AN APPEAL to overturn a decision rejecting controversial plans to build a crematorium on Green Belt land in Rubery has been thrown out.

Developers H2 Land Ltd planned to build a crematorium to cater for up to 1,200 services per year on land adjacent to New Inns Lane, at Waseley Hill Cemetery.

Proposals for a chapel and maintenance building were passed by Bromsgrove District Council planners, but they rejected plans for a crematorium on the basis that there was “unmet need” for one in the area.

H2 Land Ltd appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, but planning inspector Rosalyn Kirby upheld the council’s decision.

In her report, inspector Kirby said the plans would be “inappropriate development in the Green Belt which is by definition harmful”.

She added: "In addition, the proposal would reduce the openness of the Green Belt, result in conflict with the purposes of including land within it, and adversely affect the character and appearance of the area.

“Furthermore, on the basis of the evidence before me, I cannot be satisfied that harm to biodiversity would not arise as a result of the scheme.

“The considerations put forward in favour of the proposal fail to clearly outweigh this concern. Consequently, very special circumstances do not exist.”

Rubery North councillor Peter McDonald welcomed the decision to reject plans for a development which “would have blighted the lives of so many people”.

He said: “This is really good news for the residents of Rubery.

“Had the appeal been successful it would have blighted the whole area.

“Rubery would have no longer been known as the gateway to the Waseley and Lickey Hills but the gateway to a crematorium.”