It will clearly be necessary for sites to be released for development outside of the Black Country administrative area to meet the housing employment requirements of the emerging Core Strategy. The SHMA identifies South Staffordshire as having a close functional relationship to the Black Country Authorities. It is, therefore, our view that it will be entirely appropriate for additional development to be directed towards the principal settlements within South Staffordshire to assist in meeting the growth requirements of the Black Country. In assessing the preferred locations for the development to meet the requirements of the Black Country, regard should be had to a range of different factors including those identified in Question 15a.

There may be areas of land where there is a need for change. Site specific circumstances will need to be taken into account in identifying whether it is appropriate to allocate a site for housing and/or employment development when it is known that an existing use is likely to cease.