Green belt homes plan approved after appeal

A planning inspector has overturned a council decision to refuse plans for 115 homes on green belt land in Walsall.

Outline proposals for the Longwood Lane development were rejected by Walsall Council on 19 June, 2025, over concerns about increased traffic and the impact on wildlife and trees.

The plans prompted 235 objections from the public, as well as opposition from Walsall and Bloxwich MP Valerie Vaz, statutory consultees and the council's planning officers.

Developer William Davis Homes Ltd appealed and after a seven-day public inquiry in December, Inspector Tom Gilbert-Wooldridge granted outline permission, with all matters reserved, except access.

Although he found the scheme "would cause significant harm to biodiversity, species and habitats", the inspector said it had not "not been demonstrated that the harm could be avoided or that the damage would be minimised".

Gilbert-Wooldridge said the development would have a negative effect on trees along the road frontage, which would only be mitigated through replacement planting. He said the overall impact on other trees, including any ancient or veteran specimens, would be acceptable.

At the inquiry, the council argued the development would worsen congestion and create safety problems at the junction of Sutton Road and Longwood Lane.

However, the inspector said the introduction of a signalised junction would mitigate against those concerns.

Addressing the site's green belt status, he concluded the proposal "would not represent inappropriate development".

"I afford very significant weight to the delivery of 115 dwellings, given the substantial shortfall in housing land supply," he said.

"The proposal would have an acceptable effect on highway safety and capacity and would not represent inappropriate development in the green belt.

"I conclude that the appeal should be allowed."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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