Push to unlock land in Midlands for new homes and industry

ANEW body set up to unlock land for industrial and housing development across the West Midlands has been launched.

The West Midlands Land Commission (WMLC) includes prominent UK property experts and is the latest step in the push to devolve powers from Government to the greater Birmingham region.

It was launched this week to help the new West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) meet its target to attract an extra 20,000 businesses and create 500,000 new jobs by 2030.

Birmingham alone is looking to build 89,000 houses over the next 15 years to meet growing demand.

The authority is already looking at developing up to 1,600 hectares of former industrial land.

Walsall council leader and com- bined authority housing spokesman Sean Coughlan said: “We can’t make any more land and that means we need to make the very best use of the land we have.

“The WMLC will provide an opportunity to consider the many aspects which affect the supply and usage of land across the West Midlands.

“That’s important because we need land to meet the anticipated growth in residential and commercial development which in turn will help drive the economy, meet future housing needs and ultimately improve people’s quality of life.”

Real estate executive Paul Marcuse, who is chairing the commission, said: “WMLC is being established at a time of unprecedented opportunity for the region.

“A combination of the recent establishment of the WMCA and its devolution deal with Government and the very significant infrastruc- ture investment being made in the region provides a singular opportunity to review the wealth of complex issues affecting the supply of land.”

He said the commission was seeking evidence on a number of lines of enquiry which were designed to consider the challenges in developing land and to recommend measures which could be implemented to secure a sufficient supply of land for development.

Last month the combined authority was handed its first £36.5 million annual payment from Government. The devolved cash will, over the next 30 years, deliver £8 billion worth of investment in the region principally aimed at housing, economic growth, productivity and skills and transport.

The authority, which will from next May be led by the elected West Midlands Mayor, is also taking responsibility for land assets previously owned by the Homes and Communities Agency.