KINVER residents are to be given a say on future housing developments in their area.

It follows a decision by South Staffordshire Council to stage drop-in sessions throughout the district to hear what people think.

They want to know the best places where new houses should be built in Kinver.

A consultation has been launched to ensure the views of locals are taken into account as part of the Local Plan, the Core Strategy which identified the villages and minimum housing numbers.

Consequently a series of exhibitions are to held across South Staffordshire with officers planning to visit Kinver on Monday May 12.

A total of 1,100 new homes are needed across South Staffordshire over the next 15 years to cope with demand and if sites cannot be identified by local councils, it's possible unplanned development will be allowed on the back of central government's push to provide more houses.

Cllr Bob McCardle, cabinet member for strategic services, said: "This is all about providing the right homes in right places at the right time.

"House prices in South Staffordshire are way above the national average and we run the risk of forcing local people, especially young families who have lived in the district all their lives, out of the area because there are simply not enough homes.

"We know that in some villages new development in the green belt is the only option, but this review will help us to select the least harmful sites to meet the requirements of the strategy.

"In reality, the plan means less than 100 new houses need to be built each year across the district to meet our housing numbers."