Council flooded with objections over proposed housing sites

South Staffordshire District Council has received about 4,000 objections from campaigners following a consultation, its leader Brian Edwards MBE says.

It comes as councillor Edwards MBE refused calls from South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson to extend the deadline for objections.

About 900 sites have been suggested to South Staffordshire - which is aiming to address a shortfall of 8,845 homes needed by 2037.

Another public consultation is planned next summer on sites which council planners will say will be most suitable.

Council planners have favoured an option which would see 40 per cent of development located along neighbouring urban areas. This includes green belt areas west of Dudley.

Among proposals include 628 homes near Sedgley and Lower Gornal, 800 homes on the Lawnswood House Estate, Wordsley, and 400 homes on Client View Road, Norton.

Further north, developers have proposed 2,500 homes on green belt between Essington and Wednesfield, and 600 homes in Perton.

Mr Williamson argued residents were not given enough time to object over suggested sites - which are merely proposals at this stage but could later be developed. He called for the deadline, which was December 12, to be extended into January.

But councillor Edwards said: "We were told to extend it into early January. I felt that extended it over the Christmas period, which would have no particular benefit. There is still plenty of time to respond. No sites have actively been considered yet. That is the next phase. This is where people have been concerned."

He added: "We have had nearly 4,000 replies. If you don't think people thought that was long enough - there was only two places were news wasn't realised."

Suggested housing sites were put forward by developers as part of the council's Local Plan review.

Council planners will now review all the suggested sites and choose the preferred locations, which will be put out for consultation next summer.