PLANS to build more than 20 homes on greenbelt land in Hopwood have been refused.

A total of 40 objections were received about the application before the planning meeting on Monday, March 7.

The applicant, Dan Rickett wanted to build 22 homes on land to the rear of Smedley Crooke Place, Redditch Road.

Plans included three, three-bed homes, 12 four-bed homes and seven affordable homes which are a mixture of two and three-bed homes.

A total of 56 car parking spaces were also proposed.

Vehicle access would have been gained by a fourth exit off the existing A441 roundabout, granting access to all homes on the cul-de-sac.

Planning officers said the development is “neither in the build-up area of the village of Hopwood” and “is outside the current settlement limit boundaries of the village”.

The proposed development also failed to provide “an appropriate mix of dwellings sizes” and there has been no formal agreement “to contribute towards the various contributions required”.

Speaking at the meeting, Barnt Green and Hopwood councillor Charlie Hotham said the land is firmly in the greenbelt and supported the officer’s recommendation for refusal.

He said even though the site is considered as previously developed land, he had not “seen that much activity” on the site.

“For many years it has been vacant and not really been used very much and now over recent time has suddenly had a lot of containers and portacabins put on to it,” added Cllr Hotham.

Alvechurch Parish Council also objected to the proposals stating that “no exceptional circumstances” exist to build on the greenbelt land.

The land has previously been subject to planning applications which has been refused or withdrawn.

In 2019 an outline application was submitted to build ten homes on the site and in 2014 an application was lodged for 21 homes.