Harborne residents object to Redrow's application to build 63 homes
Residents in Harborne have called on councillors to throw out Redrow’s plans to build 63 homes on the 11-acre site at Ravenhurst playing fields. More than 1,200 people signed a petition and almost 300 people wrote letters objecting to the development, calling for the council to restore and reuse the site instead. Redrow’s plans have already been reduced from an original development of 121 homes. This time, however, the company has gained the support of Sport England - which was previously opposed to the plans - by promising to invest £795k in sports facilities at Senneleys Park, Weoley Castle.

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More than 1,200 people have signed a petition calling on councillors to throw out plans to build on 11 acres of city playing fields.

A total of 273 people also wrote letters objecting to plans for 63 homes on the Ravenhurst Playing Fields in Harborne warning that once it is developed, it is gone forever.

They demanded the planning application from Redrow Homes be thrown out and the playing fields, in Knightlow Road, restored and reused.

The council's planning committee has been advised to approve the scheme when it meets on Thursday.

Resident Nick Noble said: "Our sadness about the whole episode is that yet another old sporting facility is going to be lost forever and, once they've concreted over the site, then there's no turning back.

"We read so frequently now about developers' thirst for land but that comes at the cost of beautiful green field sites and in this case one that has a sporting history.

"Harborne has very little open space and the madness of the planning system means the developer can part fund another site some three miles away as mitigation but this will have zero benefit to local residents."

(Image: Pic: Redrow Homes)

Mr Noble called on the planning committee to listen to residents and protect the vital green space.

The latest application is the fourth attempt to secure planning permission on the site over the last two years.

The development has been scaled back from the original 121 homes, with subsequent bids - also rejected - outlining 103 and 73 properties.

The latest plan involves 63 two to five-bedroom homes.

But it also retains 5.2 acres, just under half of the site, as public open space.

Previously, national watchdog Sport England, as well as the football and cricket authorities, objected to development.

But Sport England has now agreed to the scheme as long as Redrow pays £795,000 towards new sports facilities at Seneleys Park, in Weoley Castle.

Ravenhurst Playing Fields have been owned since 1993 by the Oratory, the Catholic church in Edgbaston.

It previously said it needed to raise funds from the land sale to continue its charitable work.

A spokesman for Redrow Homes said: "We've worked closely with Birmingham City Council to refine our plans for new homes in Harborne.

"We've listened to the views of local people who were keen for more recreational space to be provided and, in response, we've reduced the number of homes planned to just 63 properties while increasing the amount of open space provided to two hectares.

"This will include a park area fitted with gym equipment for use by the local community.

"Alongside the development, if agreed, we've also pledged to make contributions worth £795,000 towards improvements at a local park to provide additional football pitches and a new sporting club house."