Why do I even bother when a rich guy can unfortunately everything I work for and more?

[BirminghamWildlifeAdvocate]

My local council has had an application submitted to remove a massive portion of woodland which connects two nature reserves, is alongside a river which acts as a corridor for nature. Deer, badgers, hedgehogs even otters use this area to move through birmingham. For food, to breed, to live.
And someone has decided they would like to build houses on that area and destroy hundred year old trees, homes and food sources of countless animals.

The planning application includes these words "the site must be checked every morning for trapped or dead deer." So they know and expect to kill wildlife.

This is the middle of Birmingham by the way, a major city with limited green space. Why can't they build on the countless empty unused carparks? The dilapidated buildings and warehouses? Why here? Why this magical piece of land that contains so much? For 14 houses?
I know there is a housing crisis but these won't be houses for socal housing, they will be really expensive and massive and nobody i know will be able to afford them.

This site will most likely cause flooding, the area was purposely left over a hundred years ago to act as a flood plain.

There have been over 60 objections so far. I started a petition and got over 700 people to sign it. I was told by my local mp that it probably won't be enough and even though they are supporting me and raised an objection themselves, it will probably go ahead as the developers have a right to appeal of they are refused but 3rd parties don't if it is accepted.

I don't know how I can live in a world where I can spend all of my time and money trying to be eco friendly, when someone else with more money can say "right let's destroy this so I can get even more money!" I can't believe it. I feel sick and so worried for my children's future. For their safety.
There have been 2 similar developments on green spaces in my local area in the last decade. Why?

I'll Show you the link. If anyone can spend the time to object. This goes against the National planning policy framework for England, and it goes against the Air Quality Action Plan for Birmingham 2021-2026.
But that doesn't matter because money can be made.

eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=1169190&XSLT=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/Birmingham/xslt/PL/PLDetails.xslt&FT=Planning%20Application%20Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/Birmingham/Menus/PL.xml&DAURI=PLANNING

[quote BirminghamWildlifeAdvocate]@InsanityRocks

yes the area is situated inbreeding 2 nature reserves and acts as a wildlife corridor.

the National planning policy framework for England states that irreplaceable habbitats (this counts) shouldn't be destroyed.

The air quality action plan for Birmingham states that pollution levels are above legal limits and need to be lowered. This goes against the aqap and will cause more pollution increasing the already high levels.

flood risks

loss of biodiversity
wildlife corridor

thank you for objecting. it makes me feel a bit better that other people care top[/quote]
Loss of biodiversity is an issue if appropriate mitigation strategies aren't put in place.
You've mentioned flood risks multiple times - what is the long-term flood risk for the site? This information is available in the public domain.
Simply stating it goes against the NPFF is pointless without the relevant evidence to support your argument.

Whats sick is that birmingham have introduced a clean air zone and fine hundreds of people a day. 'for clean air'
They also blocked off loads of roads up the road from this site and its caused terrible congestion and all of the houses on the main road have 'we need to breathe too' posters in their front window.
if money can be made they will do it.
but leaving woodland be can't make money.
it can cause deaths, health problems, cancer. everything.
But no. Some greedy developer will win and I will lose and everyone reading this thread will lose and all of your children and relatives. All of the animals will die or starve

I have objected to this just now on the link you posted on your OP. Took no time at all. Good on you for doing something and trying to get this stopped.

I live fairly close to you and great swathes of beautiful fields are being built on. Literally thousands of new houses are going up right now. No social housing at all. All hugely expensive to buy. It's a disgrace

I really feel for you.

We spent years fighting the development of ancient woodland behind my parents house (a very average 3 bedroom semi on an estate - just very luck in the positioning).

There were countless petitions, objections and protests.

This was the view from their back bedroom earlier this year after enduring 5 years of noise and disruption.

The cat was not on view!!! She's mine...whoops

Have you created a Change.org petition and posted it on FB and asked people to share? That way anyone can sign, not just locals. I'd sign it for you. It's massively important that urban wildlife habitats aren't encroached upon when there are loads of brownfield sites to develop.

You could also tweet a link to the petition to some big names like Kate Humble, Chris Packham etc and ask them to retweet it. That would gather lots of interest.

This is not just a local issue. It's about challenging a mindset nationally, and globally, that opts for throwing up new builds quick and cheap over renovating on brownfield sites.

Keep fighting this one. It is so worth it.

she is beautiful but that is so sad. it literally is money that talks.
I felt really good and excited about it a few weeks ago. I was putting in effort. a lady who lives close put in effort. a couple of mps and cou colors put in effort but it'll probably be for no reason
I wish I never saw the notice its just torture

Is there a housing crisis?

Is it not a case of being inadequate affordable housing?

If they are luxury homes they will have several bedrooms and bathrooms, and won't be 'affordable'

A shot in the dark - Prince William has been making speeches about the environment. Try emailing whoever deals with his causes to see if he would be willing to support it? Someone high profile behind the objections would possibly have an impact.

I deal with this sort of stuff in Devon all the time. You can fight it and win, although not always admittedly. Here is some advice, but do PM me if it's not clear or if I can be of more help.

