Builder agrees to amend plans but not height of new Halesowen house (From Halesowen News)

Builder agrees to amend plans but not height of new Halesowen house

3:29pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News

A HOUSE builder has agreed to amend plans for a new house on a Halesowen development so that neighbours are not overlooked by the patio doors.

But despite angry protests from Oakbarn Road residents, who have objected to the height of the building, Bellway Homes is adamant that the levels of build are correct as approved by Dudley Council.

Existing householders were horrified when Bellway started moving earth on The Birches, Long Lane, which meant the footings of plot 10 were higher than their back fences.

Maureen Everton described the building as being “like a castle” on her doorstep and that having being promised no windows, she complained that the occupants would have a bird’s-eye view into their homes.

A Bellway spokesman said: “I can confirm that we have met with planning officers of Dudley Council and they have confirmed that the levels of build are correct.”

But he added: “However, in good faith we have agreed to relocate the garden of plot 10 so the patio can being moved to the side of the property. We are also proposing to increase the height of the dividing fence and reduce the pitch of the garage roof.”

Halesowen North councillor Jeff Hill said an enforcement officer told hiim yestersday (Wednesday) he was sending a surveyor to measure the heights of the build level.

“If it is too high, Bellway will have to rectify it. If it does conform to permission that was granted, I will be asking how officers agreed to such a height,“ he said, adding:

"The fact they have drawn up revised plans suggests it's not just a matter of good faith."

Cllr Hill said residents successfully fought to reduce the scale of the houses on the 19-home site from three to storey to preserve their privacy and to build up the height of the ground now was to make a “mockery” of that decision.

The Bellway spokesman added that an application to make the proposed changes to plot 10 will be submitted to the council imminently.