HomeThe four Black Country Local Authorities (Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton) have agreed to work together to produce a Black Country Core Strategy in partnership with the community and other key organisations such as voluntary and private sector bodies and businesses. This will be a ‘spatial planning document’ (dealing not only with land use but also environmental, economic and social issues) that will set out the vision, objectives and strategy for future development in the Black Country to 2026. The Core Strategy will be a Development Plan Document and will form the basis of the Black Country Local Authorities’ Local Development Frameworks.
This site will keep you up-to date with the latest news and provide you with details of consultation events, opportunities to give your views and copies of any documents or other material available.
What Stage Are We At Now?
The Core Strategy has been developed through a comprehensive and inclusive process which began with the preparation of the Black Country Study and the RSS Phase 1 Revision, adopted in 2008. Throughout this process there have been opportunities to integrate the emerging Core Strategy with emerging Sustainable Communities Strategies, culminating in the publication of the Core Strategy in November 2009. Details of previous consultations can be found at the link below.
The Core Strategy is a ‘spatial planning document’ which will guide the transformation and regeneration of the Black Country by promoting economic growth through improving the quality of employment land and aiding the delivery of a broad mix of new homes between now and 2026, supported by new shops, offices, leisure, transport and environmental improvements. It will affect all areas in the Black Country and at the heart of the strategy is a series of ‘regeneration corridors’ and ‘strategic centres’ where change will be focussed.
Consultation on Publication document
Representations were invited on the “soundness” of the plan between 30th November 2009 and 15th January 2010. The Local Authorities will now consider the representations received on the document and determine whether any changes need to be made before the Core Strategy is submitted to the Secretary of State on 26th February 2010.
A pre-hearing meeting will be set up in April/May and be chaired by a government appointed inspector. The Examination in Public will commence 6 weeks after this meeting. All dates will be confirmed once Submission has taken place.
Timetable
The timetable for the production of the final Black Country Core Strategy is as follows:
November 2009 Publication of Core Strategy and final Sustainability Appraisal Report Stakeholder Consultation (6 weeks) | |
March 2010 Submit Core Strategy to the Secretary of state for examination | |
Summer 2010 Independent examination of Submission Core Strategy | |
March 2011 Adoption and publication of Core Strategy | |
