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Bid for 100 new homes on former Coseley tip site refused

Controversial plans to build 100 homes on a ‘potentially dangerous’ former tip site in Dudley were tonight thrown out by councillors.

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Dudley Council's planning committee refused the plans for new homes

Developer Real Homes One Limited had applied to build 100 homes on the site in Bourne Street, Coseley.

But the application was refused by Dudley Council's planning committee voting five to one with three abstentions.

The decision received a strong reaction from a packed meeting room at Dudley Council House with many applauding the announcement.

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Adam Aston, said: “I’m delighted that the committee have quite overwhelmingly refused the application.

“It’s a site in my opinion that should never, never be developed.

“I think the residents more than myself are happy this conclusion has been reached.

“I think this is the third time this application has been submitted about this particular piece of land and on each occasion its been refused.

“There’s very, very good reasons why this land should never be built on, primarily the contamination, also local amenities, traffic nightmares, schools full, so is the GP surgery.

“Before the site was cleared for site investigations it had become quite pleasant, it had become a bit of a woodland.

“Ideally I think the land should just be left for nature to reclaim it."

It comes as the decision on the application made by Real Homes One Limited was deferred on the basis of insufficient information on the contamination of the land back in September.

The firm was looking to build the properties on the former tip and quarry which was was filled in over three decades and completed in the 1980s.

Residents at the meeting welcomed the committee's decision but said they fear developers will return.

During the meeting, councillors claimed a report detailing information about the contamination of the land had not been sent before the day of the meeting and refused to approve the application.

Speaking at the meeting, committee member Councillor John Martin said: "There are some sites that should just not be considered for residential development and quite frankly we should not be building on sites like this and putting the lives of existing residents and future residents on that site at risk in this way."

Leading up to the decision, a 527-strong petition from residents has been submitted against the plans along with 32 letters of objection.

The council had previously said the housing developer must ensure 25 homes are ‘affordable’, and the developer must also pay £203,280, which will go towards ‘education’.

In the build up project planners said the land was contaminated and could pose a risk to human health, as it was formerly used as a landfill to dispose of rubbish - but the ground would treated if the project was approved.