Living Space Housing has submitted a Full Planning Application to Wyre Forest District Council for 48 new homes on a 2.1Ha (5.2-acre) site located off Husum Way on the outskirts of Kidderminster. The proposal is for all the homes to be designated for affordable housing, to meet local needs.
The plans for the new dwellings have been informed by the emerging Wyre Forest Local Plan (2016-2036), which is anticipated to be formally adopted during spring 2022. The site is being allocated for residential development by the Council. A large amount of Public Open Space is incorporated into the plans, with a total of 40% of the site designated as Green Infrastructure. Living Space’s development will enhance biodiversity and ecological habitats within the site.
Chris Loizou, Land and Partnerships Director for Living Space Housing said:
“This well-located site could deliver a much-needed boost to the provision of quality affordable housing in Kidderminster. There is a chronic shortage of the type of terrace and semi-detached family houses that we are proposing, which will feature the latest standards of eco-efficient insulation.
We have submitted our plans to Wyre Forest District Council following the pre-application advice received from Officers earlier this year. By developing this site, it will open up an extensive area of landscaped space for the benefit of the wider community, as well for the enjoyment of the new residents. To increase biodiversity, new native species trees and shrubs will also be planted, and we will create attenuation ponds to manage surface water drainage using species-rich grasses. We look forward to working alongside Planning Officers, District Councillors, and additional consultees while the planning application is being considered.”
The tenure split is expected to be a mix of affordable rent and intermediate affordable housing. The new homes will be within easy reach of Offmore Primary School, a pub, convenience store, petrol station and local bus stops, while Kidderminster Train Station is only 1.5miles away. The development design is tenure-blind, with local materials proposed to replicate nearby traditional dwellings. Gables, bays and window treatments, and steep roofscapes are some of the elements that define the design principles. A total of 94 parking spaces have been provided for across the scheme.
Designated cycle parking will be provided within the garden shed to each new home to encourage cycle usage. The landscaping plans for the residential scheme allows for the retention and protection of the majority of existing hedgerows and trees, with the exception of providing for site access.
The architect for the scheme is Worcestershire-based Watkiss, Dawson & Ward. JPP Consulting is the transport consultant, Mucklow & Harris has advised on the flood-risk assessment and drainage plans, FPCR is the landscaping consultant, while Betts Ecology has advised on the ecological and arboricultural aspects.
Living Space has a total of 674 residential plots under control, representing a combined value in excess of £113million. The Solihull-based business is on track to deliver at least 20 developments over the next two years. The vast majority of the homes Living Space builds are delivered to Registered Providers (RPs) for affordable rent and shared ownership. Five per cent of the plots currently being delivered are being sold on the open market. Living Space sources the land, achieves Full Detailed Planning consent and builds the homes for the RP, enabling them to focus on the funding and management of high-quality homes for their residents.