Notes from the Black Country

We appreciate the publicity Housing Today has given the Black Country & Telford housing market renewal area (“ODPM pressed to pay for market renewal work in shadow pathfinders”, 3 December, page 10).

However, our aim is not to gain pathfinder status but to build on the work being undertaken by four councils and their partners to prepare the Black Country Study – the first sub-regional spatial planning framework in the country.

This unique and huge piece of work enables housing providers to ensure we can support and enhance all the other key drivers of prosperity and quality of life in the sub-region. In order to address issues of adjacency, Telford is a partner in the work.

Much research work is under way and the development of the prospectus will be tendered in January. We would have loved to have been a pathfinder but we are clear that support for our approach will come through the regional housing board.