WYRE Forest District Council will look for new locations to build homes as it is expected to fall short of the number of sites needed to meet local demand.
The timetable for a new local plan has been approved by the authority’s cabinet which also approved a formal notice to start the process in line with a new 30-month timeframe.
A local plan helps to direct new development to sustainable locations within existing settlements and to safeguard the character and intrinsic value of the countryside by only permitting minimal development where it is needed.
The Local Plan also sets out the volume and mix of housing that reflects the needs of Wyre Forest.
Based on the latest government guidance, the council’s current local plan is expected to fall short of the number of housing sites needed to meet local demand,
As a result, the council must review and update the plan to identify new locations for housing to help ensure a robust supply of homes, while protecting the area’s character and delivering the right mix of housing for local residents.
The first public consultation is likely to start in October this year.
Coun Dan Morehead, Wyre Forest District Council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, planning and the green agenda, said: “The main driver for the preparation of the Local Plan is to identify housing sites to enable the council to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply against the local housing need assessed using the
Government’s updated ‘standard method’.
“This has now determined a requirement of 584 homes per annum vs the previous requirement of 276 homes.”
Residents and businesses will be able to take part in the consultation to help shape the future of local plan before formal policies and site allocations for future development are set.
Other public consultations are likely to take place between January and February 2027, with a second taking place between June and August 2027.
