West Midlands Councillors Push for Compulsory Purchase Powers to Unlock Brownfield Sites
Councillors in the West Midlands are calling for new powers to force land owners who are "holding sites hostage" to sell up, aiming to regenerate brownfield land and build much-needed homes. The issue was discussed at a recent meeting of the West Midlands Combined Authority's Overview and Scrutiny Committee, where housing barriers were a key focus.
Housing Crisis Drives Urgent Action
During the debate, committee chair Councillor Andrew Burrow questioned housing chiefs about using compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) to acquire brownfield land for redevelopment. He highlighted that while local authorities have CPO powers, some are reluctant to use them, especially for schemes not directly under their control.
Councillor Burrow emphasized the need for the Combined Authority to potentially gain these powers to "unlock brownfield sites in particular", addressing delays caused by land owners. The region faces a severe housing shortage, with latest figures showing:
- Over 65,335 households on social housing waiting lists.
- 7,450 households, including 14,976 children, living in temporary accommodation.
Current Powers and Collaborative Efforts
Rob Lamond, Head of Strategy & Analysis at the West Midlands Combined Authority, explained that the authority does have CPO powers but has never used them for housing purposes, only for transport schemes. He noted a general hesitation among local authorities, who prefer to lead on CPOs, with the Combined Authority supporting where possible.
Officers revealed that discussions are ongoing with Homes England, which has more extensive CPO powers allowing them to initiate orders without a fully agreed scheme. Lamond stated, "We've talked quite extensively with Homes England about how we might look to do that in certain situations... where it would be very difficult to bring forward without at least the threat of CPO."
Progress and Future Steps
Over the past few years, thousands of homes have been unlocked through WMCA-funded schemes, but demand continues to outpace supply. The push for CPOs is seen as a critical tool to accelerate housing development, particularly on brownfield sites that are under multiple ownerships or stalled due to land owner disputes.
This move aligns with broader efforts to tackle the housing crisis in the West Midlands, leveraging existing powers and exploring new collaborations to ensure more affordable and social housing becomes available.
