MORE THAN 300 possible development sites have been submitted to Bromsgrove District Council to consider for the next stage of the local plan.
The sites of varying sizes are now on the authority’s website for people to view.
Many had already been submitted and previously published online.
Officers will now assess these sites against a range of, social, economic and environmental factors to determine which ones will be the most suitable for housing developments.
Because of the sheer number submitted, the council said the process would take ‘a considerable period of time’.
The call for sites was made at the end of September after the local plan generated 3,500 responses from residents.
It is anticipated the formulation of the local plan will take close to five years and will outline the district’s aims and aspirations between 2023 and 2040.
According to calculations, using the Government’s designated formula, the number of homes which will need to be built during those years will be at least 6,443. That means an average 379 will have to be constructed each year up until 2040 but it could be more.
Coun Adam Kent, whose portfolio covers the Local Plan Review, said in August greenfield sites in Bromsgrove would have to be built on to find enough land for the number of homes needed. Currently, 89 per cent of Bromsgrove district is green belt – both greenfield and brownfield sites. But unlike some other areas, not much is brownfield which is why the ‘rolling back’ of green belt and greenfield land was necessary.
Coun Kent added: “At this stage no assessment of these sites has been carried out by the council so inclusion in this list does not mean that these sites will be developed or indeed even have potential for sustainable development.
“All it means is that they have been stated as available for development by landowners or site promoters.
“As expected far more sites have been submitted than will likely be required.”
After the initial assessment process has been undertaken, a full public consultation will be conducted on a draft plan which will include a preferred option of the chosen sites.
Council Leader Karen May added: “Whilst this is a large number of sites there is no suggestion at this stage that all of these sites will be needed but neither have they been earmarked for anything else.”
She added all responses would be considered when the draft plan consultation was carried out.
