The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) meets this Friday and in amongst the 400 plus pages of reports is an action plan aiming to kick start the release of land to provide almost 2 million new homes needed across the region over the next 10 years.

The plan sets out how local councils, including Walsall’s could work together with the WMCA using the funds and resources it can provide in order to ensure the supply of suitable land which will be crucial if the region is to grow the 20,000 new businesses and provide the 500,000 new jobs planned by 2030.

A key element of the plan is for the WMCA to use the £200 million it has set aside to clean up 1,600 hectares of brownfield land over the next 10 years much of which is within the Black Country. By bringing these former industrial sites right on our doorstep forward for housing as well as commercial use pressure to develop in the green belt will be minimised.

The challenge, says the report is a big one, but to ensure the people of the West Midlands have a good choice of jobs and homes enough land must be found. Tough decisions lie ahead.