Derelict site houses plan (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Derelict site houses plan

Derelict land at the rear of Barton Street and Nelson Street can be developed despite fears about lack of access for emergency vehicles.

Members of the Borough planning committee approved two applications from Hercules Housing Ltd of Stourbridge and one from the James Hay Trust.

Between them they will provide 15 dwellings in a mix of one and two bedroom flats and houses.

The area in question is land locked and the only access to the new development will be on foot.

Both the town council and the civic council were strongly against the application, because of the lack of access for both emergency and maintenance vehicles.

Local councillor Gordon Shurmer echoed their concerns and voted against the scheme.

"I am very concerned about the access issues," he said.

There were also a number of objections from residents of Fyzers Court who say that the new development will overlook their homes and infringe on their privacy.

An earlier plan to redevelop the whole area, to include an access road was abandoned in 2003 after problems getting the owners of various parcels of the land to agree.

Director of Development Services, Chris Shaw, said that the dense development of the area would echo the local street scene, as would the design and materials of the buildings.

The county council says that there is strong likelihood of medieval or even roman remains being found and are recommending a field evaluation before any work starts.