Plans for 560 homes on Dudley green belt could be back on agenda as developer lodges application
A bombshell planning application has sparked fears that 560 homes could be built on the green belt - less than three years after the threat appeared to have been lifted.
In October 2022 Dudley Council pulled out of a joint planning strategy with neighbouring Walsall, Wolverhampton and Sandwell councils over pressure to develop a site known as 'The Triangle' in Wall Heath for housing.
Council leader Patrick Harley told residents he was not prepared to see the site developed for housing, and said Dudley Council would instead draw up its own 'brownfield only' strategy.
The plan was submitted to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner in February.
But this week environmental consultants Envance have lodged an application requesting a decision from planners on whether a environmental impact assessment would be needed in the event of a substantive application for 560 homes to be built on the site.
The news has sparked immediate fears among neighbours that a full planning application could be imminent.
Neil Garratt, of Kingsley Road, said: "This is clearly a precursor to a full planning application, and it is important that key local concerns are raised at this early stage.
"The site lies within the green belt, which the local authority has previously committed to protecting. Development here would undermine that position and set a concerning precedent, particularly as there are still numerous brownfield sites across the borough that remain undeveloped.
"Green belt land also provides vital ecological and recreational value, which would be permanently lost if this development proceeds.
"In addition, local roads are in poor condition and already under strain. A development of this size would only worsen deterioration and increase maintenance demands The cumulative effect would be to diminish the character, amenity and quality of life for current residents."
Linda Scott, of nearby Maidendale Road, said: "To build on The Triangle will put even more pressure on roads, schools and GPs, not to mention the environment!.
"It is Dudley's stance that green belt will not be built on so come on, fight to deny this application."
Ian Cox, of Kingswinford, said the area's infrastructure was already at the point of collapse with roads, schools and doctor's surgeries already at saturation point following recent developments.
"I am sure I am not on my own with the frustration I feel whilst trying to gain access to or leave Kingswinford, at present it is almost impossible with the major roads already gridlocked for most of the day," he said.
Councillor Phil Atkins, cabinet member for development and regulation at Dudley Council, reassured residents the council was still committed to a brownfield-led approach to housing development.
He said the present application was a technical request at this stage, and no formal development scheme had been submitted.
“Because it is not a formal application any comments left on the application, which is in the public domain, cannot be considered," he said.
"I would therefore urge residents not to leave comments at this stage."
He said a full consultation exercise would be carried out allowing residents to express their views if a formal application was submitted, he said.
“I want to assure residents that the council is still very much in favour of a brownfield led approach to meet the borough’s housing demand into the future. Any applications submitted will be assessed in line with current policies.”
However, Councillor Harley had warned that Government housing targets and planning reforms could heap fresh pressure on local authorities such as Dudley.
In December he described the Government's house-building targets as a 'death sentence for the green belt', and said he would defy them.
Councillor Harley said the Government had failed to listen to any of the points raised in its recent consultation.
"We told them we didn’t have sufficient green belt to build these numbers even if we wanted to," he said, adding that the authority had a sound local plan that met its needs until 2041.
"This news is shocking, although not unexpected.
"Labour through Angela Rayner, seems determined to steamroll these plans through and decimate our green belt and green spaces."
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