Mayor Andy Street has pledged to protect the Black Country’s green belt – after open spaces around Great Barr were earmarked for possible development.
Mr Street, who heads up the West Midlands Combined Authority, insisted there is enough derelict brownfield sites – former industrial sites – to cater for new homes in our region, without having to build on cherished green belt.
He spoke after a report called the Urban Capacity Review claimed green spaces around Great Barr will need to make way for almost 27,000 new homes.
Great Barr areas identified in the report include: around Red House Park; either side of the M6, just west of Junction 7; west of M6 to the north of Holly Wood Nature Reserve and around Netherall Avenue.
Mr Street said the focus must be on regenerating brownfield sites – previously built-on land such as derelict factories – rather than building on cherished fields and parks.
He said: “I simply don’t accept this report and I will do everything I can to oppose its conclusions. There should not be a need to build on open spaces in Great Barr or anywhere else.
“We can and will find more brownfield sites to regenerate for homes and we can and will find more sites in town centres for housing.
“For years the easy option has been taken in too many cases with green fields sacrificed for building when brownfield sites have been left derelict. The Black Country and Birmingham are full of them – everyone knows a former industrial site that has just been left empty for years.
“Now is the time for us to reclaim them for development – we have the technology, the skills and the government is providing the money.”
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has been buying up brownfield sites to prepare them to be brought back into use as new housing estates.
This has been possible thanks to the £350 million Housing Deal with the Government, which has given the WMCA the cash to regenerate sites such as the huge former sewage works at Friar Park in Wednesbury, where 750 homes will be built on land the size of 32 football pitches.
Friar Park is the biggest example of a former industrial site in the Black Country being reclaimed for housing.