Plans to build a new park, homes and a school on a former Oldbury golf course have been given the green light by Sandwell Council.
Despite backlash from the community and a demonstration outside Sandwell’s Council’s chambers by concerned residents, the plans to build on green space at Brandhall Golf Course will be going ahead.
Sandwell Council Revises Original Plan
However, the original plan, which included a proposal to build 550 new houses in the area, has been revised following political pressure from the Brandhall Green Space Action Group (BGASG).
The new plans, approved by Sandwell’s Cabinet, were decided by councillors who were presented five different options upon consideration of what to do with the land.
After deliberation, the council decided on proposal number 3: Providing land for a new primary school (2.68 hectares), a new public park (26 hectares plus 1.47 hectares for Parsons Hill Park) and around 190 new homes (5 hectares).
New School Is “Essential”
The current Causeway Green Primary School will soon be rebuilt into a new, modern school for its children, something seemingly essential.
Headteacher, Julia Shingler, said: “A replacement school is much needed for our local community. The school buildings are ageing, uneconomical to repair and can’t keep being patched up. We very much welcome this news that the local community will benefit from a brand-new school to continue providing high-quality education in modern facilities that are fit to serve children and staff for generations to come.”
Priorities for the area must be deeply considered by the council. Necessities such as ecology, good school facilities and affordable housing- upon increasing demand- and preservation of green space are of greatest importance. However, consideration of council resources and different levels of investment within each sector must be weighed.
Low cost housing is vital for the success of the 190 properties, so, consequently a minimum of 25% are promised to be “affordable”, says the council. The Government has issued a warning over the discrepancy between the number of houses built, compared to the number of houses needed in this area.
Despite Sandwells ‘brownfield first’ policy (the full potential of brownfield land should be harnessed before any greenfield or Green Belt land is considered for development) little impact is made on the increasing high demand for more housing.
Peter Hughes, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth, said: “We have decided that creating space for around 190 new homes – significantly fewer than the 550 proposed as part of last year’s consultation – is the right balance for the site, having listened to all views and information. There is a desperate need for more housing in Sandwell, especially affordable housing, and we must fulfil our duties to make land available for this.”
New Park To Be More Accessible To Community
He then went on to comment on the development of a 26-hectare park, and the preservation of 1.47 hectares at Parsons Hill Park: “We will be investing in a large, brand-new, high-quality park, making up around 70% of the site. Currently, the site is not managed or maintained as a publicly accessible park, so we will now be able to make the green space at Brandhall much more accessible for all of the local community to use and enjoy.”
“We have also approved the designation of the majority of the site as a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation, which will give greater protection to the ecology of this space.”
“We have taken the decision that we feel best meets the future needs of the local community, and Sandwell as a whole.”
Written by Ellie Lovatt.