Vision for homes and school on former Brandhall golf course in Oldbury

The proposed sprawling development called Brandhall Urban Village, at the former Brandhall Golf Club on Heron Road features 550 homes, a new primary school and footpaths and cycle links.

Brandhall Golf Club, an 18-hole municipal golf course, closed last year after protest from golfers who fought for it to remain open and nearby residents who feared a proposed housing development mooted by the council would increase the risk of flooding to their homes.

A report into the masterplan has now been produced by consultants engaged by the council.

The new school would replace the existing ageing buildings at Causeway Green Primary.

A letter from Helen North, senior environmental consultant at AECOM ltd, accompanying the report states: "The proposed development will create an exemplary urban village which embodies principles of sustainable development and healthy communities.

"The emerging proposed development includes the creation of new homes, a new primary school, recreational areas, green infrastructure, SuDS, footpaths and cycle links, highway infrastructure and draining and landscape works."

Pic: Google satellite

The report states that there are records of bats and badgers being seen on the site, but that "but no sign of the presence [of badgers] was recorded during the preliminary ecological survey visits.

It states: "The proposed development will retain trees where possible."

It goes on: "The survey area mainly comprises regularly mown amenity grassland that is associated with the former golf course greens and fairways.

"Between the fairways are belts of broadleaved semi-natural woodland.

"The broadleaved semi-natural woodland beneath the high voltage power lines on the west side of the Application Site was recently cleared.

"Two minor watercourses respectively drain north and west across the Application Site.

"There are three pools that support swamp vegetation of which the northern one has recently been dredged."

Before the 1920s the site was agricultural land. A private golf course was created in 1906 from land at Brandhall Farm.

The farmstead was the original club house but has since been demolished.

The golf course was purchased by Oldbury District Council in 1928.

Opening of the M5 motorway in 1970 resulted in a loss of the southwest corner of the golf course.

The site

The report states: "Although not designated the landscape character and visual amenity of the application site and surrounding areas is likely to be valued by residents, people involved in recreational activity and people passing through the area."

The full 90 page report can be seen on Sandwell Council's planning website under application DC/21/65742.