Housing Development
In March 2001 Bovis submitted planning applications for development on the St Margarts Hospital seeking Outline Planning Permission for 603 new dwellings. The development was to be split between two geographically separate locations, on what were once the old female and male patient settlements. Included was an enabling developmentí component of 79 houses to fund restoration of Great Barr Hall and the Gothic Bridge. This was on the old Sanders Home site, adjacent to Sutton s Drive, which leads to Chapel Lane. Bovis also sought Full Planning Permission to restore, convert, and extend GBHall to provide 11 apartments.
Planning application was refused and revised plans and appeals were lodged reducing the number of dwellings to 445 and focussed only on the 'female' area of the hospital.
On September 14th 2004 Bovis Homes were informed that their four-year campaign to gain planning permission for the controversial development had paid off after the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister backed their proposals.
The development was called "Netherhall" and has been developed in a number of phases.