Birmingham locals hit out at development
Complaints have been made about the Adlington Retirement Living site in Sutton Coldfield.
Angry residents have hit out at a building company following the ongoing work to transform a former pub into a 57-bed apartment complex in Sutton Coldfield. Locals living next to – and opposite – the Adlington Retirement Living site off Birmingham Road in Wylde Green insist that the noise levels are “intolerable”.
Local councillor Alex Yip has been inundated with complaints which include tradesmen starting work as early as 6.20am, while the parking of vans across people’s driveways remains an issue.
Speaking at this week’s Wylde Green ward meeting, Coun Yip said: “There’s been a number of complaints that have been escalated from myself and the residents directly to Adlington on the scale of the development; noise, dust, anti-social parking, the hours workers are starting, but especially the noise that’s caused some disruption to residents.
“Formerly they should be starting at a certain time to test the crane to make sure it works. They should start at 8am with testing of the crane at 7.30am onwards. But residents have been telling me workers have been starting a lot earlier with a lot of noise and disruption.
“The log piling earlier in the year was horrendous for residents with a lot of dust blowing.
With regards to parking, it has caused a lot of disruption to the service road on the Birmingham Road opposite with people parking over driveways. It’s unacceptable and it is being mismanaged but they are trying their best to handle this.
“We all hope that the major work has finished now but the interior work will now begin which will mean a new set of working staff and people not knowing what we’ve all been going through over the last few years.”
The development was formerly objected by Birmingham City Council planners last year due to its elongated front, being out of character with the area and the absence of a financial contribution to compensate for the loss of a bowling green that was next to the Wylde Green pub which shut in 2019.
However, developers appealed and inspectors backed the proposals, stating it won’t cause unacceptable harm to the area. The appeal was upheld. During the consultation phase, 57 letters of objections were sent in by residents citing a raft of reasons for refusal. The Wylde Green Neighbourhood Forum also submitted opposition to the plans due to the size, loss of light and privacy and inadequate parking and traffic congestion issues.
However, objections were subsequently overruled by an independent inspectorate with construction work commencing last year.
As well as noise, concerns continue to be raised surrounding parking knowing only 34 spaces have been allocated to the 57-bed Adlington development which is due to be complete later this year. “One of the reasons we objected is because there weren’t enough parking spaces to include the staff and visitors,” Coin Yip added. “We certainly felt it wasn’t adequate.”
During a well-attended ward meeting this week, one resident commented: “I live in Marchmount Road and, at the top end, their lorries and vans are so close to the end of the road and it’s really dangerous. Tradesmen are parking right on the corner – and you can’t see traffic coming.”
Another fumed at the noise, adding: “It’s been anything from 6.20am, 7.10am… they’re banging with earth movers, you name it. I made a complaint to Birmingham planners last week and they’ve told me to keep a log.
“To be honest with you, residents want to see the building finished so the builders get off site. We’ve kept our council for the last few months but the last few weeks have been intolerable. One morning, about 6.50am, there was an argument in the back, swearing… and because it’s summer we sleep with the windows open. I don’t have my hearing aids in but I can hear the shouting quite clearly. It’s awful. It’s just intolerable.”
Concerns were also raised involving the local sewage system along Birmingham Road not being able to cope with the extra demand of the apartment complex.
Adlington Retirement Living, who failed to send a representative to this week’s meeting with residents, have been approached for a comment.