Garden-grab row firm Sandstone collapses
Mar 11 2009 by Anna Blackaby, Birmingham Post
The property developer embroiled in a stand-off with Marston Green residents over a “garden-grabbing” scheme to build new homes in a leafy lane has collapsed into administration.
Warwick-based Sandstone has called in corporate recovery specialists Begbies Traynor just weeks after the developer abandoned its 18-month battle with local residents over controversial plans to build 70 new homes set over 12 properties in Elmdon Lane, Marston Green.
John Kelly, partner in the Birmingham office of Begbies Traynor, is handling the administration. It comprises the firm’s former offices in Warwick which are up for sale and two rented houses in Balsall Common where the gardens were previously sold to a developer.
Mr Kelly said: “This was a company which specialised in the development across the West Midlands of small plots of land through options. There are no ongoing developments at this point of time.”
Sandstone’s plans to build 70 homes in Marston Green had faced a barrage of opposition from people living nearby who staged a vigorous campaign against the development, which the developer finally gave up on last December.”
The group decided not to go ahead with a High Court challenge to a planning inspector’s damning verdict on the blueprints for the homes following a ruling that sound levels caused by the extension of the nearby runway at Birmingham International Airport would have made the new development too noisy.
Sandstone had filed papers at the High Court but officers at Solihull Council received notification in December that the case had been discontinued.
Sandstone’s withdrawal came after a prolonged battle in which angry residents sent 200 letters delivered to Solihull Council as well as a petition sent to Meriden MP Caroline Spelman and a letter to 10 Downing Street calling for the end of “garden grabbing” in their borough.
Residents also staged a “silent vigil” during a site visit by councillors and officials from Solihull council’s planning committee to the proposed site of the 16 apartments and 55 houses. Linda Poulson, spokeswoman for Marston Green Opposing Over Development said although she empathised with the company’s employees who faced the threat of redundancy, she was relieved that the residents’ fight was over for the time being.
“It’s always sad when employees lose their jobs and they have our total sympathy,” she said.
“But the company, however, has caused the village of Marston Green much worry and concern over the last 18 months.
‘‘We are very relieved that our gardens are safe from property developers for the time being.”
But Ms Poulson added that residents have much to be grateful to Sandstone for.
“The community spirit in the village has been strengthened by our campaign to stop what would have been an inappropriate development.
“Many new and valuable friendships have been formed.
