Dudley Council has an outstanding record in bringing derelict land back into productive use. Despite this past success it is becoming increasingly difficult to reclaim the remaining areas of dereliction. This concern is also equally relevant to bringing forward such sites for job creating uses (see
Jobs).
The vast majority of homes that will exist in 2011 have already been built. It is very important that the condition of existing homes is maintained. This view is reflected in the existing UDP. The Council's view on the importance of maintaining the Borough's existing housing stock has not changed, and is, therefore, not at the moment being considered as a big new issue. However, the Council will need to reconsider how best the UDP can help target action to improve older housing areas.
For the past 50 years, most new homes in the Borough have been built on large estates. Over the last 15 years, these estates have been built on large areas of reclaimed land such as Amblecote Bank, Withymoor Village, Milking Bank and now Dibdale. Before then most housing estates were built on the edge of our towns on green fields. There are now no longer any huge new brownfield sites left in the Borough to reclaim for new housing. The Council believes that there should be no return to the large green field housing estates of the past that are too far from places of work, are poorly served by public transport, have few local shops and services and do not provide a mix of housing types. The Council believes that too much development like this is NOT SUSTAINABLE.
If large greenfield sites should be avoided and no large brownfield sites remain how then can the Council meet the Government's housing targets? The Council believe that alternatives do exist which could include:
- The re-allocation of some under-used employment land to housing.
- The encouragement of mixed use development (see Communities for the future).
- The allocation of new small housing sites in and around our town centres.
- Conversion of vacant non-residential buildings, e.g. empty offices.
- Small scale housing development on small vacant and under-used sites within the built up areas.
- The redevelopment of very low density housing areas for higher density housing.
- Concentrating new housing along main transport corridors.
- The use of some greenfield sites but only when no other alternative exists.
The Council believes that new homes should be as close as possible to public transport, should form part of a mix of different land uses, facilities and services and should be accessible to places of work. The Council also thinks that new housing should not damage the best of the Borough's environment but rather should help make the environment better.
The Council does not underestimate the difficulties in steering new housing development away from green field sites. However, we do feel that this approach is the best long term solution. Do you agree with the Council's approach? Do you feel that there are other problems that the Council has not considered? Do you agree with the Council's intention to prioritise housing for all?
These early documents relate to the preparation of the Dudley Unitary Development Plan and chart the stages and position of policy in the Plan at each stage of the review. They are intended for reference only and the content does not necessarily reflect the current state of play.
