‘It’s a disgrace’ - Outrage at planned 850-home neighbourhood on green belt land in Great Barr

Residents neighbouring a proposed 850-home neighbourhood in Great Barr have spoken out against the major plans.

Last month developer IM Land and Walton Homes submitted outline plans to transform 42 hectares of green belt land into a new estate with a primary school, two community hubs, allotments and community orchard.

The site, bound by Aldridge Road, Queslett Road and Doe Bank Lane, is entirely within the Great Barr Conservation Area.

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During the pre-application consultation period, the developer received hundreds of comments about the loss of green belt, increased traffic congestion and the pressure on infrastructure.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service went to speak with residents living next to the site, all of who oppose the plans.

Ninety-one-year-old Pauline Tonks said: “It’s just huge, and another school, we’ve already got four.

“How are they going to come in and out? I think it’s terrible. I’m sorry I do. I think it’s ridiculous. I don’t think it’ll go ahead in my time.”

Gary Walter is the owner of the Grade II Listed Doe Bank Farmhouse and buildings directly next to the proposed development.

He said: “I bought the fields in 1996 thinking it’s green belt. In them days, green belt was a protected area, nobody could build on it.

“It’s a disgrace. Nobody is listening to the people or the council and the secretary of state can just overrule a refusal with a stroke of a pen and that’s it.

“This government is the worst lot we’ve ever had. Green belt is green belt and it’s there for a reason. We have got to have green spaces.”

In 2025 Labour’s housing minister Steve Reed told developers to ‘build, baby, build’ and vowed to tackle ‘barriers’ within the planning process.

Just one year before, Mr Reed spoke of his childhood memories where he enjoyed nature and the countryside, and criticised the Tory government for failing to protect it.

Mr Reed has not responded to the Local Democracy Reporting Service about the seeming change of tune.

Despite the site being within the green belt and the Great Barr Conservation Area, it has been allocated for housing by Walsall Council in the draft Walsall Borough Local Plan.

Nisha Balu, another neighbour near to the Queslett Road development, said: “We’re not happy at all. It’s a lovely area and we live here purely for the area.

“There’s animals that come out at night, the deer, it’s all going to go. They’re taking it all away. We decided to live here for the green belt. I hope it gets refused and it stays as it is. I don’t agree with it at all.”

Pauline Williams, 75, added: “I don’t agree with it. We’ve got enough traffic down here so we don’t want it. Whoever has been fighting the plans has been doing a good job but obviously it’s all woken up again.

“Why do it there? It’s countryside. It’s lovely around here and it’s a shame. It’s so sad we’re going to see houses poking up.”

Councillor Nicky Barker, deputy leader of Walsall Council, said: “The Queslett Road planning application is at an early stage of assessment and will be considered through the council’s normal planning process.

“All comments, consultation responses and relevant planning considerations will be taken into account before any decision is made.”

A spokesperson for IM Land and Homes said: “The site has been identified as being suitable for development in the now withdrawn Black Country Strategy, and the more recent draft Walsall Local Plan.

“The council will assess the application giving full regard to any representations that are submitted by consultee’s and local residents.