Drug rehab centre plans scrapped

Buy photos » Plans for a drug rehabilitation centre at Aylesbury House in Hockley Heath have been 'put on hold'.

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a drug rehabilitation centre in Hockley Heath have been scrapped - The Observer can reveal.

Right Start Foundation International announced its intentions for the former Aylesbury House Hotel to widespread public condemnation and outrage last summer.

Parish and community meetings held to discuss the proposal and for the organisation to put its case forward were packed out with angered local residents determined to fight the plans.

And their wishes have now been granted following the organisation's announcement this week that it has put its plans 'on hold as investors pursue other development opportunities'.

Right Start has now decided to proceed with a planning application to extend the existing buildings and develop them into a hotel and leisure complex.

In a statement it confirmed 'The ‘change of use’ application originally discussed with local residents will not be going ahead.'

Waseem Yaqub OBE, project leader for the development, added: “We have been pleased with some of the contributions that we have received from local people and we have been listening.

“We have decided to put our vision to create a drug rehabilitation centre on hold so that we can actively pursue other avenues.

Rumours are already beginning to circulate that Right Start is looking to sell the property, fuelled by Mr Yaqub's statement the organisation was 'looking for ways to add value to the site and getting planning permission for a hotel extension would certainly achieve this'.

He added: “Aylesbury House is a beautiful but decaying structure that needs a new lease of life.

"We want to help to make this happen by adding as much value to the site as possible and protecting the site’s heritage at the same time.”

Hockley Heath No Start - the community campaign group set up to fight the drug rehabilitation centre plans welcomed this week's news.

A spokesperson said: "Hockley Heath No Start (HHNS) is very pleased that their (Right Start's) drug rehabilitation plans are on hold and support Aylesbury House being restored to a working hotel."

Meriden MP Caroline Spelman added: "It became clear that the local community felt this would be an inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

"I hope they will now give their support to RightStart as they pursue a strategy that could restore the Aylesbury House Hotel for its original purpose.”

The leader of Solihull Council and Dorridge and Hockley Heath councillor Ken Meeson has also welcomed the news.

"My initial reaction is one of great relief and I'm sure that local people will be interested to see what happens at the site," he said.

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