Proposals for new homes, a primary school and community centres
Public Consultation
Planning Context
We understand that planning can be complex, so this page explains what’s covered in a planning application, how the Green Belt functions and why Walsall Council has identified this site as a preferred location to help meet local housing needs in a sustainable and sensitive way.
What is an outline planning application?
An outline planning application agrees the principle of development on a site. That’s why you may not see the level of detail in the plans you would expect. If an outline planning application is granted planning permission, this must be followed by a reserved matters submission showing more detail, which will be determined separately by the Council and will be the subject of further public consultation.
As part of this outline planning application for up to 850 new homes, IM Land and Walton Homes are seeking approval for access. Permission for all other matters including layout, design of public open space, landscaping and appearance, will be considered later and as part of a separate planning application.
IM Land and Walton Homes are preparing a planning application within this red line.
Why do we need more homes here?
Walsall Council is required to bring forward sites for housing to meet its needs, which is calculated based on housing demand, affordability data and population statistics by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. The local housing need for Walsall Council is 1,148 new homes per year.
Walsall Council is preparing a Local Plan, which sets out its preferences for meeting its housing need. In its recently published draft of the plan, it has identified this site for housing. Walsall Council will shortly run its own consultation on its draft Local Plan.
Why are you proposing to build in the Green Belt?
The Green Belt is a planning classification for land around settlements where development is restricted to prevent urban sprawl and can only be released in exceptional circumstances.
In Walsall, there is not enough brownfield land available to meet the annual housing target of 1,148 new homes. As a result, some areas of the Green Belt must be released to deliver much-needed housing for local people, which is considered an exceptional circumstance, enabling development on the Green Belt.
Within the emerging Walsall Local Plan, this site has been identified by Walsall Council as a preferred location to help meet that need, satisfying the exceptional circumstances for Green Belt release.
You can read more here about how we have considered the local landscape and visual impact as part of the proposals and our proposed landscape buffer to enhance the remaining Green Belt.