Not for sale! Green belt land around Dudley off limits to developers
Green belt land across Dudley has been put off limits to developers except in extreme circumstances.
The hunt for potential housing sites in the countryside surrounding the borough’s towns and villages has been called off by Dudley Council chiefs.
The authority will turn its attention to Brownfield sites instead – including former industrial land.
Dudley Council’s cabinet passed a recommendation calling off a Green Belt review to identify development potential sites.
And leader Patrick Harley said greenbelt land would only be considered if absolutely necessary and with 'extreme concern'.
Mr Harley called on council officers to come up with a ‘detailed, comprehensive report’ which would justify a green belt review. It comes as countryside campaigners have expressed concerns greenbelt in Halesowen and Stourbridge particularly could make way for housing.
Their fears came after a joint report, by all four Black Country councils, identified a shortfall of 22,000 homes needed in the region over the next decade.
Surplus
Mr Harley said the local authority will be using a ‘brownfield first’ policy, with the borough set to a have a surplus of these sites up to 2026. And if Dudley runs out of brownfield sites in the future, council bosses will call on neighbouring authorities to help out, councillor Harley said.
“What the officers have to do is come back to cabinet with a report that is really detailed and comprehensive as to why we need a green belt review,” said councillor Harley.
“We want to lead with a brownfield first policy. It is not a question of we are saving the green belt. The green belt will be considered with absolute extreme (concern).
“In the event that Dudley doesn’t have enough brownfield left, we would ask for other authorities to help.”
The report, called the Black Country Core Strategy, said nearly 80,000 homes need to built in the Black Country by 2036.
But sites have been identified for around 60,000, with leaving a gap of around 22,000 homes. Space for three hundred hectares of new industry is also needed.
Dudley Council’s stance has been welcomed by Mick Freer, the leader of campaign group Save Halesowen’s Countryside, who said: “We will have to wait and see if it has saved the borough’s green belt. But it is a step in the right direction.”
