‘Madness’ to build homes on ex-dump in Dudley

Sandwell Council wants to create a development at the Rattlechain Lagoon site as part of its Dudley Port ‘garden city’ masterplan unveiled this week.

But there are already fears the land could be contaminated from years of waste dumping, while there are also calls for the land to be preserved for wildlife.

The site, off Temple Way, Tividale, is among sites to have been identified for housing under plans to transform the area over the coming years. The council has targeted building 250 homes there.

The land was once used as a brick clay works but was later used for waste disposal, leading to concerns about the condition of the site.

The Friends of the nearby Sheepwash Nature Reserve have come out against the plans.

Ian Carroll, from the group, said: “This pretty picture laden report spends many pages talking about generalities.

“It is only at the back of the document that you get to the controversial house building proposals that will destroy wildlife corridors in the area and threaten the wildlife in our reserve, as well as creating years of misery and uncertainty for people living next to them.”

UKIP Sandwell has also voiced concerns about the proposals, calling for the land to be left alone over the potential impact on wildlife.

The plans for the Rattlechain are at an early stage, with council bosses having so far outlined the area for a preferred site for development.

Further investigations would need to take place before planning permission was granted.

In its garden city document, the council states that ‘information regarding ground conditions is limited and that the whole site ‘may not be capable of complete development’.

The garden city proposals include hundreds at homes at three other sites and major improvements to Dudley Port train station and busy roads.

The train station would receive significant investment to become a transport interchange, combining train, metro and rail services.

Bus lanes and cycle lanes would also be added to the A461 Dudley Port in an effort to encourage sustainable travel and cut emissions.