A NEW housing development for 93 homes in Netherton has been given the green light by Dudley Council.

The plan, which was awarded outline permission back in 2021, will see an industrial site on Marriott Road transformed into a housing estate with a mix of apartments, semi-detached and detached homes ranging from two to four bedrooms.

The canalside site has already been cleared and building has been approved after a number of concerns were resolved.

In recommending approval, council officers said: “The principle of the development and general layout has been previously agreed through an outline planning permission.

“Modifications to this reserved matters application have overcome the previous concerns in relation of highway safety, noise and design.”

West Midlands Police raised concerns around possible car crime causing an increased demand on their services with parking spaces to the rear of properties.

Planning officers however concluded: “All the parking courts will be naturally surveyed with habitable rooms facing onto them. 

“Rear entries are shown as being gated, and higher walls are to be provided to more vulnerable rear boundaries where no other suitable design solution is available.”

Another concern from the previous application related to excessive noise from the road or surrounding industrial units.

Further investigations found previous reports had overestimated noise impact and new testing had concluded there would be minimal intrusion on the new homes.

In a report for planners, officers also say there were ‘substantive concerns’ about stopping up public a right of way (PROW) however these concerns were ‘overcome with improved information in relation to diversions and stopping up’.

The officers’ report added: “The proposal also provides a new PROW link to Bratch Close which provides direct link to the canal towpath, but also benefits existing residents in the area with a more direct route to the bus stop on Marriott Road.”

In a design and access statement on behalf of developer Barratt West Midlands, ID Partnership said: “It is considered that the proposals are deemed to represent a high quality urban design, instils good place making principles and will result in a development that complies with all relevant design guidance.”