Dudley leader dismisses 330-home plan on green belt as developer 'trying their luck'
Dudley Council’s leader has dismissed an application for 330 homes on green belt land in Kingswinford as a developer ‘trying their luck’.
Housebuilding giant Persimmon Homes has made an outline application to build a new estate on land at Holbeache Lane east of the A449 next to the historic Holbeache House.
The application calls for the field to be re-designated as grey belt but the council’s leader, Cllr Patrick Harley, who represents the Kingswinford South ward says the scheme will not get off the ground.
Cllr Harley said: “The developer is trying their luck. However the site is currently green belt and more importantly is not on the list of sites in our local plan that is about to be adopted.”
Dudley’s new local plan has been subjected to rigorous examination by a planning inspector who heard arguments from developers that the council’s policy of not allowing building on green belt was not sound.
Cllr Harley added: “The inspector agrees with our stance on the green belt and has agreed our plan with no green belt is a sound and deliverable plan.”
The application from Persimmon Homes does not include detailed designs for the new homes but says they will be typically two storeys.
A design statement from Persimmon said: “The development will provide a broad range of dwellings types offering a mix of market and affordable housing suitable for first time buyers to larger family homes.
“Housing will be set within an attractive network of connected streets and surrounding green space.
“Character streets will create variety and a sense of identity within the layout.”
The 41.25 hectare site is currently agricultural land and Persimmon argues it can be re-designated as grey belt because it has been developed and does not play a major part in the objectives of green belt designation including preventing urban sprawl.
