Estate gets go-ahead as almost 500 homes approved

Planning permission has been granted for nearly 500 new homes to be built on farm fields in Coventry.

Coventry Council granted full permission for 491 homes on Eastern Green at a planning meeting on Friday 25 April.

It is the latest part of 2,400 home Pickford Gate development near the A45 to be approved.

The council granted outline permission to Barratt Development for the estate in 2021, with the overall scheme to include a new school, shops and land for local businesses.

As well as 491 homes there will be allotments, "informal" sports pitches and four play areas on the land.

The scheme is divided between two of Barratt Developments brands - Barrett Homes and David Wilson Homes.

Under the plans, the developers will build both houses and flats, and the homes will include a mix of one, two, three and four bedrooms.

Of the new homes, about 123 of them will be affordable housing, including some at social rent and some shared ownership.

A council officer's report revealed the site's layout had been revised "considerably" both before and during the application.

They said the changes had evolved due to comments from highways teams to make sure junctions, splays and walking/cycle links could be achieved "safely".

They noted a more recent change to a crossing meant a large part of a grass verge would be lost, but said a condition would be imposed so developers had time to come up with a better option that would go to the council before building started.

Overall, the officer praised the scheme as an "attractive development" with a good range of homes and said it will be a "positive contribution" to the area.

The approval of the reserved matters by the council means work on the new homes can now begin.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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