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Yes

ID sylw: 107192

Derbyniwyd: 05/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Draft Policy Direction 4 explains that the housing need and availability evidence base for the SWLP
will consider the Coventry and Warwickshire Housing Market Area and the Greater Birmingham and
Black Country Housing Market Area (GBBCHMA). Sandwell supports the proactive approach of the Policy Direction to seek to meet relevant unmet housing needs arising from the Housing Market Areas.

The consultation document states that sufficient options and flexibility have been identified to meet more than South Warwickshire’s own need and acknowledges that there may be unmet need from elsewhere, but correctly states that this has yet to be quantified. Since publication of this document a refresh of the GBBCHMA Strategic Growth Study has been commissioned, the first phase of this will estimate the housing shortfall against the new 2024 LHN baseline. The early signs, however, are that the conurbation will struggle in terms of capacity and delivery to meet its 2024 LHN, albeit the focus of the challenge may have shifted from Birmingham to Solihull and the Black Country.

The offer to assist with meeting some of this shortfall, therefore, is welcomed. Any additional growth proposals, however, will need to be mindful of the recommendations of the New Towns Task Force and any decisions on how to progress with these.