Dudley Council's reassurance amid growing fears that 560 homes could be built on green space
A council chief has urged residents not to panic after proposals for 560 home on green space on the edge of the Black Country cleared its first planning hurdle.
A developer has been told it will not need to submit an Environment Impact Assessment as part of proposals to build 560 homes on a plot of land known as 'The Triangle', off Swindon Road, Wall Heath.
But Councillor Phil Atkins, cabinet member for development at Dudley Council, said this should not be taken as an indication that the council accepted the principle of the development.
Council leader Councillor Patrick Harley has been a vehement opponent of proposals to build houses on the site. Earlier this year he submitted a 'brownfield only' development plan, which is now being considered by central government.
Councillor Atkins said the decision was a technicality based around legislation, and it was not uncommon for a development of that size.
He said he expected developer Barberry Summerhill Ltd to return with a formal planning application, upon which all necessary environmental matters will be considered.
“I don’t want people to be alarmed by this," said Councillor Atkins.
“In making this ruling around the EIA, we are in no way, shape or form saying we do not care about the environment or our green land. We are bound by the legislation and it not uncommon for an EIA not to be required for a proposed development of this size.
“It does not mean we are accepting the principle of development on this site.
“It is a technical decision based on the legislation, with such assessments only normally taking place for developments much larger than this."
An EIA is a process to identify, evaluate, and mitigate the potential negative environmental effects of a proposed development before a decision is made.
“We expect a formal planning application will soon be submitted," said Councillor Atkins.
“Given the location of the development, it is at that point that the applicant will be required to address in detail environmental matters. Residents will be able to make their views known as part of the consultation.
“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."
The application, submitted by environmental consultants Envar, sparked immediate opposition from residents concerned about traffic.
Linda Scott, of neighbouring 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.
In December Councillor Harley warned that government house-building targets represented a 'death sentence for the green belt', and said he would defy them.
He said the Government had failed to listen to any of the points raised in its recent consultation.
He also accused it of issuing Conservative-led council's with the most onerous house-building targets.
"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.
"Labour through Angela Rayner, seems determined to steamroll these plans through and decimate our green belt and green spaces."
