No building on borough green belt, blueprint reveals
Green belt land in the borough will be protected from developers until 2041, a blueprint set to go before councillors has revealed.
Dudley Council’s senior cabinet will consider the final draft version of the Dudley Local Plan at a meeting next week.
The document identifies the amount of extra housing and employment land needed to drive growth in the borough up to 2041, and where it should go.
If it is approved by councillors, a six-week consultation will take place in November and December allowing residents to have their say.
The plan states that Dudley can meet the majority of its housing need in urban areas and on brownfield sites. It concludes “exceptional circumstances are not triggered to justify green belt release for new housing development”.
In addition, it pledges to allocate Corbett Meadow – which had been subject to a planning application for a large housing development – as a Local Greenspace designation to protect it for future generations.
Six brownfield sites have been identified as “priority” for housing and are expected to deliver nearly 2,000 of the 11,954 homes needed by 2041.
There are two sites in Brierley Hill, with 300 homes earmarked for Daniels Land/The Embankment and 600 on land at Waterfront Way/Level Street.
In Dudley town centre, 120 homes are proposed for King Street/Flood Street and 280 for the Portersfield site on Trindle Road/Hall Street.
A further 600 homes are planned for the Ketley Quarry site in Kingswinford.
The plan reveals there is a shortfall in both housing and employment land which the council will seek to address through ‘duty to co-operate’ with neighbouring local authorities.
The cabinet will also hear from neighbouring Sandwell Council asking for support with their own housing shortfall, however, Dudley Council has advised it is not in a position to help but will continue to work with the authority on duty of care matters.
Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said:
“As a local authority we are progressing our local plan to outline how we will provide land for homes and employment in the future.
“My stance has been consistent throughout this whole process. I have always said that development should be brownfield first, with the green belt only to be used as a very last resort .
“I’m delighted, in light of that, the plan we have been able to put together protects our green belt from developers and I am sure this will be welcomed by the great majority of our residents.
“It’s essential we listen to local people as we develop this plan, and that’s why we’ll be launching a consultation on our draft plan next month. Responses don’t have to be negative – if you’re happy about the green belt being protected, please let us know through the consultation.
“We take our duty to cooperate with our neighbouring authorities seriously, but with our own predicted shortfall in land, we’re not in a position to support Sandwell Council.
“What we are doing, along with the other Black Country authorities, is looking at how we can share contributions made by other local authorities to help meet the needs in Dudley and other areas in the Black Country.”
The draft Dudley Local Plan will be discussed at the next meeting of the cabinet.
It takes place on October 25 in Committee Room 2 at Dudley Council House from 6pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend.