshouses are the oldest form of social housing in the UK, providing independent living in a safe, community-led environment.

“One of several objectives of Berkswell Charities is the relief of poverty among the inhabitants within the parish of Berkswell and the surrounding area.” 

In a public consultation 73 neighbours submitted objections raising issues including a lack of general infrastructure; that the village could not support such a large scale development and that it would lose its identity.

During the meeting, in the public speaking section, Burton Green parish councillor Kyn Aizlewood said: “I’m opposed because it is the wrong project in the wrong place. 

“Burton Green is only a small village with 80 recently built affordable homes with a further 140 on the way.

“It is an unsuitable and isolated location.” 

But ward councillor Andrew Burrow spoke in favour of the proposal saying: “The land is cheap – they (Berkswell Charities) aren’t going to make any money out of it, it is a piece of farm land.

“This meets a local need for older people, younger people, people with special educational needs, people who have fallen on hard times and we need that in Berkswell parish.”

The authority’s planning officers had said the scheme would not be “inappropriate development” in the borough’s green belt.

And it was also explained that councillors needed to decide whether the overall planning balance was in favour of the scheme, planning officers recommending it was.  

During the debate chairman Cllr Bob Grinswell commented on this adding: “It’s like having two sides to a coin and measuring one against the other.

“It is in our gift to make that ultimate decision, you have to weigh up the pros and cons.”

The chairman then asked for confirmation the homes would be rented to those in need locally before others. 

Laura Taylor a senior planning officer at the council replied: “There is a condition which requires any future residents to meet the requirement set out by the charity – and that is to meet local need requirements.”  

Cllr Dave Pinwell challenged objections saying there was a lack of infrastructure for the site, pointing out there was a Hickory’s Smokehouse pub in the village and a bus service available for residents to use.

When the chairman moved to the vote it was unanimously approved by the committee at the meeting held at the Civic Suite on Wednesday, (October 8).