Dudley Council has passed a motion condemning Government plans to impose a 143% increase in mandatory housing targets that could lean to unpopular developments in the green belt being passed without local consent.

Halesowen Conservative Councillor Simon Phipps, who was formerly the council’s cabinet member responsible for planning, proposed the motion at a meeting of Dudley Council on Monday 2nd December.

Within the motion, Cllr Phipps stated that housing targets would increase from 657 dwellings per year to 1,594 dwellings per year, a 143% increase, whilst inner-city areas such as Birmingham have had their targets substantially reduced.

Under government plans, the targets would become mandatory, meaning government appointed planning inspectors could overturn local plans that do not include green belt land to meet shortfalls in this housing need.

Cllr Phipps argues the new targets are “impossible” to achieve and would result in decisions to build on the green belt being taken without the consent of local people.

Cllr Phipps said: “This is the greatest threat to Halesowen’s countryside that we have ever had to deal with.

“I’m glad that Dudley Council are already fighting back against these proposals, but I fear that local Labour MPs will not put their constituents over their party and vote against these plans when they come before Parliament.

“Make no mistake, if these changes are introduced, the power to decide where local development takes place will transfer from locally elected members to faceless government mandarins. It would be a disaster for our countryside.”

The motion was eventually passed despite a Labour Party amendment that cllr Phipps says “welcomed” the new mandatory targets set out by Government. Whilst Labour Councillors voted en masse for the amendment, it was defeated and the original motion criticising the policy was passed unanimously.

Cllr Phipps added: “It was peculiar to see Labour Councillors vote for the wrecking amendment that would have welcomed the imposition of these new targets yet do a complete U-turn moments later and vote for my original motion condemning the government’s plans.

“This is especially embarrassing for Cllr Cat Eccles, who was forced to vote for a motion attacking a policy she campaigned for at the recent General Election. 

“We will be watching to see how she votes when this important issue is debated in Parliament.”

A consultation on the proposed changes have resulted in councils across the country opposing the plans. The Government are due to publish the final changes to planning policy imminently.