Thousands oppose plans to build on green belt land

Plans to build more than 500 houses on green belt land have led to thousands of objections from residents nearby.

Campaigners are worried the proposed extra housing in Kingswinford, Dudley, in an area known to residents as The Triangle, would put pressure on services.

The 62-acre site would have to be reclassified as grey belt land to be developed, a status introduced by the Labour government to encourage housebuilding.

The BBC has contacted Dudley Council and the planning developer, Barberry Summerville, for comment.

The latest planning application is the fifth to be submitted for development of housing on the land.

The applicant said, in addition to new homes, the development would provide public open space, allotments, cycle links, a shop and landscaping.

Campaigners have feared the housing would put pressure on local services such as doctors and schools, as well as increase traffic in the area.

"I know there's hundreds of children who use these green spaces to walk to school each day," Charlotte,12, said.

"My friend doesn't feel OK walking against these roads and I know she's not alone."

Conservative councillor, Ed Lawrence, said the development would be detrimental to a popular walking spot.

"You can see the tracks round the fields that people use to walk their dogs. The school kids go through there to get to the school.

"It would be absolutely gutting to see it destroyed", he added.

Campaigner, Steven Cutler, said: "There are three other planning applications within a mile and a half here. They are also green belt agricultural land and it brings us a total of 1,062 homes within a mile and a half of here [The Triangle] at the planning application stage.

"This gives us massive problems in the area, because the infrastructure is just not there."

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.