Dudley Council's leader has issued a stark warning about the future of green belt land in the borough and called for unity to fend off developers. Councillor Patrick Harley insists that Dudley's green belt will not be used for new housing, despite government targets and legislative changes that have eased the planning process, including the introduction of a new 'grey belt' land classification.
Council leaders received a boost in January when planning inspector Louise Nurser concluded that the council's draft local plan was sound without requiring a review of green belt boundaries. However, Cllr Harley remains cautious, stating, '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.'
He added, 'Will we be forced to build on green belt eventually? I think we will, but those MPs and councillors who support a government that 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.'
Kingswinford Development Battle
The most active green belt conflict in Dudley is currently in Kingswinford, where an outline planning application has been submitted for 330 homes on an area known as The Triangle. Developers Persimmon argue that the site, on Wolverhampton Road, qualifies as grey belt in an area with housing need.
Objectors counter that the site fulfills one of the key criteria of green belt by contributing to the separation between built-up areas and preventing urban sprawl. Cllr Harley described the developer's application as 'trying their luck' and expressed confidence that the land will remain as it is.
Call for Community Unity
Cllr Harley hopes that a change of government may lead to revisions in planning laws, but he also issued a rallying call to the community. '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.'
