A government planning inspector has overruled Sandwell Council's decision to block six new homes on a Cradley Heath estate already hit by landslides. The inspector, David Kay, dismissed the council's concerns about loss of privacy and overlooking, ruling that the development would not harm the character or appearance of the area.
Details of the Appeal
Dunedin Homes, the developer behind the 53-home estate off Halesowen Road in Cradley Heath, had been refused permission to add six more three-and-four-bed homes by Sandwell Council in 2025. The estate, completed in 2020, has suffered from multiple landslides, including one that left a huge mound of earth blocking the road and cutting off a dozen homes. The developer appealed to the government's planning inspectors and succeeded in getting the decision overturned.
Inspector's Ruling
In his report, Inspector David Kay stated: “I have found the proposal would not harm the character or appearance of the surrounding area, would not harm the privacy or outlook for occupants of adjacent properties, and would not harm the habitat or ecological value of the site of local importance to nature conservation (SLINC) or local nature reserve (LNR) as locally designated areas of nature conservation.”
The six homes will be built on a patch of land previously used as a storage yard and haulage road during construction of the wider estate, approximately 150 metres away from Haden Cross Drive, where landslides spilled over a retaining wall, leaving residents blocked in.
Council's Objections
Sandwell Council had rejected the proposal, stating that the extra homes would have a “significant” impact on privacy and overlooking, and would be “overly dominant and overbearing.” The council also argued that the plan's layout was “cramped and poorly designed” and did not “adequately recognise” the nearby nature reserve, wildlife corridor, or conservation sites.
A total of 30 objections were made against the plans before the council's decision. Residents in Haden Cross Drive have expressed concerns about losing their homes due to the landslip, which first appeared two years ago when a tree fell in nearby woods. Heavy rain and bad weather culminated before Christmas, leaving the road completely blocked with tonnes of soil, cutting off the cul-de-sac and preventing homeowners from accessing their driveways.
