A MASSIVE plan for 350 new homes on derelict land on the edge of Stourbridge town centre has led to calls for a ‘major re-think’ on the town’s road network.

Revelan Developments have applied to Dudley Council for outline planning permission to build ‘up to 350 dwellings’ on run-down former industrial sites on Old Wharf Road and Bradley Road.

The Old Wharf Road land sits between Stourbridge canal and Stourbridge Football Club and Cricket Club, while the Bradley Road land is the former Tudor Dairies site.

Revelan’s application is an increase on the 255-home plan mooted last year but the development is being welcomed by local councillors – as long as concerns over town centre ‘bottlenecks’ are addressed.

Wollaston and Stourbridge Town councillor Nic Barlow says the main roads around the town centre are frequently congested, an issue he says must be addressed given the extra traffic the plans would create.

Cllr Barlow, whose ward includes the Bradley Road site, said: “The sites have been derelict and in need of redevelopment for too many years.

“We want the sites to be redeveloped because they are an absolute mess and it’s long overdue, but this plan will have a significant impact on the town centre traffic situation.

“The main problem with the plan is road access – the A491 is a busy road. It’s already a bottleneck at the best of times. It can be bottlenecked all the way up to the old Wordsley Hospital site.

“It could be absolutely horrendous so our planners and highways officers will have to have a major rethink in terms of the road system around Stourbridge town centre.

“This scheme cannot go ahead without such a review taking place. We need a road network that is fit for purpose.

“Perhaps we need to look at road widening, although I know that will not be popular with some.”

In their planning application, Revelan claim the development will feature affordable housing and provide ‘a new sustainable residential neighbourhood with close and easy access to Stourbridge’s centre’.

Revelan held a public consultation over the plans last year and has promised that the development will feature ‘a variety of house types and storey heights’.

The majority of properties would be residential houses, although Revelan is seeking flexibility that would allow up to 20 per cent of the properties to be care homes.

Amblecote councillor Paul Bradley, whose ward includes the Old Wharf Road land, stressed that the plans were still very much in the preliminary stages.

Cllr Bradley added: “I welcome any development to the area that is positive but there is a need for strong consultation in regard to infrastructure.

“It is okay building houses everywhere but it’s about considering the weight on local schools, surgeries, things like that, so I look forward to working with the planning development team.”