Plans for thousands of homes in Walsall to be scrutinised
Five Conservative councillors have called-in Reform’s decision to approve the latest draft of the Walsall Borough Local Plan.
The recent approval of a planning document allocating nearly 15,000 homes in Walsall is set to be scrutinised.
Five Conservative councillors have called-in Reform’s decision to approve the latest draft of the Walsall Borough Local Plan.
On August 26 the document, which allocates land to prospective developers for housing and employment space, was approved by cabinet members.
The latest plan has many of the same sites allocated in the Tory’s initial draft which was approved last year when they were in power, however five sites have been removed and four new ones added.
The latest draft plan has 2,117 fewer homes allocated than in the Tory’s draft plan.
The Labour government has tasked the council with allocating sites for 21,026 homes over the next 20 years.
With Reform’s plan, 14,943 homes are allocated creating a shortfall of 6,083.
Conservative group leader, Councillor Adrian Andrew, along with Councillors Christine Edwards, Amanda Parkes, Tim Wilson and Sawra Shmim, have filed the call-in notice meaning the plan will be analysed at the next scrutiny meeting on September 10.
The Tories submitted the request to publicly debate the evidence that supports the removal of certain sites and the inclusion of additional ones.
At the cabinet meeting in August, Councillor Elaine Williams, leader of Walsall Council, accused Councillor Andrew of campaigning against the plan and described it as ‘nothing short of hypocrisy’.
She said: “We have cut over 2,000 homes from the previous allocation from which the Conservative had put in. Reform have fought hard to protect Walsall’s green belt and removed sites strongly opposed by the residents but we cannot remove every one of them.”
Regeneration portfolio holder, Councillor Nicky Barker, said: “No one wants to see unnecessary loss of countryside or green spaces.
“The reality is that suitable brownfield land is running out. Even if every available brownfield opportunity was developed, it is still not enough to meet the housing numbers the government expects us to plan for.
“This plan represents a genuine attempt to protect as much green belt as possible, focus development in the most sustainable locations and maintain control over local planning decisions.”
Members will meet at 6pm, Thursday September 10, at Walsall Council House to debate the plan.
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