DUDLEY Council is asking land owners and developers in Halesowen and Cradley to identify potential sites for future housing development.

The council is currently working on a Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment, which is an audit of available land for potential housing development.

The consultation gives people the opportunity to send representations for suitable sites which could become available for housing development over the next 15 years and can be assessed by the council.

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member for planning and economic development, said: “Early engagement with landowners and developers will ensure that vacant and derelict sites that are suitable for housing are identified and brought forward for development therefore helping to meet housing need in sustainable locations”

The assessment acts as a key evidence base to support the delivery of sufficient land for housing and the need to prioritise previously developed land (brownfield sites) for development.

The assessment will prioritise brownfield sites in line with the Black Country Core Strategy ‘Brownfield First’ objective.

The Brownfield First principle ensures previously developed land, particularly where vacant, derelict or underused is prioritised for development over greenfield sites.

Details of potential housing sites can be submitted to localplan@dudley.gov.uk or by post to Planning policy, 4 Ednam Road, Dudley, DY1 1HL by Thursday, September 10.