Dudley local plan step closer to approval - but review needed
Dudley got a step closer to approval for its new local plan – which will then be reviewed as soon as it goes live.
The council’s draft proposals for development in the borough for the next 15 years got a rigorous public examination by the government Planning Inspectorate.
The hearings concluded in October and inspector Louise Nurser says, while more work needs to be done, the plan has the right stuff to be implemented.
In a letter to the authority, Ms Nurser said: “Notwithstanding the outstanding pieces of work, I am pleased to report I am confident, with main modifications, that I will be able to conclude that the Dudley Local Plan: Parts One and Two is capable of being found sound.
“I am also clear that the legal tests have been met, including the Duty to Co-operate.”
The Duty to Co-operate is a legal requirement on councils to consider working with neighbouring authorities and public bodies to ‘engage constructively, actively and on an ongoing basis’ on joint plans to fulfil housing needs.
It’s not all plain sailing for the plan, which was submitted before changes to national planning policies and falls short of government targets for new homes.
In their submission to the hearings planning consultants Lichfields, on behalf of developer Taylor Wimpey, pointed out the plan was prepared under rules which have been superseded.
The consultant says under the new framework, Dudley’s plan which promises 10,470 new homes, is 13,821 homes short of what will be needed.
Developers complained Dudley rushed the plan through using a framework which allowed them to avoid including greenbelt to provide land for the extra homes.
The council claimed the framework used for the plan meant it was not necessary to release greenbelt land but has suggested adding new text into the final version of the Dudley Local Plan (DLP) promising to start work on a new plan.
The proposed new wording for the plan says: “As the housing requirement in the DLP meets less than 80% of local housing need, this means that the council will be expected to begin work on a new plan under the revised plan-making system as soon as the relevant provisions are brought into force.”
