Five Conservative councillors have called in Reform's decision to approve the latest draft of the Walsall Borough Local Plan, triggering scrutiny of a document that allocates land for nearly 15,000 homes. The call-in notice, filed by Councillors Adrian Andrew, Christine Edwards, Amanda Parkes, Tim Wilson, and Sawra Shmim, means the plan will be debated at the next scrutiny meeting on September 10.
The document, which allocates land to prospective developers for housing and employment space, was approved by cabinet members on August 26. The latest plan retains many of the sites from the Tories' initial draft, which was approved last year when they were in power, but removes five sites and adds four new ones.
Housing allocation and shortfall
The latest draft plan allocates 14,943 homes, which is 2,117 fewer than the Tory draft plan. However, the Labour government has tasked the council with allocating sites for 21,026 homes over the next 20 years, leaving a shortfall of 6,083 homes.
The Conservative group submitted the request to publicly debate the evidence supporting the removal of certain sites and the inclusion of additional ones. At the cabinet meeting in August, Councillor Elaine Williams, leader of Walsall Council, accused Councillor Andrew of campaigning against the plan and described it as 'nothing short of hypocrisy'.
Council defends green belt protection
Councillor Williams said: "We have cut over 2,000 homes from the previous allocation from which the Conservative had put in. Reform have fought hard to protect Walsall's green belt and removed sites strongly opposed by the residents but we cannot remove every one of them."
Regeneration portfolio holder, Councillor Nicky Barker, said: "No one wants to see unnecessary loss of countryside or green spaces. The reality is that suitable brownfield land is running out. Even if every available brownfield opportunity was developed, it is still not enough to meet the housing numbers the government expects us to plan for."
Scrutiny meeting scheduled
Councillor Barker added: "This plan represents a genuine attempt to protect as much green belt as possible, focus development in the most sustainable locations and maintain control over local planning decisions."
Members will meet at 6pm on September 10 at Walsall Council House to debate the plan, with the scrutiny process set to examine the evidence behind the site changes and the wider housing allocation strategy.
