Developer Taylor Wimpey has submitted initial plans for a housing estate of up to 600 homes on agricultural land west of Chester Road and north of Little Hardwick Road, part of the Walsall green belt. The proposal, revealed in an Environmental Impact Assessment screening opinion application to Walsall Council, targets a 27-hectare site that the council has identified in its draft local plan as suitable for development.
Application Details and Withdrawal
The screening opinion assessment was submitted earlier this month but was withdrawn less than two weeks later. Agent Lichfields confirmed that a full outline planning application will be submitted shortly, which will include open space provision and land allocated for health and community use. Access to the new estate would be from Chester Road.
Council's Draft Local Plan
Although the site is designated as green belt, it is among the larger plots put forward by Walsall Council in the draft local plan. The council estimates the site could accommodate 430 homes, though Taylor Wimpey's proposal envisages up to 600. Three other neighbouring sites, also predominantly green belt, have been allocated for over 400 homes in total.
Nearby Developments
Already in the pipeline are two large housing developments nearby that are yet to be determined by the council: a full planning application for 500 homes off Bosty Lane and an outline planning application for a new neighbourhood of 850 homes off Queslett Road. These developments underscore the pressure on green belt land in the area.
According to a spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey, the developer is committed to delivering much-needed homes while incorporating community benefits. The council's draft local plan aims to guide sustainable development, but the scale of proposals has raised concerns among residents about the loss of green space.
