NEW HOMES BACKING FOR CONSERVATION AREA

03-07-2009

Birmingham Council’s planning officers are recommending approval for 16 new houses on the city’s historic Moorpool Estate conservation area – contradicting advice given by English Heritage experts.

The planning committee is due to make a decision on the controversial scheme on July 9, but are obviously obliged to consider seriously what their officials say.

Grainger Homes wants to build houses on three sites across the estate, but 12 are proposed for the “Valley” area, which is the centrepiece of Moorpool, an early 20th century workers’ village in Harborne.

Architect Mervyn Miller, an advisor to English Heritage argues that the Valley development, in particular, clashes with conservation status, and says, “I see no alternative but refusal of the present application (PDF link here).

This echoes the view of Garden Suburbs expert David Davidson “who warned Moorpool would be “extremely damaged” if the plans go ahead.

In a recent Stirrer article in the Birmingham Mail it was suggested that the Planning Department should be renamed the Do Anything You Like, We Really Don’t Mind Department.

Moorpool gives councillors the chance to prove that was an exaggeration.

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