Dudley Council Leader Patrick Harley has dismissed a proposal to build 330 homes on protected green belt land in Kingswinford, West Midlands. Councillor Harley, who also represents the Kingswinford South area, stated that the housing project will not move forward under the current council leadership.
The developer, Persimmon Homes, is seeking to build the new estate on a field south of Holbeache Lane. This land is located east of the A449 and sits next to the historic Holbeache House.
The developer argued that the site should be renamed as grey belt land, which is a term used for green belt areas that make a limited contribution to the environment, to allow for building under national rules. However, the leader of Dudley Council accused the firm of trying their luck with the new application.
This specific site was a major reason why the council stopped working with a joint regional planning group in 2022. Local officials chose to create their own building plan to ensure they could protect specific green spaces from being developed into housing estates.
The site has been a concern for the community for several years, with residents previously organising large protests to protect the fields. The council has maintained a policy of focusing on building on former industrial land before considering any development on green belt sites.
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