Green belt warning and rallying call from Dudley Council leader

Dudley Council’s leader has issued a warning on the future of green belt in the borough and called for unity to fight off developers.

Cllr Patrick Harley is adamant Dudley’s green belt will not be used for new homes despite government targets and changes in the law to ease the planning process including the introduction of a new classification of ‘grey belt’ land.

Council leaders got a boost in January when planning inspector Louise Nurser concluded the council’s draft local plan was sound without a review of green belt boundaries.

Cllr Harley said: “I think we have won the battle, we have not won the war. I challenge the government to show me where the grey belt is in Dudley, even the inspector said there wasn’t any.

“Will we be forced to build on greenbelt eventually? I think we will but those MPs and councillors who support a government who instructs us to do that will rue the day because they will be in opposition for an eternity.

“People across the borough are very proud and protective of the green belt and once it’s gone – it’s gone.”

The most active battle over greenbelt in Dudley is currently being fought in Kingswinford where an application for outline permission for 330 homes on an area known as The Triangle.

Developers Persimmon argue the site, on Wolverhampton Road, represents grey belt in an area with housing need.

Objectors argue the site fulfills one of the criteria of green belt by contributing to separation between built up areas and preventing urban sprawl.

Cllr Harley says the developer is trying their luck with the application and he is confident the land will remain as it is.

He hopes a change of government may mean changes to planning laws but he also had a rallying call to the community.

Cllr Harley said: “In my time as leader we will probably put them off but who knows in the future? I think we have got a massive fight on our hands.

“We have all got to pull together, whoever is the government of the day trying to force us to build on green belt; we have got to be united and try to stop them for as long as we can.”