Developers swamp council with 'horrendous' number of housing proposals
A council has been swamped with new housing proposals from opportunistic developers, it has been said.
About 900 sites have been put forward for development in South Staffordshire – with a large swathe bordering the Black Country.
But Brian Edwards MBE, leader of South Staffordshire District Council, claims this number is 10 times too many.
He says council planners face a "horrendous" task sorting out which developments are most suitable. And he accused developers of "scaremongering" residents in the process.
It comes after the local authority identified a shortfall of 8,845 homes needed within the district by 2037.
Councillor Edwards told the Express & Star: "There is something like 800 or 900 sites which have been put forward for development to the district council.
"But this is ten times too much land than we need for development.
"A lot of these sites run almost down the boundary with the West Midlands.
"It is just horrendous the amount of sites put forward which have got to be looked at. That is the next job."
Landowners were invited to put land forward for development by South Staffordshire District Council after a shortfall of housing was identified. Other local authorities have carried out the same process - including in the Black Country.
It is expected that a final decision will be made by South Staffordshire District Council – on which sites are most suitable for housing – by Summer 2020. Not all will go ahead.
But Councillor Edwards says the council has been "overburdened" by the sheer number of proposals. It will likely be a painstaking process.
Some of the proposed sites have caused quite a stir within communities – particularly those on cherished green belt.
Campaigners have argued precious wildlife habitats will be destroyed and local infrastructure will struggle to cope. In some cases, the proposals border onto the Black Country, where roads, schools and health centres are already under pressure.
Among the proposed sites include: 1,300 homes on the Seven Cornfields, Wolverhampton; 628 homes on North Himley Green Belt, in Sedgley and Lower Gornal; 2,500 homes between Essington and Wednesfield; and 112 homes on Wolverhampton Airport, Bobbington.
Councillor Edwards continued: "A lot of people think, just because sites have been put forward, they are actual planning applications – but they are not.
"This has caused an awful lot of scaremongering.
"I can assure you, no proposals have been made by the district council. It will be July – or August at the latest – before we will put forward suggest sites."
Residents have only until 5pm on Thursday to submit written objections to proposals. The objections will be reviewed by council planners before deciding which sites will be brought forward for potential development.
People can object by emailing localplanreview@sstaffs.gov.uk or writing to Strategic Planning Team, South Staffordshire Council, Wolverhampton Road, Codsall, WV8 1PX.
A council spokesman added: "We are aiming to consult on sites for housing in summer 2020 once the broad locations for growth have been agreed.
"We will carry out full public consultation on the preferred sites and people will have the opportunity at that time to make comments."
