Residents and community leaders have been defeated in their campaign to prevent 90 new properties being constructed on Green Belt land in South Staffordshire. A further 10% of these homes will be bungalows to reflect the local need and ageing population. "Releasing Green Belt, including Grey Belt, is only permissible where it is necessary, such as to meet housing need. The Green Belt land is needed as a buffer zone to prevent the coalescence and urban sprawl of Himley Village being joined to Wombourne village." Councillor Robert Reade said: "Whilst we want to protect what we want to protect, if it's been designated officially as Grey Belt, how can we stand and say it's Green Belt?".