The draft Black Country Plan was due to go out for consultation this autumn, but this will now happen in summer 2021.
The change provides the region with another opportunity to identify potential sites for housing and employment developments which haven’t been put forward to date, particularly those in urban areas.
This call for sites will be open for 6 weeks from 9 July to 20 August. Anyone who has already submitted a site does not need to resubmit it, although they can update the information already provided, if necessary.
The updated timetable and details on how to submit a site can be found at Black Country Plan.
City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, Councillor Ian Brookfield, said: “Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have had to revise the timetable for the Black Country Plan.
“It gives us another opportunity to identify potential sites for development and we are keen to ensure we identify as much land as possible for assessment, particularly those pieces of land which have not already been identified within the urban area.
“No decisions have been made yet and this is just the next phase in the process to develop a new regeneration plan for the Black Country - something all local authorities have to do.
“Only 11% of land in Wolverhampton is green belt and keeping this green belt is hugely important to our new climate strategy and supporting our carbon neutral challenge.
“Our focus is on developing brownfield sites, which we have an excellent track record in doing when funding is available to remediate the land, such as Bilston Urban Village, Springfield Campus and Canalside.
“While shaping the future of housing and the growth of businesses, we will do everything we can to protect our precious green spaces.”
The government requires all local authorities to have an up-to-date 15-year plan to meet the development needs of an area and reflect the aspirations of local communities.
The current plan, previously known as the Black Country Core Strategy, lasts until 2026 and Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton councils are currently in the process of developing the Black Country Plan to 2039.
The plan is about making sure enough homes are built, there’s the right homes in the right places for people of all incomes and it supports a thriving economy for future generations by creating jobs and improving transport and infrastructure.
It also balances the need to plan for new homes and jobs with the need to continue to protect the important green and natural areas for people to enjoy.
As part of this process, up-to-date evidence has been collated on a number of areas to help identify key issues and ensure the plan meets the development needs, challenges and opportunities for the region up to 2039.
This is published at Black Country Plan and the latest evidence to be added are studies on waste and minerals as well as a strategic flood risk assessment.
No decisions have yet been made about any sites.
Once adopted, the strategy will outline where new homes and businesses should be built in the 4 Black Country boroughs to 2039.
