Michael Wilkes

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Hall Green ward

Highfield House

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Highfield House is one of the oldest houses in Hall Green (the Church of the Ascension, Sarehole Mill and The Bulls Head are older buildings). Developers intentions to demolish and replace with intensive development and the planning officers’ astonishing recommendation to accept, have been greeted with widespread public outrage. The law set by successive governments is heavily biased towards developers (who can appeal against refusal, but the public cannot appeal against consent). But we should be doing all in our power to resist developments that take away the character of our area. And we should stand up for our citizens. We recently persuaded the Planning Committee to defer decision for further conservation advice - the original not being fairly reflected in the report before members. This was my (time limited) statement at the meeting:  “No-one is in favour of this proposal except those who seek to profit from it and some - alas the predominant - planning officers.  I have presented petitions direct to planning and to full council totalling 650 signatures. It is opposed by Hall Green Residents Association and many prominent and distinguished residents.  There is much to object to in this application but I’ve time only to discuss a pivotal element - the existing house. The demolition of Highfield House would be another blow to the character of Hall Green. A guided tour of Hall Green involves all too many statements like:  “On this site there used to be a large house of character…” It is said that information is power. And so is the ability to shape,  control and restrict access to information. Reading what has been put in the report, members could be forgiven for concluding that there’s not a major conservation issue here, but there is.  This was conservation officer advice: This is an important and highly conspicuous Locally Listed building.  The loss of the building is totally contrary to the policies held in the

Birmingham Plan.  It is not only the loss of an impressive and historical building but also a loss to the streetscape value of Highfield Road and a loss of local distinctiveness. The spacious and green nature of the corner site also contributes to the character and appearance of this area. The proposed scheme does not contribute to the area in the same way and destroys all the positive elements about the site. The proposal appears out of context with the surrounding area. Application should be refused. The tenor of this is crystal clear - here we have a building that’s worth preserving. Hard to see how it morphed into what’s stated in the report. Alas, little of Old Hall Green now remains. Highfield House is part of it - that’s why it’s on the Local List. And that’s why the UDP states: “The demolition of buildings or destruction of other structures or features on the ‘Local List’ will be resisted to the extent of powers available…” Conservation Officers have also stated that:  “…this is precisely the sort of building the Local List was intended to identify and protect; it is also exactly the type of building which contributes to ‘local distinctiveness’.” Members of the committee, it is elected representative that our citizens look to to protect their interests. I therefore urge you to do just that and set aside the recommendation and reject this application”.

February 12th, 2008 in Local Issues, Local Council, Planning, News |

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