The Planning Inspectorate’s interim report into Birmingham’s development plan has urged the council to reassess green belt land and made a number of recommendations that will set the plan back several months.
Birmingham only has capacity for 50,000 homes and by the city council’s own conservative estimates the area requires 84,000 new homes by 2031. A bilateral agreement has been signed by 10 of the 13 local planning authorities agreeing to work with Birmingham city council to deal with its massive undersupply of housing. However, green belt release would considerably soften the impact on these smaller councils.
Within Birmingham’s limits there were 19 green belt sites assessed for suitability, of which 15 were rejected for being too small or being too constrained by environmental factors. The report notes: “A substantial amount of material was submitted by those promoting alternatives to the allocated green belt sites.”
Conversely, the inspector said the suitability of the remaining four sites was not adequately analysed. Two of the sites are being considered for development but the report says: “There is no explanation of why those assessments have led to two of the areas being discarded and the other two being taken forward.”
The inspector found that this was in breach of the Sustainability Appraisal Directive and 2004 Regulations. Consequently, the council has been instructed to carry out further work and consultation. In doing so, it has have been told: “It will be essential that those who undertake this additional sustainability appraisal work approach it with an open mind, and not on the basis of seeking to justify decisions previously taken.”
Daniel Hatcher, director at Barton Willmore, who represented developers in the consultation, said: “Birmingham has a hugely significant housing requirement, which it cannot accommodate wholly within its own boundaries. Other local authorities will have to take more houses, which will almost certainly mean releasing their green belt.”
Waheed Nazir, director of planning and regeneration at Birmingham city council, welcomed the findings and said: “I am confident the inspector’s recommendations will lead to a more robust plan. I have advocated for the release of green belt it’s just a matter of the sustainability appraisal reaching this decision independently.”
