Outline planning permission has been submitted by the Gilbert family, owners of Wood Farm and suppliers of Christmas trees to Covent Garden and Downing Street, for the construction of 150 affordable housing units on land east of Haslucks Green Road in Shirley, Solihull. The application, submitted to Bromsgrove District Council, proposes demolishing existing structures including former fishing ponds, barns, a house, a depot, and hardstanding.
Details of the Development
The outline application, filed by Mr G Gilbert, describes the current land use as redundant fishing ponds, a former vehicle depot, a dwelling, a barn, and a Christmas tree farm. The plans include 12 one-bedroom houses, 51 two-bedroom houses, 82 three-bedroom houses, and five four-bedroom houses, all designated as affordable housing. The Design and Access Statement, dated April 30, states the development aims to create a sustainable residential neighborhood of high design quality, providing a range of affordable family homes that reflect the local architectural character.
Development Objectives
The statement outlines several objectives: contributing to the national housing growth agenda with a balanced mix of affordable homes; delivering a distinctive, well-designed development that creates an attractive, safe, and sustainable community; respecting and enhancing the local environment by utilizing existing land forms and natural features; ensuring design and scale compatible with surrounding built forms; and minimizing crime opportunities through secure design.
Christmas Tree Legacy
Shirley is renowned for its Christmas trees, with Wood Farm supplying iconic trees to Downing Street and Covent Garden. The planning statement notes that any existing large Christmas trees on the site will be cropped prior to development. It further states that the development will require felling remaining large Christmas trees, filling in some man-made fishing ponds, and demolishing existing built forms on the southern portion of the site.
