Part One: Spatial Strategy and Policies (Regulation 19)

8.1. The policies in this section will help to create a network of cohesive, healthy, and prosperous communities in Dudley, which is a fundamental element of the Plan's vision and objectives and will deliver the overarching strategic priorities. The provision of sufficient land to promote sustainable housing growth is the cornerstone of this approach. The policies also ensure the provision of a balanced range of housing in terms of type, tenure, wheelchair accessibility and affordability, and sufficient specialist provision for gypsies, travellers, and travelling showpeople, and for those who wish to self or custom build.

8.2. New housing will be of a well-designed high build quality, meeting national space and water efficiency standards, achieving high levels of energy efficiency and adapting to climate change (in line with the DLP design policies).              

8.3. Maximising sustainable transport access to key residential services and focusing high density increases in the areas of greatest accessibility is at the heart of the Spatial Strategy. Providing a balanced network of quality education facilities is a further key part of this approach and to delivering economic prosperity.

Figure 8.1 Spatial Strategy Plan: Housing

 Table 8.1 Dudley Housing Land Supply and Indicative Phasing 2024 - 2041

8.4. The DLP identifies sufficient land to provide 10,810 homes (gross) by 2041 (10,470 net homes). This will accommodate 94% of current local housing need up to 2041 with 97% of the supply on brownfield land and 3% of the supply on greenfield land. A balanced range of sites has been provided in terms of size, location, and market attractiveness.             

8.5. The detail of the housing allocations across Dudley are provided in DLP Part Two and all sites are shown on the Policies Map. Housing capacity has been identified in accordance with the Spatial Strategy and based on the following information:

8.6. The housing supply from allocations on occupied employment land has been discounted by 15% in order to take account of the multiple delivery constraints that typically affect such sites and that are likely to reduce delivery on a minority of sites. Delivery constraints include poor ground conditions and the need for large-scale master-planning, land assembly, business relocations and residential service access improvements. The supply from sites with planning permission but not yet under construction has been discounted by 10% in accordance with historic lapse rates. These discounts are balanced rates that take account of the likely availability of external funding to address constraints, as set out in the Viability and Delivery Study. Together, these discounts provide sufficient flexibility in the housing land supply to meet any unforeseen circumstances.

8.7. The housing supply has been divided into four phases – 2024 to 2029 (five years), 2029 to 2034 (five-ten years), 2034 to 2039 (ten-fifteen years) and 2039 to 2041 (fifteen to eighteen years). A trajectory showing delivery for each phase is shown in the most up to date SHLAA and Appendix 4, which demonstrates a steady supply of housing completions to 2041.