What is proposed?

The Proposal

Barberry are proposing to submit an Outline Planning Application with all matters reserved other than access. The application will seek to agree the principle of development along with the proposed accesses into the site. Further information on the proposed scheme is set out below.

Outline Vision

The vision is to provide a distinctive and high quality place that respects and enhances the qualities and character of Kingswinford and the site, provides 45% affordable homes that meets local housing need, provides high quality, biodiverse, and accessible public open spaces, provides improvements to local infrastructure and ensures connectivity with the existing local community.

The residential development will create up to 557 new homes, of which up to 45% would be affordable, within a walkable neighbourhood that provides a range of play and recreational facilities and growing spaces, all set within a framework of connected, biodiverse public open spaces.

The range of homes to be provided will meet the needs of the area, whilst respecting and enhancing the site’s environmental assets. From the outset of the masterplanning process, a “ground up” landscape and contextually led approach has been adopted.

Housing will be set within an integrated green / blue infrastructure framework, that helps to assimilate the development within the townscape and landscape and creates an inspiring and highly attractive place to live, with access to nature on the doorstep.

Wider Community Benefits

As well as the delivery of new market housing the application proposes new affordable housing amounting to 45% of the total number of dwellings on site. These will be a mix of tenures and different size houses to meet a wide range of local needs.

In addition to the above significant areas of new public open space will be provided on site that will link into the wider footpath and cycle network to be created within the development.

Areas of ecological mitigation and biodiversity net gain are to be provided on site along with significant areas of new landscaping and tree planting.

In addition, a new school drop off facility for parents dropping of and picking up their children from school is also proposed.

Public Open Space

A landscape strategy has been produced to support the landscape-led approach to the development. This has placed landscape thinking at the centre of the design process to create a sustainable, high-quality places to live.

It has involved the analysis of the existing site’s natural and cultural features to inform the development, incorporating elements like sustainable drainage (SuDS), diverse planting, and green infrastructure to enhance biodiversity, manage water, and provide an attractive place to live. and the community.

The intent has been to maximize land use efficiency, add value and appeal to the development, and create a strong, distinct identity that benefits both the environment.

The development recognises local need, and includes access to new, high quality, safe, public green spaces that are attractive, sustainably managed and maintained, and seek to meet the needs of the local community. They provide for informal recreation, dog walking, play, growing food and community gathering, and opportunities to enjoy nature.

They incorporate a well-connected network of footpaths and cycleways. All areas of open space are over looked to ensure a safe environment with good natural surveillance. Open space use includes the following:

1. A large, semi-natural, biodiverse, public open space to the western edge with allotments and orchards

2. Linear green spaces that protect existing trees and hedgerows within the site - with a footpath and cycle route providing direct access to Summerhill School from the north of the site.

3. A looped green corridor to the perimeter, protecting existing boundary trees and fronted onto by houses for good natural surveillance.

4. A central park as a focal gathering point at the highest part of the site - a place to meet and play and opportunity for a coffee van.

5. A naturalised linear amenity space that acts as a SUDS corridor when seasonally wet.

Green Infrastructure

The proposed green infrastructure is multi-functional, linking all landscape, visual, ecological and drainage assets of the site (existing trees, hedgerows, habitats and low drainage points) - to provide a network of connected open spaces, footpaths, recreational uses and integrated SuDS features. The proposals are landscape and contextually led with a green infrastructure framework that comprises the following:

Bolstered hedgerows to the perimeter and internally - to replace trees lost to Dutch elm disease, improve hedgerow structure and biodiversity, enhance visual containment and landscape character Street trees - large, avenue trees to secondary streets and smaller trees to tertiary streets to provide attractive streetscapes, shade, cooling and human scale
Native woodland planting to establish a wooded ridgeline that provides a green buffer and wooded development boundary edge, enhances the site’s landscape character and is in keeping with Ridgehill Wood adjacent A tree-framed park in the eastern corner with a Locally Equipped Area of Play.
Informal native trees and species-rich wildflower grassland to the large semi-natural open space on the western edge of the site - providing enhanced biodiversity for wildlife, informal recreation and walking/cycling routes Species-rich grassland to open space areas and the perimeter of the development - providing enhanced biodiversity and a naturalised environment for informal natural play Biodiverse SuDS features that include swales and attenuation ponds Community Allotments + Orchards - providing dedicated growing spaces and a place for social community interaction

Access and Highways

A Well-Connected & Accessible Location

The site is close to schools, shops and services on Kingswinford High Street, making everyday trips easy on foot or by bike.
Good existing walking and cycling routes surround the site, which will be strengthened through the development.

Safe Pedestrian & Vehicle Access

New pedestrian and vehicle accesses will be provided on Swindon Road and Lodge Lane. All access points will meet modern design standards, including visibility and safety for all users.

High Permeability for Walking & Cycling

The layout creates a network of direct, safe, and attractive walking and cycling routes through the site. These routes improve access to Summerhill School, local shops, and nearby neighbourhoods both for future residents and existing community.
Priority crossing points will be installed on Swindon Road and Lodge Lane to make journeys safer and more convenient.

Bus Access Through the Site

The road layout allows buses to route through the development, giving residents convenient access to local services. Improvements to existing bus stops are proposed.

Supporting School Access & Safety

A dedicated set-down area for Summerhill School within the site will:

Reduce congestion around Lodge Lane at school times
Allow the footway on Lodge Lane to be reinstated
Enable vehicles to turn safely without routing through busy nearby junctions

Junction Improvements for the Local Network

Improvements are proposed at the Lodge Lane – Cot Lane and Kidderminster Road – Lodge Lane junctions. These upgrades will improve pedestrian facilities, reduce congestion, and enhance safety.

Drainage

An appropriate surface water drainage strategy, which complies with the latest local and national guidance, will be implemented across the development.

The proposed surface water drainage strategy will use Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), which aim to reduce the impact of development by replicating the natural runoff regime in a sustainable, cost-effective manner whilst protecting water quality and reducing pollution.

The surface water drainage strategy will aim to attenuate any increase in surface water runoff generated by the proposed development.

Heritage / Archaeology

Public spaces onsite will take advantage of views of the grade II listed Summerhill Hotel, making the history of the area an integral part of the experience of these spaces.

Any archaeological information recorded from the Site can be made available to existing and future residents of the area, so that they can learn more about the archaeology and history of the area, including what archaeological work has been done and what has been found.

Other Technical Reports

The application will be supported by a suite of supporting technical reports including a Noise Assessment, Air Quality Assessment and Tree Survey. None of these matters pose a constraint to development.

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