Anyone joining the waiting list for a council property in Sandwell may have a long wait. Almost 6,200 families are already on the list. 23% have already waited more than a year to be housed. 30% have waited more than two years and 5% a staggering 5 years. The length of that wait stems from the historic failure to build new homes. Against this picture of need, the scheme to build a 45,000 home “garden city” across the Black Country should be welcomed.
The scheme has government backing and is sponsored by the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership and the government’s Homes and Communities Agency.
Some 550 brownfield sites have been identified for development across the whole of the Black Country. The scheme is for pockets of housing to be built on the reclaimed sites to form small communities. Each development will have green space provision. The properties built will be of the latest energy saving construction and be environmentally friendly, while taking advantage of local heritage features such as canals in their design.
The project promises to boost the local economy by £18 billion. The Black Country is now the fastest growing area in the Midlands and received record foreign inward investment last year. Its motor, aerospace and construction industries are thriving. The “garden city” scheme aims to attract skilled workers to the area and to encourage those who obtain skills and qualifications locally to stay in the area.
Generally, the scheme has attracted widespread support. Only UKIP spokesmen have been negative. UKIP MEP Bill Etheridge suggesting that it ”will remove the distinctive individuality from Black Country towns”. This criticism seems somewhat backward looking as well as misunderstanding the nature of the proposal.
At the root of the scheme is regeneration which will provide much needed high quality modern housing in appealing settings. Something deserving the support of any progressive political party concerned with the needs of local families.