The latest Walsall Borough Local Plan, which allocates land for nearly 15,000 new homes, is set to undergo scrutiny following concerns raised by Conservative councillors.
On 26 August, the plan was approved by the council cabinet. This document outlines the designated areas for future housing and employment development across Walsall.
While the current draft retains many sites originally proposed in last year’s plan under Conservative leadership, it also reflects some changes: five sites have been removed and four new sites added. Overall, the plan allocates land for 14,943 homes, which is 2,117 fewer than in the previous Conservative draft.
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The Labour government has instructed the council to plan for a total of 21,026 new homes over the next two decades, meaning the existing allocations fall short by 6,083 homes.
In response, five Conservative councillors-Adrian Andrew, Christine Edwards, Amanda Parkes, Tim Wilson, and Sawra Shmim-have formally called for the plan to be reviewed. Their call-in request will be considered at the council’s scrutiny meeting scheduled for 10 September at 6pm in the Walsall Council House.
The Conservative group has requested a public debate to examine the reasons behind the removal of certain sites and the addition of new ones in the plan.
At the cabinet meeting in August, Council Leader Elaine Williams criticised the Conservative opposition’s stance, accusing them of campaigning against the plan and branding their actions as “nothing short of hypocrisy.” She emphasised that over 2,000 homes have been cut from previous allocations and highlighted Reform’s efforts to protect Walsall’s green belt by removing sites opposed by residents, acknowledging that not all such sites could be excluded.
Regeneration portfolio holder Councillor Nicky Barker echoed concerns about preserving green spaces while noting the scarcity of suitable brownfield sites. She explained that even fully utilising brownfield land would not meet governmental housing targets. Councillor Barker described the plan as a sincere attempt to balance protecting the green belt, focusing development in sustainable locations, and maintaining local control over planning decisions.