WYRE Forest District Council has to pay £37,000 in costs to a housing developer after previously refusing a plan for 124 homes.

The council's planning committee rejected Richborough Estates' housing development plan on land off Habberley Road in Kidderminster in July 2022 after traffic concerns were raised, despite it being recommended for approval by the highways authority.

The housing developer later lodged successful appeals against the decision, seeking full costs. The planning inspectorate decided that the application should have been permitted. An updated application for 120 homes was approved by the council last year.

In response to the appeal, Tamsin Law, the inspector appointed by the Secretary of State, said the refusal of planning permission on the site constituted  "unreasonable behaviour" with the applicant being faced with "unnecessary expenses in the form of generating appeal documents, gaining advice from technical experts, counsel, and consultants in preparation for the appeal".

Councillor David Ross moved the motion to refuse the application, and councillor Fran Oborski seconded the motion.

It has now been revealed that the council has agreed to pay £37,637 to Richborough Estates.

The upcoming planning meeting agenda highlights that in November 2023, Richborough Estates submitted their cost claim at £51,544.12.

However, it outlines that "not all costs submitted by Richborough Estates were accepted as properly payable" after they were challenged.

The agenda states that the "final agreed figure which the council needs to pay the appellant is £37,637.42 (inclusive of VAT)."