PLANS for two "massive" three-storey homes on a busy Tamworth road have been approved despite objections from local residents and councillors.
The properties on Coton Lane will each have four bedrooms.
The application was called into the planning committee by Labour ward representative Cllr Pat Pallett, who said that the development would lead to a loss of light and privacy.
The site currently contains 17 trees and three hedges, but the plans will involve the removal of all but one oak tree, while two hedges will also be taken out.
The plans received no objections from statutory consultees. However, the tree officer at Tamworth Borough Council said there was "insufficient justification" for the removal of all trees on the site.
Additionally, three residents objected to the plans.
Local resident Nikki Hughes told the planning committee:
"We are not against development on this land. We understood and accepted that one day there may be a bungalow built on this site and we have absolutely no objection to that proposal.
"What we are struggling to understand is how that has become two large, three-storey, four-bedroom houses. Our objection has never been about having neighbours, it's about the scale, height and impact of what is now being proposed."
Applicant Thomas Renwick said:
"We made a number of changes to the development after the first comments and the changes we have made are such that the upper floor windows are to be obscure glazed, there will be separation distances that are deemed acceptable. There's nothing in our design that is outside the typical remit of the guidelines.
"We are not breaking any proposed guidelines whatsoever."
The committee voted by a majority to approve the plans, despite several councillors speaking against the development.
Reform UK's Cllr Nick Thompson said:
"Obviously, there are a lot of issues on Coton Lane currently regarding traffic and accidents that have happened.
"There's only one footpath that side. My concern with another entrance is there's a lot of children walking past to the primary school or Rawletts – just to add more traffic on Coton Lane I think could cause issues.
"Personally, I think it's an accident waiting to happen."
Fellow Reform member Cllr Sam Smith said:
"I'm never particularly for these things because there's one winner which is the developer, but there's always lots of losers.
"The neighbours wouldn't have anticipated two tall, massive properties literally spoiling the view of what they've always known and what they've always valued.
"So you've just got a load of disgruntled neighbours, you've built-up resentment. When people move into those properties now, they're already going to be a target because everyone's resentful."
