MORE than 3,000 extra homes could be built on land thought protected by Coventry City Council after a government inspector overturned the decision.
Since Core Strategy plans were announced in 2006, consultation with the public has been taking place to discuss the suitability of all potential new home sites.
As part of government plans, 26,500 new dwellings have been earmarked for Coventry by 2026, some on greenbelt land.
Consultations ended in June this year and the government was told which sites could be built on and which had been taken out of the plans following discussions with concerned residents.
But now the city council has been forced to make a u-turn and consult on sites that had been ruled out after Jean Jones, a government inspector, requested they be put back on the table.
The move will cost taxpayers thousands of pounds extra in consultations and could see Coventry house around 30,000 homes.
Initial consultations had cost the council £160,000.
A campaign to stop development in Eastern Green was undertaken by the resident’s association in the area.
They came back with a 2,000-strong petition - but now this area is one of ten that could potentially be built upon.
Council bosses, who fear residents will be confused by the sudden reversal, expect the new six-week consultation to start this week.
The inspector will consider arguments for and against the developments, before reporting back to Whitehall.
Public hearings will then begin in November, following a September briefing.
It is understood there will be no right of appeal on the decisions.
Councillor Gary Ridley, cabinet member for city development, said: “It must be very confusing for the public. As far as they’re concerned we’d carried out thorough consultations, and listened to representations. But now we have to do it all again.”
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