RESIDENTS concerned about plans that could see parts of the borough's green belt given over for housing are urged to pre-register to take part in the Black Country Plan consultation which is set to go live in August.

The plan, being prepared by the four Black Country local authorities - Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton, aims to identify and allocate land for future housing and employment in each authority area for the next 15 years.

A consultation on the draft plan, which includes a proposal to build 205 homes on greenfield land in Stourbridge, is set to go live on Monday August 16.

MPs and councillors across Dudley, who have professed to favour a brownfield development first policy, have for the last few weeks and months been urging people to be sure to have their say on the plans and Stourbridge's MP Suzanne Webb said: “It is really important residents get involved in this consultation and now it is possible to pre-register ahead of the official start of the consultation next week, I urge everyone to do so.

“The draft plan has been kind to Stourbridge but there are concerns that it may not stay that way as the plan develops.

Stourbridge News: Suzanne Webb MP with Stourbridge councillors at the Wollaston Farm site that has been put forward for possible developmentSuzanne Webb MP with Stourbridge councillors at the Wollaston Farm site that has been put forward for possible development

“This is why we need input from everyone. The consultation is quite involved and will require some work, but it should not put anyone off as the future of our green spaces could be at stake.

“Dudley Council wants to know and needs to know local people’s thoughts.”

Residents can pre-register for the consultation at this link: https://blackcountry.oc2.uk/register/process/0.

The following land has been earmarked for development in the Dudley borough:

533 homes on land at Swindon Road and Lodge Lane in Wall Heath

330 homes on land south of Holbeache Lane and Wolverhampton Road in Kingswinford.

115 homes on Worcester Road, Stourbridge

90 homes on grazing land at Wollaston Farm, Stourbridge

25 homes on lower Guys Lane, Lower Gornal

24 homes on land off Viewfield Crescent, Dudley