A DEVELOPER has drawn up proposals for more than 1,000 homes on green belt in Halesowen - leading to uproar from concerned residents and campaigners.

St Modwen has submitted its vision for between 980 and 1,130 homes on Tack Farm, off the A456 Manor Way, to Dudley Council as part of the Black Country Plan's call for sites for potential development.

Mick Freer, of Save Halesowen's Countryside, branded plans for the 136-acre site, which borders onto ancient woodland Uffmoor Wood and features the River Stour running through it, as "devastating."

Mr Freer has published a copy of the proposal document on Save Halesowen's Countryside's Facebook Page, with responses from scores of outraged local residents.

In it the developer offers to build a school and health centre to accommodate extra residents.

Mr Freer said: "We are in absolute crisis now.

"Dudley Council's planners have excited the interest of developers - and have encouraged them to come forward with proposals.

"In this instance it is historic farmland in the vicinity of Uffmoor Lane and Uffmoor Wood.

"This, if it is approved, would have a devastating impact.

"It's a very, very serious situation. A serious threat to our beautiful countryside - it's frightening.

"Tack Farm is beautiful land.

"It has been owned by the Bibby family for years and is home to the remains of an Anglo-Saxon mill, Knot Mill."

The document states that the developer wants to build 980-1,130 homes on the site.

It states: "As the project progresses we will engage with the local education authority to understand the local educational need, identify any capacity shortfall and respond accordingly.

"This will then inform the provision of a potential school on the site."

It goes on to say an extra 350 homes could be built next to the site in a second phase stating: "There is the potential and capacity for future growth adjacent to the proposal site, which could deliver a further 300-350 new homes (resulting in a development of approximately 1,500 new homes overall), utilising landform and existing woodland to screen development and keep development within a defensible green belt boundary."

Peter Rudd, Development Director at St. Modwen, said: “We are promoting the site for a residential-led development of around 1,000 new homes in response to the proposed review of the Black Country Plan, which seeks to identify sites that are required to meet future housing and employment needs. Our vision is to create a sustainable development that offers a range of housing types, including much-needed affordable housing, as well as facilities and services for the community. This could include a new primary school, healthcare centre, community facility and over 50 acres of public open space and green infrastructure. Our vision also proposes highway improvements to Manor Way, seeking to address safety concerns and enhance connectivity.”

A spokesman from St. Modwen confirmed the company has a legal agreement in place with the land owner to promote the land and that it is too early in the process to share a timescale for development should it be given approval.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of the council, said: “To speculate that developers are about to start building on green belt is wildly inaccurate. The four Black Country local authorities are working together, strictly following Government planning guidance in order to ensure that we can meet our future need for housing and employment land.

“The land in question has been put forward as part of the Call for Sites. This is a process required by government and invites landowners, or those in control of land, to put forward any site that they feel could help to meet the future needs of the area.

“This in no way indicates that the land will ever be released for development.

“What land is considered necessary for development will be determined in future years by the councillors of this authority.”