PLANS for 15 affordable houses in a village near Bromsgrove could get the go-ahead.

At Monday's Bromsgrove District Council planning committee meeting, members granted delegated powers to officers to determine the application subject to conditions for the site off The Glebe, Belbroughton.

Nexus (Midlands) Housing Association submitted the application for 15 two and three bedroomed homes and a ten-space car park for the doctors' surgery.

The houses are a traditional two-storey design and would be arranged in five blocks around a cul-de-sac. The scheme includes two houses for shared ownership, seven for fixed equity sale and six houses for rent.

The scheme also includes a children's play area, pedestrian access through to the public footpath and a car park for the existing adjoining doctors' surgery.

A report to the committee stated an objection petition signed by 242 parishioners of Belbroughton, 37 patients of the surgery and five parents and staff of Holy Trinity School requested that the relevant planning authority had a consultation with the parishioners regarding the suitability of alternative sites.

One hundred and thirty four letters of objection had also been received. Concerns included lack of consultation on alternative sites and impact on village facilities.

At the meeting an update on the proposal stated four additional letters in support of the application had been received.

A planning officer said three alternative sites had been looked at. These were to the rear of Belbroughton First School, the Nash Works site and Hartle Lane beyond Woodgate Way. But none were suitable.

He added: "The Glebe was the most suitable site as there is existing housing on three sides, better access and it is close to the village."