Fourth Assembly Meeting

Meeting 4 Summary

Introduction

At its fourth meeting, the Residents' Assembly explored how future development and growth should be planned across the West Midlands, considering planning policy changes, development priorities, green belt and what is needed to create places that are healthy, attractive and sustainable for current and future generations.

What this meeting covered

During the meeting resident’s assembly members explored how future growth and development could be planned across the region. Participants heard updates on changes to the planning system, including proposed mayoral planning powers and national planning policy reforms, and considered how these changes could influence future development in the West Midlands.

Drawing on what they’d learnt from the previous 3 session assembly members explored three key questions:

• When new development takes place, what should be prioritised to create places that are healthy, attractive and beneficial for both nature, and people, throughout their lifetimes?
• What functions of the Green Belt should be prioritised when planning for future growth across the West Midlands?
• What patterns of future housing growth should be prioritised

Case studies from across the region were also used as examples to help the members consider the key questions and think about how to create places for the future that balance housing needs and greenbelt, creating places where people want to live and nature can thrive. 

Members then shared their ideas, before voting on their priorities which will shape the recommendations they develop in meeting 5 (November 2026).

Need more information?

You can follow updates on the Residents’ Assembly and the Spatial Development Strategy as the work continues.