Birmingham City Council has shrugged off accusations by Sutton Coldfield MP Sir Norman Fowler that it is attempting to push through plans for industrial development on green belt sites. Sir Norman told a Commons debate on Wednesday night that it would be a “denial of natural justice” if local residents were not allowed to have their say on the proposed developments.
The council’s moves follow widely-reported claims that the West Midlands lost out to the North-East last year on Siemens’ £1.1bn relocation requirement because there was no suitable site available. Regional councils group the West Midlands Forum responded by calling on landowners and local authorities in the region to identify potential sites which could prevent similar episodes occurring again.
Two adjoining sites to the south of Sutton Coldfield have since been put forward: 133ha (330 acres) owned by Birmingham City Council and 56ha (140 acres) owned by P&O Properties. Although no planning applications have been made, the council has been carrying out informal local consultation before recommending the sites to the forum.
A council spokeswoman said that Sir Norman would get his public inquiry if either of the sites ever became the subject of a planning application, because they are designated as green belt in the current UDP.
She explained that, although the potential loss of green belt land was of concern, the council was prepared to see existing inner-city industrial sites designated as public open space to help make good the loss.
EGi News 10/05/96
