Plans for 350 homes in a leafy corner of Walsall take a step forward

Applicants hoping to develop a new housing estate next to York’s Bridge in Pelsall are carrying out an Environmental Impact Assessment.

The survey is a major step in the planning process and is used to identify any potential environmental impacts of the green belt proposal.

Last year, housing developer Miller Homes announced plans to transform the 21.69 site just off Norton Road.

The same area was put forward by Walsall Council for housing in the draft Local Plan, where it suggested that 580 dwellings could be built.

Miller Homes’ housing proposal is titled ‘Canalside Living’ and includes a mixture of two, three, four and five bedroom houses, with 40 per cent of them being affordable homes.

It also plans to deliver ‘attractive green spaces’, enhanced pedestrian routes along the Essington and Wyrley Canal, including a ‘uniquely designed’ boardwalk.

The proposed vehicle access to the new homes is from Lichfield Road.

The historic York’s Bridge was, until recently, a single lane which led to bottlenecking at peak times.

Walsall Council is currently building an additional road bridge next to the existing one. On completion the original bridge will be pedestrianised. The project was due to finish at the end of 2025.