Quantifying The Threat to The Green Belt

With 22,000 houses and 300 hectares of industry proposed for the Green Belt, the threat is severe. If we proportion the allocation equally across the four local authorities, this would mean 5,500 houses and 75 hectares of industry within Dudley Borough's Green Belt. Given that exceptional circumstances would be required to release Green Belt land, it is clear that developments of say 30 - 50 houses would not be of strategic significance to justify a breach and could surely be provided by 'windfall' sites in the urban areas? Dudley Council are therefore considering large developments in our Green Belt.

Additionally, the concept of needing to identify Green Belt on the basis that we have run-out of urban building land, would mean that the Council will not be able to identify defendable Green Belt boundaries and that future urban needs, for such built development, would have to be continually met within the Green Belt. Of course we do not accept that future needs cannot be met within the urban areas and Dudley Borough has identified sufficient housing land to meet its needs beyond 2036.

The Dangers of Initiating a Study to Identify Development Sites Within the Green Belt

If Dudley Council support this Study and contractors are appointed to do so, then this poses an extreme threat to Green Belt countryside within the Wards of Norton; Pedmore & Stourbridge East; Cradley and Wollescote; Hayley Green; Belle Vale; Halesowen South and Halesowen North.

Once such a report is published and identifies development sites within that countryside, the momentum of development would be difficult to stop, potentially through the appeals process.

The Trust's Recommendations
* The present Green Belt boundaries are maintained and defended
* The strategy of urban regeneration, where developers are forced to identify opportunities for urban renewal, should continue
* Dudley Council has sufficient land to satisfy its building needs to 2036 and beyond. It does not need to pursue Green Belt development
* 'Windfall' sites, not planned by the Local Planning Authority, will continue to be identified by the construction industry
* The appointment of contractors to identify Green Belt sites within Dudley Borough for built development should not proceed
* Dudley Council should continue to recognise the importance of urban fringe countryside. It plays a significant role in terms of the character and distinctiveness of the Borough and the welfare of the public. It is a cherished informal recreational resource.