Walsall Council's deputy leader has revealed that the borough's available brownfield land has capacity for just 5,000 new homes, a figure that would be exhausted in approximately four years given current government housing targets.
Brownfield Supply 'Almost Used Up' After Decades
The stark assessment was delivered by Councillor Adrian Andrew at a council meeting on January 12, 2026. He explained that for several decades, Walsall had met its housing needs almost entirely by redeveloping former industrial land that became vacant in the 1970s and 1980s.
"Thanks to the success of the council in regenerating the areas, the supply of land from this source has now almost been used up," Councillor Andrew stated. "We estimate that our remaining capacity for brownfield land would be sufficient for approximately 5,000 homes."
Government Target Demands Nearly 20,000 New Homes
The council is mandated by central government to deliver 1,172 homes per year. Over the period stretching to 2042, this equates to a need for nearly 20,000 new dwellings – a volume equivalent to building two entire electoral wards.
Councillor Andrew put the brownfield capacity into sharp context: "Five thousand homes would only be sufficient to last approximately four years." This shortfall is why the council's draft local plan, which must be submitted before December 2026, includes proposals for building on parts of the green belt.
'Considerably Risky' to Rely Solely on Brownfield
Responding to questions from Councillor Ken Ferguson, who advocated for a brownfield-only plan to protect green spaces, the deputy leader warned such an approach would be 'considerably risky'.
He argued that a plan excluding green belt sites would likely be rejected by government inspectors, potentially leading to Whitehall imposing a housing blueprint on the local authority. "The government would force a plan on this council and the residents we represent," he cautioned.
Councillor Andrew also highlighted the financial challenges, noting it is "incredibly expensive" to develop brownfield sites. He pointed to a lack of current government support, contrasting it with previous funding that enabled regeneration in areas like Willenhall and Spark.
Following the exchange, Councillor Ferguson called for the deputy leader to write to the Housing Minister to both review the housing numbers set for Walsall and to ask what measures are in place to make brownfield development more attractive to investors.
