West Midlands Mayor Andy Street hopes a new review into land use in the Black Country will lead to council chiefs blocking any plans for developments on Walsall’s cherished green belt.
Earlier this year, the Black Country Plan was drawn up by the region’s council bosses, which identified areas where new homes could be built over the next 15 years.
However, the controversial plan included a number of green sites, sparking protests from residents.
Mr Street, who leads the West Midlands Combined Authority, has driven a ‘brownfield first’ policy, which aims to redevelop derelict industrial sites for development to protect the green belt.
In the wake of residents’ anger over the Black Country Plan, he commissioned a review to examine whether enough had been done to identify old industrial sites that could be developed instead of open spaces.
That review is now set to be published, and Mr Street wants council bosses to look again and rip up plans to include greenbelt sites.
He said: "I have stressed before that there are so many derelict brownfield sites in the Black Country that we shouldn’t have to touch the green belt for years.
“I hope this new review will show that we can protect more of the cherished green belt around Walsall by illustrating we can do more on these brownfield sites.
"I am absolutely determined that once the report is published we can then have an amendment to the draft plan that will see more brownfield sites put forward.
“I expect the review to show there was a shortfall in the number of brownfield sites put forward in the plan.
"We have brought in millions upon millions of pounds to reclaim these old eyesores to create new communities – building the homes we need while also protecting the environment.”
In recent years a number of former brownfield sites have been developed, including the old Caparo site and Phoenix 10 in Walsall and Culwell Street in Wolverhampton.
Over the past six months the WMCA has received £66 million in Government funding for brownfield regeneration, on top of a £350m housing deal.
A total of £120 million of funding was announced in recent weeks, to 7 Mayoral Combined Authorities to transform derelict brownfield sites into vibrant places where people want to live and work.