PLANNING bosses should be made to prove the “exceptional circumstances” that would make building on Sutton Coldfield’s green belt viable.
That was the message from Andrew Mitchell MP who has warned the House of Commons of the town’s “deep anger” at Birmingham City Council’s “deeply flawed” consultation process over plans to build up to 6,000 homes in Walmley.
It follows the publication of Government’s Housing White Paper this week, which sets out proposals for future legislation.Mr Mitchell said he welcomed the government’s decision not to change the current policy which only allows building on the green belt in exceptional circumstances.
It comes after strong representations were made by a group of Members of Parliament, led by Sutton’s MP, about any “watering down” of green belt protection.
Speaking in the House of Commons this week, Mr Mitchell asked of Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: “Does he understand the deep anger that is felt throughout Sutton Coldfield, where the reasonable views of 100,000 people have been totally ignored by a Labour council during a deeply flawed process involving the unnecessary building of 6,000 homes on our green belt, and their frustration at the fact that the government have not been able to stop that process?”
The MP has argued strongly for the preservation of Sutton’s green belt and the need for Birmingham City Council to explore all possible alternatives – including the development of brownfield sites. He has called for an eight-year suspension on building to allow a proper assessment to be made of Birmingham’s housing needs.
Mr Mitchell added: “Everything the government has put forward in this White Paper reaffirms our objections to the plans to build on Sutton’s green belt.
“Birmingham City Council should be made to prove the “exceptional” circumstances that would make building on our green belt viable – as yet we have had neither proof nor explanation of the perceived need. If the government hopes to address the housing crisis by building more houses – which it must do – they need to make sure that they have the trust of the public that these will be built in the right places and for the right reasons.”
This story was originally published in the Sutton Coldfield Observer