I think your best bet rests on the loss of green space/biodiversity aspect of the application, especially in view of the current review of planning and Boris's announcement that green spaces should be protected. Basically does the benefit of the new houses (only 14 of them, and how many are 'affordable'!) justify the loss of the green space and the wildlife that lives there. I notice that there is a requirement that further proper monitoring be done, so you must make sure those are done properly - for example I know of cases where the applicant has carried out bat surveys in the winter, when bats hibernate, and have had to do them again.

The application statement goes through in detail how the applicant meets the requirements of the adopted plan and that the planning officer says it's all fine and acceptable. Do not take this at face value!!! Go through the application document and then go back and refer to every clause of the plan and read it for yourself, they are often highly selective in the parts they choose to mention.

You might want to try the Warwickshire branch of CPRE to see if they can help, or you could go to a freelance planning consultant, it would probably cost £100 or so for them to write you a proper objection in planning jargon.

Here is a link to the Birmingham adopted Plan

This is so depressing to read OP. You are right. This is wrong. It’s counter to what is needed.

Have you tried creating a petition on 38 degrees or change.com?

Can you post the petition here? I’ll sign it for sure.

Good for you fighting this. I’m standing right with you.

TonTonMacoute

Awesome advice!

It is absolutely not nimbyism to object to this kind if proposal. I object and I live nowhere near. No matter how much housing we need it is not the answer to destroy the natural habitats of native flora and fauna - especially in an area like Birmingham. Shame on them for their token, lip-service, money raising ULEZ zone if they're going to ignore the little wildlife they have left.

I’ll sign a petition.
How can I object? Can I even object? I live 45 minutes away so probably a bit far but I’d like to do something if I can

Have you been in touch with the local businesses? They definitely should be expressing concern, if this development will affect the flood plain then there business premises are at risk of flooding.

There is no point in a petition, and you are certainly not going to get Prince William involved in a small planning application. Or any planning application.

What you need to do is encourage as many local people as possible to submit objections which need to be based on material planning considerations.

So that is things like biodiversity net loss, contradictions to the local plan etc.

Don't worry about the expiry of the date - the planning officer will normally continue to accept them up to the Planning committee meeting. And then go and be prepared to speak at the meeting.

Good luck OP.

It is possible to get a positive outcome:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-55824067

Although having said that, it's a case of winning the battle but not necessarily the war as Harrogate Spring Water are pretty determined to get those trees cut down in order to expand their plastic bottle factory, and are going to try again.

Fucking hell. Cutting down trees to put water in plastic bottles. The planet is fucked.

OP
I really understand your anger.

I'm keen to know where exactly you speak of as I'm not able to open the links for some bizarre reason.

I know Birmingham and West Midlands very well and know, full well, how vast areas are derelict but have been left to ruin for decades yet tiny bits of rare and much needed green space are being greedily gobbled up by developers for this 'much needed' housing that invariably turn out to be 'luxury 3,4,5 bedroom ' properties with no nod to affordability at all.
And yes, much like where I live now, in the SE , large numbers of these properties are snapped up, before they're even built , by landlords with vast property portfolios who rent them out for eye watering rents.

It doesn't matter whether an area has scrubland or weeds, these areas are vital corridors which many environmentalists are advocating should be left alone or tended to sympathetically.

You are NOT a NIMBY, but you clearly care about spaces for wildlife and for reconnecting with nature .
If I could see what the area is I will attempt to add on objection.

[quote BirminghamWildlifeAdvocate]@leatmarmite the deadline is today[/quote]
That's not how it works. There is a statutory consultation period of 21 days but it doesn't mean you cant submit comments after this. Don't think of it as a deadline, it us a minimum requirement of time before they can make a decision.
Also, do you know if it will go to committee or not? If it does (likely wih 60 objections), you need to be contacting councillors not MPs! What is an MP going to do? Councillors make these sorts of decisions. And if it isn't going to committee, get your councillor to call it in

Oh and try to look more at the local plan, designations and the submitted ecology report/ PEA rather than quoting the NPPF when you speak at committee (as an objector you should be invited to do so)...you're not going to win based on the NPPF

One more thing to add...stop focusing on numebr of objectors. 60 should be enough to get into committee and that's what you want. From there, you only need one really solid reason for refusal argument that councillors can be confident can be upholding defended at appeal. Build that case. Maybe get independent planning advice to do so if you are not confident on the detail.
What your MP has suggested is correct in the sense that if there is not a solid reason for refusal, councillors will often vote for it even if they don't like it, because they know the council will lose at appeal and that can be very costly for them. You need a solid reason backed by evidence and local planning policy now, not a petition

I’m gutted about this sort of thing!
There was a survey done by CPRE about a year ago or so, and there are enough brown field sites that can be developed to meet the housing needs of the UK without touching any green sites. Green sites are just cheaper to develop and, to be frank, the government should be pushing developers to develop brown sites.

not a local but have objected, grew up in the countryside hate to see so much destruction.

well done BirminghawildlifeAdvocate for caring

I have submitted my objection, I suggest others do too, you don't need to be resident to do so.