PLANS to build 335 new homes and a village hall in Cofton Hackett have been blocked by district planners, over fears the council is being ‘hoodwinked’.

The two proposals make up phases 2a and 2b of St Modwen’s development of the former MG Rover site.

Speaking at a planning meeting at Parkside on April 3, a spokesman for St Modwen said the regeneration of the site had been ‘extremely challenging’ since the factory closed in April 2005, and that the latest plans had been ‘specifically designed’ for the new and existing residents of Cofton Hackett.

Council officers supported the applications, recommending that they be approved by the committee.

But mum Claire Fryer, who lives on the edge of the site in East Works Drive, said the plans would only exacerbate existing traffic problems, with drivers already using the junction as a ‘race track’.

Speaking at Monday’s meeting, Miss Fryer said: “I’ve lived here for three and a half years now and, during that time, the traffic has exponentially increased as you would expect as each phase has opened.

“Drivers set off very fast from the T junction and then don’t slow down at all for East Works Drive junction and it’s a blind bend. That is the main crossing into the park and also all the school children from the estate have to cross that main road. Apparently some of the residents have had near misses already and its becoming quite difficult to get out in the mornings already without another 300 plus houses.”

Bromsgrove planners were also reluctant to accept the ‘overspill’ of houses from Birmingham, with the city council now claiming all of the developer’s financial contribution - despite Bromsgrove being told it would receive a portion when planners approved the first phase of the development.

Cllr Charles Hotham said: “I have grave concerns about both of these applications. We’re required to have a minimum of 700 houses and we are 95 houses short. I know this is counting towards Birmingham’s housing numbers but Birmingham are asking us to take their overspill and the 95 houses that we’re short of will ultimately end up on a nice green fields site in the Bromsgrove area.

“Some of the money will go towards Lickey Hills Country Park but that is owned by Birmingham. I believe that the money should be invested in the Bromsgrove area instead of being handed straight back to Birmingham.”

Cllr Stephen Peters added: “I’m disappointed that the only community centre being provided on this whole facility is this village hall. There’s no primary care facilities for a doctor’s surgery. There must be the best part of 2,000 people living on this site already potentially. They’ve got no public transport, the road system is in danger of becoming a race track and I don’t know where the nearest doctors’ surgery is but I bet they’re full, taking into account the number of houses being built on the Birmingham side as well.

“I think we’ve been hoodwinked from day one to be honest.”

Planners voted unanimously to defer the applications, while council officers investigate the committee’s concerns.