MPs critical of council's housing consultation process
A council has been criticised by two MPs over its consultation into locations for new housing.
South Staffordshire District Council is carrying out a review into potential sites which could accommodate new properties needed within the district. A
total of 8,845 homes are required by 2037, identified in the council's Local Plan.
But a large swathe of sites - which developers and land-owners have suggested to council planners - are located along Dudley's leafy western border.
Proposals include 800 homes on the Lawnswood House Estate, Wordsley, and 628 homes in Sedgley and Lower Gornal, in a development dubbed North Himley by campaigners.
Dudley South Mike Wood MP wrote to South Staffordshire District Council bosses saying: "There is no need to build housing on green belt in or around Dudley and there is therefore no justification for releasing green belt land in Lawnswood, Ridgehill Woods and neighbouring areas.
"Once this valuable Green Belt on the edge of our towns is destroyed, it would be almost impossible to restore."
He highlighted how more housing on that proposed site would put added strains on local infrastructure, which is already struggling.
Mr Wood said congestion on the A449 and A491 - two major roads nearby - is already "extremely heavy"; while schools and doctors surgeries are already at full capacity.
"Extra housing on the edge of Wordsley and Kingswinford will make the problem worse placing even greater traffic onto roads poorly-equipped to handle it," he wrote.
"It is a major contributor to the extremely poor air quality in areas like Wordsley High Street.
"This pressure will only get worse if there was development on the scale being speculated upon on these sites, as would pressure on emergency services in Dudley – and particularly facilities at Russells Hall Hospital."
He urged council planners to look at expanding existing sites in South Staffordshire, rather than "bolting sites onto the side of the West Midlands."
His Conservative colleague Gavin Williamson, the MP for South Staffordshire, called for the deadline on receiving objections to be extended, which finished on December 12.
He believes not enough notice has been given for residents to respond.
Mr Williamson said: "I would like to ask South Staffordshire District Council to re-consider its consultation date for planning in South Staffordshire, which is currently scheduled on general election day.
"Many residents who will be affected by this have been in contact with me and have expressed their worries that the communication between residents and the council has left them confused over what the process is moving forward.
"I am deeply concerned and have always opposed Birmingham and Black Country overspill into South Staffordshire and continues to prevent these measures that increase congestion and negatively impact our green belt.
"I would like to see South Staffordshire District Council move the consultation date into the New Year, so every resident that will potentially be affected by these changes can study the proposals and be adequately consulted on these changes to our green belt."
The next stage of the consultation will see council planners put the preferred housing proposals out public consultation. A review is currently ongoing into which site are the most suitable.
A number have received a lot of opposition, including the Seven Cornfields and North Himley Green Belt.
Council leader Brian Edwards said the council received 10 times too many housing proposals through the Local Plan review.
