South Staffordshire District Council’s planning committee has voted to approve a 90-home development on Green Belt land in Wombourne, overriding more than 70 public objections. The scheme, proposed by Bloor Homes for land north of Bridgnorth Road, also faced opposition from MP Mike Wood, Himley Parish Council, district councillors Vincent Merrick and Dan Kinsey, and county councillor Marie Shortland.
Planning officers had recommended that permission be granted, and the committee accepted that the site met the definition of Grey Belt. A report presented to members said the development "complies with the definition of Grey Belt, therefore does not constitute inappropriate development within the West Midlands Green Belt."
Housing supply and affordable homes
Speaking in support of the application, Gary Stephens told the planning committee that the site could be delivered within five years, helping the council move toward a five-year housing land supply. He said: "Granting permission will guarantee a further 90 dwellings are added to your housing land supply as this site can be delivered within five years. This will help the council, and its emerging Local Plan, to get to a position of having a five-year housing land supply quicker and give you greater protection post-adoption of your plan from speculative applications."
Stephens also highlighted the social benefits of the scheme, including that 50% of the homes would be affordable and 10% would be bungalows to meet the needs of the ageing population. He emphasised that more than two-thirds of the site would be given over to green infrastructure, four times the amount required by the current Local Plan, and included public open space, play areas, community growing space and biodiverse meadows. The developer also pledged around £150,000 for indoor and outdoor sports and recreation facilities, plus £42,000 for improvements to bus stops on Bridgnorth Road.
MP warns against 'dangerous precedent'
Mike Wood, MP for the area, urged the committee to reject the proposal. He argued that releasing Green Belt, even under the Grey Belt label, is only permissible where it is necessary to meet housing need, and that South Staffordshire’s draft Local Plan already identifies sufficient suitable sites. The examiner for that plan found it "fundamentally sound", and no additional sites in Wombourne were proposed, Mr Wood noted.
"The applicant knows that your plan is sound and that South Staffordshire can meet its housing need without building here," he said. "This site plays a vital role; it prevents the conglomeration of Wombourne and Himley, preserving the distinct identity of both communities, as well as enhancing the local environment and biodiversity." He also criticised the poor bus services, lack of rail links, and the "unsafe proposed access through Rosemary Road" onto a main road already suffering from many accidents. Allowing the scheme, he warned, would "set a dangerous district-wide precedent" for speculative development on any green space labelled as Grey Belt.
Residents fear loss of green buffer
Resident Gordon Fanthom told the committee that the land was "pure Green Belt" and that much had already been lost to the large housing estate granted in 2018. He said the site was needed as a buffer to prevent Himley and Wombourne merging through urban sprawl. He also raised concern about the future need to expand Sytch Lane Cemetery, saying that if all surrounding land were taken, future generations would face a massive burden finding a new burial ground.
Committee passes scheme by casting vote
Councillor Christopher Evans joined the opposition, pointing to the advanced stage of the emerging Local Plan, which does not include this site, and to the visual assessment in the report, which found "moderate to major adverse effects". Nevertheless, five members voted in favour of the application, and committee chairman Bob Cope used his casting vote to carry the motion.
Councillor Robert Reade, who voted in favour, said: "Whilst we want to protect what we want to protect, if it's been designated officially as Grey Belt, how can we stand and say it's Green Belt? We can't. I don't think we've got a leg to stand on."
