'Diving headfirst into catastrophic failure' - Public inquiry under way as housing developer claims Walsall green belt is grey
A public inquiry into a controversial housing development in Walsall has started this week.
More than a dozen people gathered outside the Council House at the start of the inquiry yesterday (December 2). They said there are major concerns about the proposed development off Longwood Lane.
To be determined is an outline application from William Davis Homes to build up to 115 houses on 6.75 hectares of green belt.
In June, Walsall Council’s planning committee voted unanimously to refuse the plans, in line with the planning officer’s recommendation.
William Davis Homes appealed the decision, bringing it before the government’s planning inspectorate for a seven-day hearing.
At the opening of the inquiry, inspector Tom Gilbert-Wooldridge heard representations from the developer, Walsall Council, Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, and Jonjo MacNamara on behalf of Wendy Morton, the MP for Aldridge-Brownhills.
Eight main issues are to be debated, including green belt and grey belt definitions, highway safety, biodiversity, habitat and housing supply.
