Birmingham Council has controversially backed an outline application for the development of a micro-electronics factory on 55ha (136 acres) near Peddimore, Sutton Coldfield.
The West Midlands Development Agency wants consent for manufacturing plant of up to 200,000 sq m (2.15m sq ft) in order to attract major inward investment to the region.
Electronics giant Philips is widely rumoured to be looking at the Peddimore site – a factor which the council admits was taken into account when considering the application.
The site measures 120ha (297 acres) and is owned jointly by Severn Trent and Birmingham Council. Its designation as greenbelt means any application to develop the site must be referred to the Environment Secretary for clearance.
In defence of its decision, the council is citing West Midlands regional planning guidance. Last year this identified the need for 55ha (136 acres) to be earmarked for inward investment.
The council also points to the findings of the West Midlands Development Forum report, published earlier this year, which concluded that brownfield sites of that size are not readily available. From a shortlist of 13 sites – 10 of which were in greenfield locations – the report recommended Peddimore and a site north of Wolverhampton.
A spokesman for the council said: “PPG2 does it make it clear that there can be, special circumstances not withstanding, greenbelt designation where the benefits of development outweigh the harm caused by development.”
EGi News 19/07/96
