Dudley Labour leader welcomes plans to unblock 'ludicrous housing delays and highlights a scheme in Sedgley
Cllr Adam Aston has spoken out about a planning scheme in Sedgley which has remained unfinished for 12 years as he praises new housing plans
Dudley’s Labour leader says new regulations on stalled developments will unblock ‘ludicrous’ delays, including failure to build on a site in Sedgley.
After a project receives planning permission developers have three years to start work but there are no rules on when the job must be completed, which the government believes delays delivery of new homes.
Proposed new regulations would force developers to say how long it would take to complete a project before it is approved, submit annual reports on progress and face a ‘delayed homes penalty’ for late completion.
Cllr Adam Aston, who represents the Gornal and Woodsetton ward, said: “Britain is amidst a housing emergency, yet there are development sites big and small across the country which have planning permission granted but have no building taking place.
“Locally, a site in Snowdon Rise was granted planning permission in 2013, because a small amount of work was undertaken a decade ago, the site is then classed as being ‘extant’, they can then continue the work at any time in the future … which may be many years later.
“It’s ludicrous; that’s why I’m so pleased the government is taking issues like stalled sites like this seriously.”
The site, in between Moden Hill and Snowdon Rise, received permission for a single house in December 2013 despite objections from neighbouring residents who were concerned about issues including overlooking.
Dudley Council planning officers, in a report for the authority’s planning committee, said: “The proposal respects the character and distinctiveness of the area making a positive contribution to place making through high quality design without harming the amenity of existing or future occupiers.”
Councillors accepted a recommendation to approve the plan and granted permission; however, despite the site being fenced off, no construction work has taken place.
As she announced the ‘Get On and Build’ changes, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “We are backing the builders not the blockers. Now it’s time for developers to roll up their sleeves and play their part.
“We’re going even further to get the homes we need. No more sites with planning permission gathering dust for decades while a generation struggles to get on the housing ladder.”
