Green Belt land set to be used as five new traveller sites approved near Stourbridge
The five caravan pitches are set to be placed on Green Belt land near Hagley.
A new set of caravan pitches for travellers on Green Belt land in the Worcestershire countryside have been approved.
A successful appeal has seen the planning inspector overturn Bromsgrove District Council’s decision to refuse permission for the development at Wassell Grove Lane in Hagley.
The original application proposed a material change of use of land to use as a residential caravan site for five Traveller Pitches, including the laying of hardstanding and construction of a 1.8m timber fence, but had been refused by the council for reasons including highway safety and environmental concerns.
However, after the appeal hearing, planning permission was granted for a material change of use of land to use as a residential caravan site for Traveller Pitches, including the laying of hardstanding and construction of a 1.8m timber fence on land at Wassell Grove Lane.
The appeal decision, issued on November 2, concluded that the site qualified as grey belt land under national planning policy.
It said that grey belt refers to land within the Green Belt that does not strongly contribute to certain purposes of the designation, provided it meets other criteria set out in planning policy.
The inspector also considered the shortage of authorised Traveller pitches when assessing whether the development should be permitted.