Location
The site is located immediately to the north of Wilderness Lane on the northwestern edge of Great Barr, Birmingham. To the south is the Q3 Academy Great Barr secondary school and to the north west and west are fields and sport grounds. North of the site is the A34 Birmingham road, a main thorough fare between Walsall and Birmingham city and to the east the site adjoins the rear gardens of properties along Peak House Road. The M6 lies approximately 400m to the south.

The site is situated c.3 miles from Walsall to the north west and c.8 miles from the centre of Birmingham to the south east. Bus Routes X51 and 51 run along the A34 to the north of the site with a bus stop located immediately to the north providing regular services to Birmingham and Walsall. Public transport accessibility will be enhanced by the A34
SPRINT proposals.

The site is well served by a number of local facilities in the area including: a primary & secondary school, local shops, dentist, religious centres, pharmacy and leisure facilities as displayed on the diagram overleaf.

The Site
The site comprises 67 acres of low-grade agricultural land and generally descends towards the west. The site lies fully within Flood zone 1 (lowest level of risk). The site does not include any designated heritage assets or any part of such assets. There are no Public Rights of Way (“PROW”) within the site, although an existing footpath runs past the southern boundary near the Q3 Academy school, and the Beacon Way Long Distance Footpath runs along the western boundary.

Planning Context
The site lies within the administrative boundary of Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. The adopted plan comprises of-
• Sandwell Site Allocations and Delivery DPD (Local Plan) adopted in 2012
• Black Country Core Strategy 2011-2026 (Joint Spatial Plan) adopted 2011

The emerging Sandwell Local Plan was submitted to the Sectary of State for independent examination in December 2024. Once adopted, the Council will be required to review the Plan to assess whether it needs updating within 5 years and so there may be an opportunity to promote the site through the Local Plan process at this stage.

The site is within the Green Belt and there is also a conservation area to the north east. An ecologically designated Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) is located within the site, and within the southern portion of the site adjacent to Wilderness Lane is an archaeological priority area. A potential vehicular access point is located on Wilderness Lane, with potential for a number of pedestrian accesses to the north south and west to tie into the existing footpath network.

In November 2023, the Local Planning Authority validated an outline planning application for 150 dwellings and a countryside park. The planning application was refused in January 2024 and a subsequent appeal was submitted, which was dismissed in August 2024. The inspector listed the following as the main issues in the application:
• whether the development would be inappropriate in the Green Belt;
• the effect of the development on the openness of the Green Belt;
• the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area; and
• whether harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations adopted, amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify it.

However, the inspector did comment in his decision that whilst the draft changes to the NPPF had been released at the time, it was after the inquiry and had the changes been adopted, they might have had a bearing on matters in this appeal given the proposed measures to boost housing delivery.

In December 2024, the government published the NPPF (2024) which introduced the ‘Grey Belt’ land designation. Development in the Green Belt should not be regarded as inappropriate where the development would utilise grey belt land and would not fundamentally undermine the purposes (taken together) of the remaining Green Belt across the area of the plan. This land has the potential to be considered as Grey Belt land and therefore could be considered more favourably in the planning environment.

Local planning authority
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Sandwell Council House, Freeth St, Oldbury B69 3DE

Tenure
Freehold Title: WM796248

Method of sale
Offers for the Property are invited on an unconditional basis and must be received by 12pm (noon) Friday 2nd May Interested parties are requested to submit offers using the bid proforma provided in the data room which covers the below:
• Bidding Party
• Sum offered
• Overage
• Details of any pre-exchange conditions
• Proposed timeframes for exchange and completion
• Funding status
• Internal approval process
• Solicitors details
• Any other relevant support information

Overage
The principal objective from the seller is to dispose of the site and maximise the land receipt. However, bidders are invited to submit terms for Overage. We welcome two offers. Bidders may submit two offers that include and exclude overage terms.

Data Room
Access to the Data Room can be provided upon request. Please contact Max Fellows.

Letters of Reliance
Where possible Wain Estate can provide Letters of Reliance for pertinent and relevant external report and surveys provided in the Data Room.

VAT
The landowner has opted to tax the property.

Public Rights of Way, Wayleaves and Easements
The property is sold subject to all rights of way, wayleaves and easements whether or not they are defined in this brochure.

Plans and Boundaries
The plans within these particulars are based on Ordnance Survey data and provided for reference only.

Directions
What3words - ///digs.gown.purple

Viewings
Interested parties are welcome to view the property from the highway. Inspections on the land must be arranged through Fisher German.